Buying a sword

[chimojo]

A normal length sword is usually used when you are learning. In time, you are able to handle longer swords. That requires more skill. Heavier swords are more for training or practical purposes. Tin foil wushu swords are for shows.

[TheGravedigger]

My biggest concern has been the definition of "normal". It's clear that Master Yang considers the proper length to be from the solar plexus to the ground. However, given my 6'4" height, even my longsword won't do that! It would seem that the 36" blade would come closest, as Dvivd stated.

Weight is not really a concern for me. I've trained with walking cane, katana, and German longsword, so using relatively heavy weapons of varying balance both one- and two-handed is a familiar thing. However, few companies supply the longer swords, and only buykungfu.com seems to have them in 36-inch blade lengths.

If anyone knows of another supplier that might fit the bill for a big guy like me, please let me know.

[OBREGON]

Hi, Damo
Can you see this web?

http://www.chinatown-shop.com/

I hope you can find what you're looking for

[TheGravedigger]

Thanks for the link! Their prices are good -- how's the quality?

[OBREGON]

The quality is quite acceptable, is the best that I have
found taking into account the value for money.
The blade to the my taste is too flexible, but
has a nerve center that gives balance and stability
to the sword. The model I bought "Tai Ji
Straightsword (Upper Range 2) "I think it is one that fits
plus a teacher's idea ...
Sorry for my English

[yeniseri]

Here are some points my teacher(s) have passed on to me:

1. In the beginning posture, tip of jian is close to your ear
2. Jian used in competition is too flexible and too light
3. Better to get a heavier jian! Weilding it ober time creates the muscle strength to help in other aspects of taijiquan practice.
4. Quality is less important than 'skill'. If you are just want to accumulate or store jian(s) as part of sword collection, then nothing is wrong with that.

[chimojo]

1. In the beginning posture, tip of jian is close to your ear

This is how I would define a "normal" length for jian.

[TheGravedigger]

Yeniseri, please don't misunderstand my meaning of "quality." I'm not looking for an elaborate collector's item. I use the word "quality" in the sense of being sturdy and well-made. My ideal is a sword that is firm-bladed, well balanced, and won't fall apart under the rigors of daily practice. Elaborate period reproductions with hand-forged blades don't interest me (not from the practical standpoint, anyway).

The problem is that good reviews are hard to find, and nothing compares with holding the sword in your own hand.

Does anybody have any experience with Paul Chen's Adam Hsu line? Chen usually makes a good sword, but the representative at Beijing Imports said that many practitioners considered the 1-inch wide blade to be too narrow. Is the width a factor if the blade is still stiff?

[yeniseri]

No problem!
If interested, you can check out this site.

http://forum.grtc.org/viewforum.php?f=8

Start with a rough, ugly and heavy jian, then as you get better, search for 'authenticity'.

happy training!

[TheGravedigger]

Interesting link! I particularly like the $5,691 64k layer number. Cutting green bamboo like that is tough. However, a mistake with it during partner drills could be -- counterproductive.

[Dave C.]

Does anybody have any experience with Paul Chen's Adam Hsu line? Chen usually makes a good sword, but the representative at Beijing Imports said that many practitioners considered the 1-inch wide blade to be too narrow. Is the width a factor if the blade is still stiff?

I use the Adam Hsu jian and one of my teachers helped him design it:
http://formosaneijia.com/2006/buying-a- ... word-pt-2/

Above is my review of the sword and some of the ideas that my teacher and Hsu put into the sword. I included those since they should influence your decision whether or not to buy the sword.

The blade is quite stiff and is well balanced about 4-5" away from the hilt. The tip isn't too light so it's good for stabbing practice, etc.

Ultimately which sword you go with will depend on what your teacher would like you to practice with and what makes you comfortable. If the teacher is saying you need a specific type of sword then that's a major consideration.

I love the Hsu jian and haven't had any problems with it. For the price, I consider it one of the best jian buys out there. Just be sure to get the wooden handle not the plastic one.

[TheGravedigger]

Good review! I wish I had read it earlier.

I ended up getting the Original Competition Darn Gim from Beijing Imports (buykungfu.com). The 36" length and ridged blade, combined with the price, made my mind up.

The sword has a beautiful balance and light weight, and handles like an extension of my arm. As I've mentioned previously, I'm used to rapiers and longswords, so the lightness of this sword is like a breath of fresh air.

The blade has a stiffening ridge in the center that runs about half the length of the blade and provides quite a bit of stiffness to the first two thirds. There is also a pronounced distal taper that provides very good handling characteristics. The spring steel is polished to a very nice sheen, and is stamped with images of a dragon on one side and a sun & moon on the other. <chuckle> I don't think they affect the performance, but they're there anyway. The steel seems to be of good quality, and could be easily sharpened in an afternoon. The finish on the scabbard and grip are painted, and I'm sure it will rub off over time. However, since I'm a woodworker, replacing the grip with a nice exotic hardwood one would be no problem. The tassel immediately went in the closet.

I WAS surprised at the flexibility of the last foot of the blade. When it arrived, I thought they had sent me the wrong sword. However, a phone call (answered by the owner) reasurred me that no mistake had been made. He (and others) told me that a Wushu blade will bend almost in half, rather than the 60-90 degree bend in the last foot that mine has. As I mentioned previously, the first two-thirds is quite stiff, and the bottom third should give good parry authority if needed.

From the training standpoint, this flexibility provides me with an excellent gauge of the smoothness of my technique -- if it wiggles, DO IT AGAIN! I think Spirit Cat Catches the Mouse is going to take some work...

Hmm...I didn't really mean to write a review, but I guess that's what this turned into. All in all, I'm very pleased with the sword so far. Granted, this is my first experience with a jian, but I have used various other styles of sword for 25 years. I think it's going to meet my needs for now.

[Dvivid]

I have the same exact sword, and also love it. Its the best for the price, and you're not afraid to bash it around in training with another person, or slicing branches off trees, as we did at YMAA California for hours some days.

[TheGravedigger]

Slicing BRANCHES off TREES?

I never dreamed that the steel would stand up to that, especially considering the thinness at the tip. I guess my initial impression about the metal was right.

I always pictured the taiji jian as being more of a slicing weapon, with thrusting as a strong second. This seemed borne out by the form and applications. It never occurred to me that you could cut branches with a tip like that -- seems more like something you would do with a wu jian. I suppose I could sharpen it up and see, but then what would I do for matching drills?

Of course, cutting is mainly in the technique, not the sharpness of the blade. I wish I could get that point across to my longsword students.

[Dave C.]

He (and others) told me that a Wushu blade will bend almost in half, rather than the 60-90 degree bend in the last foot that mine has.

Wow, that's news to me. But you guys at YMAA are using really long swords. I personally wouldn't cut tree limbs with a blade that flexible, but to each his own.

[Dvivid]

Master Yang says "Spring steel blades must be flexible enough to bend 30 degrees and not retain any bow. The dealer may not like this test, so you must be firm about it. "

Ha! They LOVE it when you bend the blade!

[Josh Young]

I would like to to start by saying a sword should fit the owner.

The idea that a Chinese sword was custom to the person is akin to saying that guns today are made custom to the person.
Chinese soldiers and guards largely used issued weapons. Village militia weapons were also produced according to a template.
There are tens of thousands of Chinese jian in museums and private collections in the world, many of them being quite old. We have illustrations from different eras in China as well which depict swords.

I have tremendous respect for Yang Jwing-Ming and his scholarship and in my lineage we too have an instruction for custom jian sizing that is pretty much identical to what Yang relates, however historically speaking custom swords were expensive and not widely available for the average village practitioner let alone for career soldiers.

Swords from the Han dynasty clearly come in both long and short variations. One thing to note however is that as far as authentic swords go the short ones and the long ones have almost identical weights. A proper short sword is not lighter than a longer jian and it should not be.

It might be brought up that 600 years ago a sword that reached to the solar plexus of the average Chinese man would have been considerably shorter than it would be today for western practitioners. I am just over 6 feet tall for example, a sword for me would be a foot longer than a sword for a 5 foot tall man, we could compare the swords alone and easily become confused about length.

[foilsabre]

I am planning to buy a sword and i was happy with your opinions and suggestions on how to choose a sword.

[Josh Young]

There is a new sword out that is ideal for taiji.
It is made in the style of antiques, having historical authenticity.
It is a Jian, and it is sharp, and it is made to cut.

You see few chinese sword users have practice cutting with their moves. So a new sword has been made to allow that, and allow form work etc.

http://www.chinese-swords-guide.com/hanwei-swords.html

It can be bought for about $300. I am getting one soon.

[NC Tai Chi]

Josh, here it is for a bit cheaper:
http://www.swordnation.com/cas_hanwei_c ... swords.php



Peace