Thanks for all of the information. It looks like there are a lot of different options, which is great. I will also have a look at what the HEMA people are doing for ideas as well. The European swort art has come a long way in a short time and it seems like it's working for them and they already have most of the equipment I'll need.
I trained at least eight hours today.. So tired... My master and I met up with two other masters this morning and exchanged some knowledge. Their Miaodao stuff was great. I then learned some more in-depth footwork and fenced with a lot of people this afternoon and had a chance to use what I learned on the lesser opponents. Got bruised pretty badly by another disciple that has been learning a lot longer than me, but I did well considering the little time that I've been studying it so far. There really is a lot of technique involved and practise makes perfect.
I am so impressed at how intact the sword art is. At least with these masters. They are in the minority. I really hope that their respective arts get passed on. It is so cool to learn an unbroken tradition of armed combat. In a way, the popularity of HEMA is helping Chinese weapon arts. My master never learned the complete curriculum of any art (armed or unarmed). He travelled around China and learned from whoever had the skills and was willing to teach him. Some masters had gaps in their knowledge, which he filled by going to other masters, to eventually arrive at a near complete art. His focus has always been on fighting and how to do it more effectively. He reads a lot as well. He knows what works and what doesn't and experiments a lot.
He has decided that there are already enough people working to preserve and promote traditional unarmed styles and that he will focus on armed arts (though there is a lot of overlap). When he was young his master taught him with sticks and beat his arse every day. Now, with modern equipment, there is less pain, but that intensity is still there. It's not a game, but trained as a matter of life and death. We spend a lot of time on footwork, which is critical, and strength-building foundation exercises, like developing strong wrists. The years of unarmed training are serving me well, although I can't completely rely on it. One wrong move and you're finished. There is a lot of Tingjin, or "listening" for one's opponent's power, like in Taijiquan and wrestling, especially when binding. That sensitivity is important and there are a lot of cool drills to train it.
Overall I'm having a blast and am making good progress. My goal is to upgrade to proper swords and armour eventually, but am learning the technique first. They just bought a real Jian, so I'll have the opportunity to train with it as well and feel the difference. It's about a kilogram in weight. Twice as heavy as our fencing swords! Anyways, I just wanted to share my journey with all of you. Good luck in your training.