Chen sword, begginer q.?

[wiesiek]

Yesterday I was invited for Chen sword class. I have 0 experience in Chen sword forms and didn`t worked long time in big / 7 + teacher groups /. This small taste of connections between the sword and the body put a new light on my dantian and qi work, so I decided to dig into it a little.
My questions are:

1. 2 kg sword seems to be too light for me,
- should I get heavier one?
- how heavy is the real thing?
2. For faster and better learning, should I learn only stepping pattern 1st ?
or cut the forms on elements and works to the death with single movement/s/?
3. where to buy really good sword and don`t break limit of my credit card ?

thanx in advance

[taiwandeutscher]

Traditional sword weigh between 650 and 800g, with a point of balance some 13 / 16 cm before the guard.
1kg and slightly above is ok (PoB better closer to the guard, if you don't have really strong wrists).
2 kg wasters are used for training power only, too slow in action.
Test cutting with basic techniques is a good reality check, but I wouldn't separate the form too much.
Good swords do have their price, but it is an investment for life. Check Scott Rodells 7* trading, his cutting sword should be under 300US$.

[wiesiek]

wow, it is not the very heavy tool ,
this training one which I get felt so light, and as you stated is heavier than real.
or I have too strong wrist
How cutting test is performed?

[taiwandeutscher]

See Sevenstar Trading Website. Scott performs very well!

[LaoDan]

The information that taiwandeuscher gave is accurate to my understanding.

Scott does sell a book on test cutting covering safety, sharpening, etc.:



You can also look at his forum which has a section on test cutting:

http://forum.grtc.org/viewforum.php?f=9&sid=b9b49fcb542842eaa1036e22cbecbc72

Dan

[wiesiek]

thank You
Dan, this link is to the forum similar to our rsf,/btw video locked, for general viever/
coudn`t find his /Scott/ trading page
do you have direct link?

[wiesiek]

I found it thx

[wiesiek]

well,
they sell via UPS express only, cost -$341,


sword -$334

i`m fucked up

[wiesiek]

well,
they sell via UPS express only, cost -$341,


sword -$334

i`m fucked up

[Bill]

wiesiek

I would not recommend you buy a nice sword while you are a beginner. You will inevitably bang it up while learning its use. Better to use cheap, easily replacable practice swords until you're at least intermediate in skill.

Myself, I think I'll soon be getting one of his cutting swords soon, but I've worked with jians for a while.

[wiesiek]

sure, Bill,
I don`T gona pay more for shipment then for the sword
Have to ask somebody in the states to order and buy it for me .
it`s will take some time.
I have bo and couple different sticks for practise in mean time,
and trained some JMA style years ago .
I also own really nice Turkish sabre with blade as good as it can be, real Damascus steel,
so
I`m not absolute greenhorn in the word of steel.

[Andy_S]

Skill is more important than the tool. If you like, just get a stick or a waster.

I agree that heavier is better than lighter for training....and when we are talking about swords it is ALL about training.

Using a sword in battle or in SD is simply not going to happen in today's world.

[wiesiek]

training with sharp tool in the hand, while you are surrounded by circulating steel,
lifts every aspect of the training
for
the
very
next
level
so, i found it interesting.
Shitty sword from the on-line MA shop go for over $400, have no idea about e-bay $10 a piece, , dough
they don`t send it to the Poland anyway. Here I have easy access to the quite different swords . Somehow I can even buy very high quality katana below $400 but any Jian around.
Couple years ago there was not one MA shop around Krakow, but all gone now , or move somewhere,
Little bit more than $ 300 for Scott`s jian, looks pretty well in such situation, only mailing price is real pain in t.a.,
So far looki`n for US connection.
In mean time I use something lighter than my tibetan stick , and with chip sound when doing "fa".
I have wooden katana from the past, Is better switch for it until I get something better, than present thin wushu replica?

[wiesiek]

agree about skills importance ,
re SD:
I didn`t decided to take sword lessons for it,
but
Andy, you may missed it, but, here in Krakow - Machete is the favourite tool of the choice on the streets .

[Andy_S]

Wiesiek:

If you can't get a Chinese sword for decent money, get some kind of European double-edged straight sword - a rapier or smallsword are probably the closest thing to a jian in terms of design, social class and historical use - but if you really want a wrist workout, you could even get a knight's long sword and practice with it. (I have a replica longs word at my parents home in France, and practice Chen jian form with it. After a couple of rounds with that, you won't be wanking for a week.)

People can (and do) argue endlessly over the merits of different blades, but a double-edged straight sword is essentially a double-edged straight sword.

RE: Krakow gangstas with machetes
Sorry to hear this. Even so: Unless you are planning to walk about town armed like D'Artagnan, you are unlikely to have your sword to hand if attacked by a chap with a machete are you...?

OTOH, if you have a sword on the wall at home, it may be useful for SD if machete wielding bad boys break in:" "An Englishman's Home is his Castle." And that is probably the same for Poles, eh?