A little bit about the Dadao

[Urs Krebs]

I wrote a short article about the last traditional weapon that was used by the National Revolutionary Army during WWII:

https://craneinthetigersshadow.wordpress.com/2024/01/09/the-military-relevance-of-the-dadao-big-saber-in-the-20th-century/

[Bob]

We would use a dadao to train with as weighted training and did more or less stationary postures with movement of course - the weighted training help our jian forms and practice - note that in the jian work we did there were other exercises and drills we did that were unweighted with the jian itself - so the dadao was only one component of the training.

[Urs Krebs]

I agree that the Dadao is a tool for weighted training or a kind of conditioning especially for the wrist. I personally use it mostly to train double hand techniques.

[twocircles13]

We would use a dadao to train with as weighted training and did more or less stationary postures with movement of course - the weighted training help our jian forms and practice - note that in the jian work we did there were other exercises and drills we did that were unweighted with the jian itself - so the dadao was only one component of the training.

That’s interesting Bob.

Did you also learn Miao Dao, aka Wodao, aka Chang Dao? An unexpected outcome of this training for me was insight into Chen taijiquan and certain categories of martial art application, in general.

[Bob]

Yes, Twocircles13 we did learn it but it was only 4 moving postures.

However there was a two person fight which I learned pieces of but two of my classmates learned the entire form and played it at one of the Great Lakes Tournaments - used those Japanese bamboo flexible sword (I know virtually nothing about the Japanese martial arts LOL) - It was done very fast and was fun to watch.

I also remember something like this was not passed down by GM Liu but came through Adam Hsu via Han Qingtang - trouble with learning the fight is you needed a reliable partner committed to learning & practicing it outside of class.