#daoistsword

[steelandcotton]

Qing Period images of Bannermen drawing their swords are rare, so I was quite please to uncover this portrait of one unsheathing his Jian.

Comparing what we see here with other Qing Period paintings, we should note several consistent details-

When Drawing a Jian, the left hand typically grasps the scabbard near to, or at, the scabbard throat. 

The upward draw into a Liao Cut appears to be the favored draw. This upward Liao can be angled to intercept a cut or initiate an advance.

Jian were often slung from a belt by cloth lanyards, however, it appears that in most cases Jianke preferred to carry the sword in the left free from any restraints a lanyard might impose.

While these details of technique and carry are those commonly depicted, we should also keep in mind that these might have also been a matter of artistic convention of the time.

[steelandcotton]

A well timed, perfectly placed Ge Cut delivered by Roland Tepp on the right that intercepts his duifangs cut. Ge Cuts are properly aimed at the sword arm or hand and not the blade. Striking the duifang’s blade often has little result or can even giving the duifang energy to counter-cut with.

Roland Tepp is a long time Apprentice Student at the Academy and runs the Tallinn Branch of the Great River Taoist Center where he teaches.

[steelandcotton]

[steelandcotton]

Ming Period Jian as Depicted in Sāncái Tú Huì, 三才圖會. Note the “V” shaped angular tip that was a common feature of Ming Jian.

[steelandcotton]

Those of us practicing Sword Arts today, think of them as just that, Arts. We train as a method for self-cultivation, for the intellectual stimulation of the fast paced chess game swordplay can be, to stay fit and strong. Yet not so long ago, the reality of facing an armed duifang intent on taking your life before you relieve him of his, no doubt brought a different sense of immediacy to training.

Looking for Realistic, Historically Accurate Swordplay Training? 

https://www.chineseswordacademy.com/

[steelandcotton]

Intercepting: Jie and Ge Cuts- Chinese Swordsmanship Webinar Excerpt

Looking for a systematic method to move from Forms Only Practice to Full On Free Swordplay? It's here >>>====> https://www.chineseswordacademy.com/membershipsandcourses Online & In-Person Training. Use Code: cut50 for Half Off the First Two Months.

[steelandcotton]

Running Spearman

Context can be everything... During Academy of Chinese Swordsmanship Webinars, we often look at Daofa applications in an almost dueling like setting, one on one. Daofa however, was more of a military/battlefield art. Men were often in tight lines or other formations, or as this page from the Bing Lu (兵录) illustrates, charging. Many of the movements we see in various forms make more sense if the spearman you are facing is charging, even at a slow run run.

[steelandcotton]

Dry bamboo is pretty much the most challenging target. This one is not even pegged down. >>>=====> Also a great photo for the few left who think that you cannot cut with a jian because it is a thrust-centric weapon. Note the flex of the jian, demonstrating the stress of the impact on the blade. Photo is of Great River Taoist Center student Cutting in the Wuguan’s garden.

https://www.chineseswordacademy.com/

[steelandcotton]

Duanbing Chinese? Period documents suggest otherwise. Rather than being based on Chinese Sword Work, Duanbing developed during the Chinese Republic and was based more on the European Military Saber of the time rather than Chinese Sword arts. At least one Chinese manual from the period was a reprint of a Japanese manual that was this European Military Saber method as it was transmitted to the Japanese military.

[steelandcotton]

Scott M. Rodell demonstrates a Double Pi Cut executed with a Ryan Sword Double Dragon Jian.

Bamboo is a fairly hard surfaced test cutting target. Accordingly, cuts to the stalk must be delivered at a 45 degree angle, or the blade will bounce off. The typical target for a pī cut (劈) in real swordplay is the duifang’s sword arm, with perhaps a second cut aimed to the same side shoulder. The human body being softer than bamboo, these cuts would be delivered at a stepper angle than when cutting bamboo. Unfortunately, this mean when practicing these cuts, the deflecting movement between the two cuts is much wider than when deflecting the duifang’s weapon in actual free swordplay. Practitioners should make note of this difference when training.

[steelandcotton]

I have been consulting for The Art of Fire & Iron, a forge in Longquan, about swords for practitioners. We have been discussing weights, lengths, POB, that make for good cutting as well as regular form practice. One result so far is they forged a Lanling Jian prototype that is being sent to me for review and testing. If it turns out as well as expected (I was happy with their other jian I reviewed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwmcDmLaG2A), we might just see about a special offer on them for Academy of Chinese Swordsmanship Subscribers.

[steelandcotton]

Major Star of the Dipper

Movement

from the Yang Style Taiji Sword form

https://www.chineseswordacademy.com/

[steelandcotton]

Just back from a great Four Days of In Person Seminars in St. Paul, MN. It was wonderful seeing students in person again. Happy to see people from far away coming together, students flew in from Texas, Vermont, Colorado, Massachusetts, Virginia… Things are still quite fluid, but we are moving ahead with tentative plans for 3 Seminars next year back in St. Paul and 2 in the UK. Expect one around Chinese New Year…

[steelandcotton]

I’m constantly digging up historical images for our YouTube videos. Just got this Ming print for a video in the works on the Pǔdāo (朴刀) from Thomas Chen. For those not familiar with the Pǔdāo it is the long bladed polearm seen at the center of the print. Please check out Great River Taoist Center’s Youtube Channel-https://www.youtube.com/user/mugenGRTC

[steelandcotton]

劍客之道

Way of the Jianke

Essential Elements of Chinese Swordsmanship-

The jianke must be Versatile (靈活) 

Speed is essential to the jianke (速捷)

The jianke develops Internal Power (內勁)

The jianke must have Courage (膽力)

The most essential characteristic of the jianke is Calm (膽力)

https://www.chineseswordacademy.com/

[steelandcotton]

https://www.youtube.com/user/mugenGRTC