James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Kung Fu Rope Dart | Chrome Steel 11 Foot Wushu | Martial Arts Throwing Weapons
57 sec read
Flexible weapons like the rope dart are often described as the most difficult kung fu weapons to learn. The heavy chromed steel dart at the end of this soft eleven foot rope can be thrown and retrieved like a whip, used to wrap up an opponent’s weapon, or spun as a nearly invisible high speed bludgeon. If that sounds like the tricky part, wait for the recoil. Beginners usually present the greatest danger to themselves.
Though very little is likely to go wrong with the dart portion of this wushu-quality weapon, the rings which anchor the dart to the rope should be checked carefully. If the dart takes a battering by smashing unexpectedly into objects in the practice area, inspect the links for damage. The dart weighs only 5.5 ounces but exerts considerable force on the links when thrown or spun.
Unless you buy a rope dart to collect, seek expert instruction before playing with this potentially deadly toy. Unlike most kung fu arts, there are few movements in the rope dart system which can be practiced at a slow and safe training speed.
Heavier versions of the rope dart, with triangular cross sections and sharp edges, were designed for real combat. This toned-down version eliminates only a few of the potential dangers. A slightly less lethal design, it’s intended for use in acrobatic wushu competition. Without a good teacher, it’s not likely that anyone could safely learn the right moves. The rope dart definitely is not something an apartment dweller can practice at home.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Flexible weapons like the rope dart are often described as the most difficult kung fu weapons to learn. The heavy chromed steel dart at the end of this soft eleven foot rope can be thrown and retrieved like a whip, used to wrap up an opponent’s weapon, or spun as a nearly invisible high speed bludgeon. If that sounds like the tricky part, wait for the recoil. Beginners usually present the greatest danger to themselves.
