history of the yoyo as a weapon

Radu Transylvanicus · 11th December 2004, 11:55 AM

There are also mentions of ancient Hawaiians doing things similar to yo-yo , basically o torpedo shaped stone club tied to a cord that seems they were wieldieng pretty good , something between a ,,bollas,, (trip weapon) and a killer yo-yo... Be back later with nomenclature and eventually pics on this one as it is late and its been a looong day!

fearn · 11th December 2004, 06:35 PM

Hi Radu,

You're right--the Hawaiian weapon is called a pikoi, and there are several in the collection of the Bishop Museum. Basically, it's a weight on the end of a line--supposedly it's used to trap or trip, but it looks similar to...

...the meteor hammer, a weighted line in Chinese martial arts, which might or might not have a tubular handle on the rope (i.e. one hand to guide, through which the rope moves, while the other hand controls the length of the rope.

...there's also a rope dart, in which the weight is replaced by a sharpened dart, and the dragon claw, where the weight is replaced by four curved, springy, metal claws.

There might also be an African weapon like the rope dart, although I have no information about tribe, name, or use.

Note that none of these are used as a yoyo. The Chinese weapons (shown in John Sanchez, Flexible Weapons) are used for linear strikes. To strike with the weapon, assume the following position: Off-hand holds the rope coiled, the other holds the weight on a few feet of line. Swing the weight in a vertical circle counterclockwise, and whip the weight out underhand, letting the line go loose with the other hand (don't let go of the end of the line!). After the weight hits the target (or misses), grab the rope with both hands, and pull it back rapidly, recoiling the rope as you go.

Basically, it's the analog of a repeater rifle. Rather than having a weight or dart that you throw once and lose, you can pull it back and use it again and again. Supposedly, if you're skillful, you get pretty fast, you can do all sorts of weird angle shots. You can, of course, hold it short and use it as a flail.

Sanchez's Flexible Weapons is a good guide to the use of flexible weapons in general.

F

johnlycos · 3rd July 2008, 09:24 PM

Zamboanga,

I found an answer for you. Here is a video of some people using the yo-yo as a weapon. They make it look like there is some unknown martial art behind it because it's a very good demonstration of using all the parts effectively.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px5Pwg4Bhbw

Mabuhay to Mindanao!

Lew · 4th July 2008, 02:28 PM

An off shoot of the dreaded tree yo-yo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQmEXYCJtoA

Lew

ariel · 4th July 2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

An off shoot of the dreaded tree yo-yo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQmEXYCJtoA

Lew

Gosh, Lew, what sites have you been checking?
Love it! Hope you do not show it to your students

fearn · 4th July 2008, 08:00 PM

Gotta love those solid steel yoyos and their uncuttable strings. Talk about Wham-O

ausjulius · 30th July 2008, 11:56 PM

i woudl have to say i would totaly disagree with the wild claim that the yo-yo originates in the philipines..
these toys have exsisted in europe for several thousand years aswell as in the middle east and were common all along , in the imttle dages they can be seen ,
and as far back as the acient greeks there is clear evidence as to their use,
ther eis a greek sculpture with a child with a yoyo... and some roman and greek mosaics picturing them being used .
as to them being used as a weapon in the philipines , maybe so , but this items is hardly related to the returning toy yoyo ,
still i do wounder if anyone would have a picture of a genuine article of these item,
also i wounder what sence it would be to use,, as if you are up a tree and waiting , then why not have a bow or a spear or blowgun,
as they all shurly will kill with much more effect and accuracy and tals kill much larger game..

also,, then why not have a net and a club and be done with it ?

3rd July 2008, 09:24 PM	#3
johnlycos Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1	Video of Yo-yo used as weapon Zamboanga, I found an answer for you. Here is a video of some people using the yo-yo as a weapon. They make it look like there is some unknown martial art behind it because it's a very good demonstration of using all the parts effectively. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px5Pwg4Bhbw Mabuhay to Mindanao!

11th December 2004, 11:55 AM	#1
Radu Transylvanicus Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: 2008-2010 Bali, 1998-2008 USA Posts: 271	There are also mentions of ancient Hawaiians doing things similar to yo-yo , basically o torpedo shaped stone club tied to a cord that seems they were wieldieng pretty good , something between a ,,bollas,, (trip weapon) and a killer yo-yo... Be back later with nomenclature and eventually pics on this one as it is late and its been a looong day!

11th December 2004, 06:35 PM	#2
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Radu, You're right--the Hawaiian weapon is called a pikoi, and there are several in the collection of the Bishop Museum. Basically, it's a weight on the end of a line--supposedly it's used to trap or trip, but it looks similar to... ...the meteor hammer, a weighted line in Chinese martial arts, which might or might not have a tubular handle on the rope (i.e. one hand to guide, through which the rope moves, while the other hand controls the length of the rope. ...there's also a rope dart, in which the weight is replaced by a sharpened dart, and the dragon claw, where the weight is replaced by four curved, springy, metal claws. There might also be an African weapon like the rope dart, although I have no information about tribe, name, or use. Note that none of these are used as a yoyo. The Chinese weapons (shown in John Sanchez, Flexible Weapons) are used for linear strikes. To strike with the weapon, assume the following position: Off-hand holds the rope coiled, the other holds the weight on a few feet of line. Swing the weight in a vertical circle counterclockwise, and whip the weight out underhand, letting the line go loose with the other hand (don't let go of the end of the line!). After the weight hits the target (or misses), grab the rope with both hands, and pull it back rapidly, recoiling the rope as you go. Basically, it's the analog of a repeater rifle. Rather than having a weight or dart that you throw once and lose, you can pull it back and use it again and again. Supposedly, if you're skillful, you get pretty fast, you can do all sorts of weird angle shots. You can, of course, hold it short and use it as a flail. Sanchez's Flexible Weapons is a good guide to the use of flexible weapons in general. F

4th July 2008, 02:28 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	An off shoot of the dreaded tree yo-yo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQmEXYCJtoA Lew

4th July 2008, 08:00 PM	#6
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Gotta love those solid steel yoyos and their uncuttable strings. Talk about Wham-O

30th July 2008, 11:56 PM	#7
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 459	i woudl have to say i would totaly disagree with the wild claim that the yo-yo originates in the philipines.. these toys have exsisted in europe for several thousand years aswell as in the middle east and were common all along , in the imttle dages they can be seen , and as far back as the acient greeks there is clear evidence as to their use, ther eis a greek sculpture with a child with a yoyo... and some roman and greek mosaics picturing them being used . as to them being used as a weapon in the philipines , maybe so , but this items is hardly related to the returning toy yoyo , still i do wounder if anyone would have a picture of a genuine article of these item, also i wounder what sence it would be to use,, as if you are up a tree and waiting , then why not have a bow or a spear or blowgun, as they all shurly will kill with much more effect and accuracy and tals kill much larger game.. also,, then why not have a net and a club and be done with it ?