Weapons Seminar With Duncan Osbourne

Group Photo Of Spear & Butterfly Knives Seminar With Sifu Duncan Osbourne

Duncan Osbourne used to teach me Wing Chun Kung Fu as a closed door student at his home in Burton upon Trent before my near fatal car accident in March 2000. Last time Duncan came to Bedworth was in February 2000, to conduct a seminar on the Wooden Dummy for me, and the students of Sil Lum Kune. On Sunday 14th July 2002 Duncan returned to Bedworth for a weapons seminar on Butterfly knives and the spear. The seminar started at 1.00pm with a quick stretch to loosen everyone up. Due to the heat and nice weather we then moved outside on to the field, splitting up into two groups to study our chosen weapon.

I had chosen the Butterfly knives because I hadn’t used them before and was keen to try something new. Duncan moved between the two groups showing us a few moves at a time, which we would then practice as he then worked with the other group. Slowly but surely we built the moves up until we could comfortably manage the several sections of the form we were studying. I personally found it very easy to learn the Butterfly knives and this could be due to the fact that I have previously studied Wing Chun, or because Duncan’s teaching methods made it easy for us to learn.

Sifu Paul Burkinshaw and Students Practice The Butterfly Knives

Half way through the seminar we had a 15 minute break for something to eat and drink. This also proved a useful time for the students to discuss the different aspects of the weapons and the techniques represented in the forms with Duncan. Several students commented on the different designs of Butterfly knives, with many taking a shine to Duncan’s heavy stainless steel knives.

Soon we were back on the grass practising once again. I liked the Butterfly knives and thought how practical it was, utilising all the aspects of its design. Through practice and repetition I soon found the movements beginning to flow naturally. Duncan would then show me a few more movements, which I would then pass onto the rest of the group. He would then watch and make any corrections to the students if necessary.

After a while practicing, I took a minute out to look at the group learning the spear. After watching some of the group going through the moves, I was very pleased with how well several students had taken to this weapon making the movements look so natural. I thought it to be an attractive form that flowed well, and the several students I spoke to, were also happy at how all the moves were now coming together.

Everyone enjoyed the seminar, and asked if Duncan could return in the near future.

Written by Sifu Paul Burkinshaw

(Chief Instructor of Sil Lum Kune

and the Shaolin Fist Chinese Boxing Association)

 Duncan Osborne And Students Of Sil Lum Kune Practicing With Spears

I decided to choose the spear for the weapons seminar conducted by Duncan Osbourne, because the elegant and graceful movements of this weapon appealed to me. Duncan started with a demonstration of basic spear rotation combined with how to have correct body positioning and stances.

Within a few minutes of practising this I felt in harmony with the spear and started to settle down and enjoy the experience. I was also pleasantly suprised how quickly I found that I felt my movements gaining in the gracefulness and elegance displayed by Duncan when he was demonstrating the weapon. The ergonomic make-up of the weapon ensured I could fully control the spear, as the nimble willow shaft swayed in and out under the heavier weighted spear tip, allowing the movements to flow in a free and easy manner.

Guided by Duncan at regular intervals, I was soon able to incorporate all the finer details into the form making the final product look crisp and precise. These finer details included correct stances, body positioning, weight distribution, and more precise spear tip location etc.

On the whole the experience has encouraged my development and co-ordination. I can now take my new found ability forward in the hope of mastering other obstacles in the future.

Written by Paul Evans

(Student of Sil Lum Kune)