Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Discussion on the three big Chinese internals, Yiquan, Bajiquan, Piguazhang and other similar styles.

Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby Wanderingdragon on Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:06 pm

Course when I was in the pit I never lost a leg or an arm or got stabbed like in the other fantasy sparring scenarios of grown men. 8-)
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby klonk on Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:35 pm

When you return to Europe, learn to fence.

There is an intellectual and analytical bent that makes it better than anything I have seen out of the orient.
I define internal martial art as unusual muscle recruitment and leave it at that. If my definition is incomplete, at least it is correct so far as it goes.
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby klonk on Sat Sep 30, 2017 8:13 pm

Also, babes.

I define internal martial art as unusual muscle recruitment and leave it at that. If my definition is incomplete, at least it is correct so far as it goes.
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby MaartenSFS on Thu Oct 05, 2017 3:32 am

Haha, that's a more valid argument than many have for studying an art.. :P

What I'm learning is honestly the barbarian's way of swordsmanship. I asked about using the edge to intercept incoming blows and other techniques and my master said that he would worry about that when the war was over (though to be fair the back edge of a sabre is thicker and softer). This type of sword in China was often crude and used by peasants to fend off bandits or by bandits to... fend off peasants. It was not revered. If you broke one, which happened to any kind of sword you could pick up someone else's or make or buy another one if you lived long enough. They would often be hanging on racks, more like tools than anything else. The length of the sword, weight, how to grip it weren't standardised. The hard training to wield them is - to an extent. Whether they are made of steel, wood or PVC doesn't matter (although sharp steel is the most lethal). The art has an answer for how to use it and get you out alive.

I'm learning to use internal power to deliver devastating blows and thrusts. Most of the unarmed training that I did is coming into practical use, like an extension of my body, with subtle differences. Using the blade and handle as a lever definitely increases the power, for example. I think that we do a lot more one-handed stuff than Kenjutsu, though I haven't seen much of what they do. The fencing has been great. Lots of bruises from good fights.. ;D

I've been filming motorbike stuff for a sword fighting video and am almost finished. Next I will film some training methods and lastly fencing. It's going to be a good one.
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby MaartenSFS on Thu Oct 05, 2017 3:38 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl8w0JB9U9Y

This is pretty much the opposite of how we train. First we learn an attack. Then we try it in fencing. Then we learn how to counter it. Then we fence again. Then we train solo repetitions of the attack. Repeat.

Another day we learn a defensive move. Then we drill it. Then we use it in fencing. Then we learn how to get past it. Then we fence again. Repeat.
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby MaartenSFS on Sat Oct 21, 2017 3:53 am

We're still training hard. I have noticed that we seem to do a lot more single-handed attacks than in Kenjutsu (from what little I've seen). There are some similarities, to be sure, but I feel like the techniques are more varied, which makes it more interesting. I say Kenjutsu, because Kendo is like a flaming pile of shite.

There is a massive focus on attacking the hands, which makes sense. We try to trick our opponents all the time using footwork and combinations. It's very practical stuff! I've finished filming all of the motorbike bits of my last China video and have begun filming the foundation training stuff for the sword work. Then, in several months, I'm going to film A LOT of footage of us fencing. It's going to be really good! And long.. ;D
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby Bao on Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:21 pm

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- To affect the quality of the day, is the highest of all arts! -Walden Thoreau
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby wayne hansen on Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:35 pm

Just beat me to it Bao
I was going to say don't underestimate Kendo
When you think you are ready with the sword test yourself with a Kendoka
Don't put power into the form let it naturally arise from the form
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby Bao on Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:55 pm

wayne hansen wrote:Just beat me to it Bao


;D

I was going to say don't underestimate Kendo
When you think you are ready with the sword test yourself with a Kendoka


+100 8-)
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby MaartenSFS on Sat Oct 21, 2017 4:46 pm

I'm not a fan of the silly ruleset. I realise that with the amount of compition they do there will be some good players.. I woulddefinitely love to fence a Kendoka, but not under their rules.
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby Trick on Sat Oct 21, 2017 9:19 pm

wayne hansen wrote:Just beat me to it Bao
I was going to say don't underestimate Kendo
When you think you are ready with the sword test yourself with a Kendoka

Yes agreed to that. There is no need to bash Kendo or modern fencing, there's some good skills to be learned practicing or/and spar against them
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby Trick on Sat Oct 21, 2017 9:39 pm

MaartenSFS wrote:I'm not a fan of the silly ruleset. I realise that with the amount of compition they do there will be some good players.. I woulddefinitely love to fence a Kendoka, but not under their rules.

I can agree that Kendo practice and competition might look and sound silly, it's quite noisy whith seemingly random loud Kiai's(spirit shouts) to a uninitiated might seem silly, and the competition rules have a too constructed feel to it I can agree with, but facing and fencing a skilled Kendoka is all but an silly experience. I think you might be able to find some Kendo school or Kendoka that will be open to spar with you as long as you use the Shinai and good protective gear. There are quite a few Kendo schools as well as modern western fencing in China.
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby Finny on Sat Oct 21, 2017 10:26 pm

Not all kendo folks adhere to the new "silly ruleset"

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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby Trick on Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:47 pm

Once I was invited as a spectator of an exam at a Kendo school in Okinawa, there where some high ranked teachers from the mainland to hold the exam. Prior the exam there where some regular practice, but also some guy's during fencing using Kicks and "grappling" if the opportunity came. Very unusual practice, not seen that prior or after until quite recently when I found a vid clip from around the time of Japan's occupation of China.
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Re: Anyone do Chinese swordmanship?

Postby windwalker on Sun Oct 22, 2017 12:01 am

I was under the impression that "kendo" was not really about the tech or swordmanship but really teaching something else.
"Kendo is a way to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the katana."

Had a friend into Iaidō, who also taught Aikido, and practiced Kendo...
Very impressive. Was teaching a person who used to fence competitively some taiji
his "yi" intent was quite strong well developed. Which in an odd way was a problem
as he was unaware of it but did use it.....
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