| People have been picking up sticks to beat each | | | | master in the realm of Korean martial arts. She |
| other since time immemorial, but the joong bong, | | | | herself had started with the joong bong, and |
| the Korean Middle staff, is something really special | | | | though she had progressed to a mastery of |
| in the world of martial arts. This is the most | | | | several other weapons, the joong bong remained |
| commonly taught weapon in the Korean martial | | | | one of her favorites. As I watched, she |
| art of Kuk Sul Won, though tournaments and | | | | demonstrated some of the moves associated |
| ease of use have brought the martial arts into | | | | with this ancient weapon. |
| other arenas, like Tae Kwon Do. | | | | The joong bong is held at one end, rather than in |
| I got my first look at joong bong technique a few | | | | the center. My friend emphasized that that this is |
| years ago, when I was interviewing one of the | | | | used primarily for striking and as such, the tip |
| advanced students at a Kuk Sool Won school in | | | | should be aimed at the opponent's neck for |
| Milwaukee. She was giving me the run down on | | | | maximum effectiveness. Slowly, she took me |
| the basic kicking and striking techniques used | | | | through the four basic striking techniques that |
| when something caught my eye. Next to the fans | | | | make up her joong bong practice and then she |
| and tridents, most people wouldn't have given the | | | | sped it up. As I watched in awe, she became the |
| homely stick a second glance, but I could tell from | | | | center of a whirling storm, the slow exercises she |
| the wear that this was a weapon that many | | | | had been demonstrating turning into a fierce burst |
| students had trained with. | | | | of activity. |
| The joong bong itself varies depending on the | | | | She grinned at me when she finished up and |
| school and the preference of the user. Usually, it | | | | asked if I cared to try. I was ready to go ahead |
| is made out of wood or rattan and measures | | | | so I stepped on the mat to face her, but she |
| between 2 and half to three feet long. My friend | | | | laughed. |
| mentioned that some heavy hitters like their staff | | | | "I was thinking about pairing you with one of our |
| to be made out of metal, and after I did a few | | | | newer practitioners of martial arts weapons," she |
| passes with it, it makes sense; in terms of | | | | said and pointed at a thirteen-year-old boy, who |
| practicing, the heavier the stick is, the better the | | | | was taking his own stick through the motions. I |
| workout you'll get. | | | | was going to laugh too, until I noticed how fast he |
| She explained that the martial arts weapon was | | | | was moving and how hard he could bring down |
| the middle-sized staff that many students started | | | | his stick! |
| off with, and is one of the easier weapons to | | | | |