A '''hook sword''' is a weapon consisting of a rod or blade that curves into a large, sharpened hook at the tip, with an axelike blade set parallel to the hilt of the sword. Hook swords usually also have a short dagger-like spike protruding from the bottom of the handle. They are usually used in pairs, and make it easy to disarm a foe or sometimes to trip one. The weapons were first used by Shaolin Monks in [[China]].
== In fiction ==
*In the [[Mortal Kombat]] series of games, [[Kabal]] and [[Mavado]] both use a pair of hook swords. In the first [[Mortal Kombat (movie)|spinoff movie]], an [[Outworld]] warrior can be seen wielding a pair, though they are never used in combat.
*In [[Avatar: The Last Airbender]], an Earth Kingdom dweller named [[Jet]] uses hookswords to fight off Fire Nation soldiers and move around the trees in the forest in which he lives.
== In Martial Arts ==
The hook sword is a Chinese Weapon that traces it’s history back to 1771 BC. Evolving from that ancient weapon known as the Gur (Dagger Axe), the advanced weapon has many cutting edges.
This weapon is a difficult weapon to learn because it is bladed in all directions, making it easy to cut one’s self if one make the slightest miss calculation. It is for the same reason that there are no recorded two man sets (ancient choreographed fights) developed for the weapon. The weapon is usually used in pairs so the practitioner may apply defensive/ offensive maneuvers, more over the two swords may be hooked together and used as a “soft” (flexible) weapon. There are two forms (or Katas) known for the weapon; one developed by Wing Lam Kung Fu (witch uses more direct and hard hitting techniques) and the other by the Wu Shu (Taking a flowery approach using many wrist terns and kicks.)
It is considered the most popular of the rare weapons of Kung Fu. It is used primarily agents a Spear, but it is quite effective agents staffs and chine whips. It is easily beaten, how ever, by the Straight swords (Ti chi sword) due to its elusive nature and it can not be trapped.
