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.
Wushu Monk’s Spade 78 Inch | Martial Arts Kung Fu Training Weapon | Tiger Claw
1 min read
Though some wushu weapons fall too short of the real thing in appearance and quality, this Monk’s Spade combines modern construction with respect for the original weapon’s character. The result is a light training weapon entirely suited to the acrobatics of wushu. Three pounds heavy and 78 inches long, it’s a large weapon even for Western kung fu students, but not so weighty that it interferes with learning movements. Heavier versions could be more appropriate for other types of training.
Edges and points of the spade and the crescent moon pommel are unsharpened but still carry the dangerous shapes that made this a popular main weapon for the monks of ancient China. The wushu version should be used with caution — though it isn’t a combat level build, it could do combat quality damage to bystanders. Even dull weapons cut.
The monk’s spade has an intriguing history with a foundation in the non-violent traditions of China’s warrior monks. Following the path of enlightenment by choice, these men still had social and moral obligations. Monks often carried money from temple to temple, making themselves a favorite target of skilled highwaymen. Many of the faith shunned weapons but needed practical protection. Farm tools evolved into unique monastic weapons like the monk’s spade, useful for fending off bandits as well as for digging the occasional grave for those who tried too hard. The decorative rings link back to the weapon’s agricultural past when the tool doubled as a plow blade pulled by other members of the family. Still a visual part of the monk’s spade, the rings serve no combat function.
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.
Though some wushu weapons fall too short of the real thing in appearance and quality, this Monk’s Spade combines modern construction with respect for the original weapon’s character. The result is a light training weapon entirely suited to the acrobatics of wushu. Three pounds heavy and 78 inches long, it’s a large weapon even for Western kung fu students, but not so weighty that it interferes with learning movements. Heavier versions could be more appropriate for other types of training.
