Well regarding Jakie Chan, he used the 'rope dart' style. It's a very difficult style to learn. That's why not many chinese martial artists study it. It consists of a rope and a steel dart at the end with a small tassle or flag attatched to the base to distract opponents. I wont get into the mechanics of the application cause it'll take a while to explain. One thing that is a trademark of the rope dart is wraping it around your body in some crazy ass way. Jackie does it well in Shanghai Noon. My old Sifu is one of a few that has mastered it, but he rarely demonstrates it.

Here's a bare bones exlination:
http://uregina.ca/~chan11ka/ropedart.html

From what I saw Gogo Yubari used the 'chain whip style' when she was fighting Uma. Another chinese weapon style which consists of links of chain formed into a whip with a either a spike or thin blade at the end. It's also difficult to learn, but more people elect to learn it.

It's been a while since I've visited, but I think there's a video at this site showing a chain whip form along with other weapon forms:
http://www.beijingwushuteam.com/video.html

GD

It's great to have friends that stay up all hours of the day! Here's an article a friend emailed me about those forms. Enjoy!

From: http://www.wle.com/resources/art046.html

Flexible Weapons: A Basic Introduction
by Patrick Vinson

Weapons of traditional Chinese martial arts are typically thought of as being short, long, or flexible. Examples of short weapons include the broadsword, shield, axe and bare hands. Logically, the staff, spear and kwan dao are typical examples of long weapons. The clear difference between these first two classifications of weapons is their range. Whereas short weapons were handy in military applications for up close and ferocious conflict, the increased weight and reach of long-range weapons provided a safer way to find a decisive advantage in combat.

The historical purposes, functions and methods of flexible weapons are not so obviously defined. Their great history reaches as far back as the early Stone Age when bone forks and sharpened stones were attached to ropes to create a retrievable hunting weapon. From primitive tools such as these evolved the rope dart, sometimes called the rope whip, and eventually a myriad of other flexible weapons.

Unfortunately, flexible weapons are frequently referred to as "soft weapons" in modern martial arts circles, which somewhat belies their true nature. While it is true that flexible weapons can be supple, they can also be hard, light, heavy, short and long. They can come from above or below, from far away (at six meters, the rope dart is the longest of all traditional Chinese weapons) or up close, and change speed unpredictably. Some can even attack from two different angles at once. In other words, they are truly "flexible" in every definition of the word.

The wide variety of these weapons remains true to this definition as well. Some are constructed predominately of rope or chain, others of solid segments of wood or metal, but most are hybrids composed of two or more of these elements. Many of them bear hooks, claws, maces and blades. Of the many examples of flexible weapons, some of the most famous include the rope dart, meteor hammer, nine-section chain whip (though there are chain whips of differing styles with as few as two and many as thirteen sections) and the three-section staff. Among the less well-known are the dragon beard hook, wolf-fang hammer and double-headed dragon chain whip.

Useful Weapons

Flexible weapons have had little trouble proving their worth throughout history. Employed prodigiously both in military applications as well as civilian use, these exotic martial implements have always proved a unique means for overcoming the unpredictability of combat.

As a primary weapon, flexible weapons were some of the most innovative and deadly weapons on the battlefield. Used during the Period of the Warring States (476-221 BC), the meteor hammer was a genius way for skilled combatants to overcome opponents. This weapon, like many flexible weapons, relied on the manipulation of great rotational forces to deliver lethal blows. Little more than a 3kg brass hammer attached to the end of a five-meter length of cotton rope, the meteor hammer could be shot out at opportune angles to smash poorly defended targets at a distance and then made to return hastily to it's user.

Civilians and soldiers alike also realized that flexible weapons made great "hide-out" weapons. Rope darts and nine-section chain whips were frequently worn about the waist or folded up to fit into a pocket. Soldiers appreciated the fact that they could rely on a fast and lethal back-up (or surprise) weapon without increasing their load or compromising their mobility. Civilians, who could not or did not want to appear confrontational by walking the streets with weapons, benefited from the defensive peace of mind allowed them by a concealable weapon. In ancient China, hapless opponents were probably lured into range by the twining and seemingly binding motions of some flexible weapons, only to be dispatched by a sudden blow as soon as they stepped within the concealed range of the perfectly ready weapon.

Diversity in Learning

If you're interested in expanding the scope of your martial style, you might want to consider training in the use of a flexible weapon. Even if your style does not have any flexible weapons in it's system, it never hurts to become familiar with something new. Shaolin monks were devout Buddhists and therefore adverse to bloodshed, yet they still trained with edged weapons in order to learn their methods and strategies so that they would be competent enough to face them in a fight.

Flexible weapons, though often more difficult to manipulate than other weapons, seem to epitomize the artful combination of power and grace that is present to some degree in every martial style. They demand regular and concentrated practice as do all other weapons, but perhaps even more so than the standard "short" or "long" weapons because of their unique properties.

One must first decide resolutely to be brave, but not foolhardy, in training with a flexible weapon. Because they are so unique, they can be quite intimidating to use at first. Yet a martial artist cannot be afraid of a weapon and expect to advance in the skill of its use. Think of trying to catch a ball while cringing from it in fear. You're so worried that you're going to get hit that you that you can't focus on the path of the ball or the position of your hands and you do get hit. It might be best to just accept the fact that a few dings and dents are going to happen when first learning to use any flexible weapon. Just decide to keep from being daunted by initial failures at difficult techniques and learn from the mistake as with anything else in martial arts practice.

Obviously, it also a good idea to take the time to get used to the basic motions of the weapon - with just enough power to make the motion possible at first - and get used to the way these movement feel. Ultimately, speed will build to the point where tracking the weapon visually becomes impractical. Eventually one has to feel where the weapon is going, rather than see it. Start off by practicing what might seem like remedial linear and circular motions and allow yourself to get used to the feeling gradually. From there, learn some of the basic techniques and get used to the way those feel as well, so that you have some idea of how the weapon works before trying to tie movements together.

Next, it's time to learn a complete set with your weapon. Some flexible weapons, like the rope dart, are commonly said to have no standardized sets, but the point is to have some way to learn how to tie movements together in the interests of increased coordination and speed. Much of the skill in flexible weapons play relies on the ability to link movements together fluidly; without this, the weapon will temporarily go slack and become powerless.

If you manage to master a flexible weapon, consider further increasing the diversity of your knowledge by trying either a double weapons set or a two-person sparring set. Chain whips of varied lengths are sometimes seen used in pairs and are as beautiful to behold in play as they are deadly in application. In addition, many flexible weapons are very practical to use in combination with another more standard weapon. For example, the esoteric dragon beard hook was a small two-bladed hook attached to a long cotton rope that could be used in combination with another weapon. The goal was to injure and snare opponents at a distance so that they could be more easily hauled in and finished off with another weapon. Two-person sparring sets offer yet another level of challenge. Performing a two-person sparring set at full-speed with a flexible weapon requires perhaps the highest level of skill in flexible weapons training. Because of the great potential danger, flexible weapons sparring sets require extensive training and regular practice.

Most importantly, it is as important as ever to keep in mental touch with the basics of your empty hand practice, whatever style you practice. Regular training (or just warming up) with some empty-hand sets is probably the best way to put your mind where it needs to be for flexible weapon practice. If your regular training curriculum includes more standard weapons, continued diligence in their practice won't ever hurt either. After all, no matter how different a flexible weapon might seem, the weapon still has to be controlled by the body. Making the effort to improve basic empty-hand skills through regular training will always deepen your appreciation and understanding of a new endeavor into the world of flexible weapons.

GD

Wow GD - that is great information! I'm glad someone knew, because I've been sitting in awe of these flexible weapons for quite some time. Amazing how much power is wrapped in a tiny ball of string!