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WABUKAN Arsenal · Flexible weapons · China

Meteor hammer

Weights on the ends of a long rope, swung around the body. Today it is mostly a spectacular wushu performance weapon.

Also known as

流星錘 · liúxīng chuí; sheng biao (related)

Origin and history

The meteor hammer, a rope with a weight on one or both ends, is a traditional Chinese soft weapon. It is now seen mostly in wushu and Chinese performing arts, where it is swung and released around the neck, arms and legs.

Martial arts that use it

Wushu Taolu Kung Fu

Construction

A rope or chain of about 2–5 m with a metal ball (or two balls, one at each end) of a few hundred grams; performance versions may be lighter.

Basic techniques

• wrapping around the body
• release and recoil
• neck and leg wraps
• meteor form

Training

Flexible weapons are learned slowly with foam, rope or rubber versions: first the swings and wraps around the body, then changes of hand and stops, and only later strikes at a target. They punish mistakes on the user first, so speed comes last.

Safety

Start with soft versions, wear eye protection and keep a wide empty circle around you. Check chains, cords and joints before each session: a part that breaks mid-swing becomes a projectile.

Legality (general information)

Sticks, staffs and other impact or flexible weapons are ordinary objects in some countries and restricted weapons in others (several European countries, for example, regulate nunchaku, batons or weighted chains). Carrying one in public without a good reason can be an offence even where owning it is legal. Transport it in a bag and use it in the training hall. This is general information, not legal advice: check local law.

Did you know?

The name compares the flying weight to a falling star.

More weapons

Rope dart Nine-section chain whip Three-section staff Urumi Kusarigama Nunchaku

Sources

Original WABUKAN text, written from these cross-checked sources (facts, not sentences).

1. Wikipedia — Meteor hammer