Butterfly Sabres

The pair of short sabres is a staple weapon in director Wu Pang’s 'Wong Fei Hung' films. The sabres get their name from the butterfly shape they create when crossed. In Heroes of the East (1978), lead actor Gordon Liu Chia-hui pits his butterfly sabres against Japanese actor Nakazaki Yasutaka and his twin sai (a melee weapon used in Okinawa). Liu’s agile turns and quick close-quarters attacks fully display the true characteristics of butterfly sabres. Director and martial arts choreographer Lau Kar Leung also cleverly utilises set designs to illuminate the limitations and combat styles of both weapons.

This pair of short sabres is a staple weapon in director Wu Pang’s 'Wong Fei Hung' films.