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Post by MakChingYuen on Nov 8, 2012 12:08:26 GMT
Hahahaha! Yeah I think all people who search up and sign up for this forum have expensive taste indeed! haha! Cheap stuff do not make us smile. Too bad! The jade lion is indeed very beautiful, even after the mod I did to secure the guard and the blade in place, it is still pretty nice, I don't mind that little mod too. Nice for collection.
Sometimes I do have this thing in mind -- how hard is it to cut human being? Not hard! Think about this, if you ever tried which I think I am the only crazy guy who do it.. In 2006 when I am teaching kungfu in a small class, I used to do this with a few students, we took some hard-blade non-flex swords, they are semi sharpen and not light at all, all over 2lb, and we took them for a sword fight!!! I want to teach them one lesson and that is when you are fighting with a sword, a real sword, it is different compare to those foam padded crap you use in the competitions. Taken the factor that you can "bleed" in a single little wrong movement, you are much more in panic mode. Yeah my strike might not break an arm or cut your head off, but just a few slices here and there is very torturing already.
Of course, my students must agree to try this first in order for me to do it.. it's a volunteer kind of learning.. haha! I also go easy on them and stop when there is blood. So my student tried it with me and he don't even know how to start because he was so freak out about the blade pointing at him now. It's like one single slip can break your finger.. now he is freaked out and all that "superman like" courage he have when using a foam padded weapon is all gone.
If you tried this, you will now think.. cutting all those bamboos and tatami kinda fun but in a real deal fight, how durable does your sword need to be in order to kill anyway? Just like a cheapo $100 sword with a sharpen edge can do the job already. Scary.
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Post by Don Boogie on Nov 8, 2012 13:10:19 GMT
Very nice sword,really like the damascus steel pattern on it  |
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Post by MakChingYuen on Nov 8, 2012 17:48:22 GMT
Thanks! The damascus pattern is very subtle and you can hardly see it in real life, except when you use a flashlight to shine on it then they will show up. so my photos really did show you the patterns there.. cool sword. I love the style, haha!
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Post by Don Boogie on Nov 8, 2012 18:20:49 GMT
As long you like it and have fun with it :-)
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Post by MakChingYuen on Nov 8, 2012 18:58:58 GMT
you see? I am!
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Post by LastGodslayer on Nov 8, 2012 22:48:48 GMT
You know, perhaps you are right. Its just me imposing what I am naturally inclined to do with a sword that warps my perception of what a sword should be. I could never use a poleaxe like a katana, so why would I try to use a jian like a katana? And a long/heavy katana is a different thing form a light rapier. It would be inefficient not to use a weapon to its full potential by not working with its natural attributes. Your form looks fluid. You seem to use the space efficiently without losing balance. I liked it! I also agree that kungfu is dying out, Perhaps it is the fate of all "dead" techniques (as no one uses them anymore -at least not swords anyway) to become corrupted to extinction. I do wish we had better examples of martial arts that were not so shamelessly exploited for public entertainment, but I also wish those who try to remain pure would get more visibility. Kind of a double edged sword  |
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Post by MakChingYuen on Nov 9, 2012 3:18:30 GMT
Hahah.. I like your last line, make sense.
The problem with martial arts as in Kungfu is because of the stupid trend of wushu and movies. Thanks to the movies, yeah, people who learn kungfu nowadays is like this. When they train for forms and stage performance, they can either be like doing it so nice and formal, or jump and hop around like monkies. When it comes to real fight or sparring, they all turn into boxers or thai boxers. That's how it is. Where is the kungfu? Look at the taichi masters BS, they went into "practical" demonstration and it was all a joke, street fight. Where is your taichi? then they go on and on BS-ing about how that street fighter move is like taichi in XXX movements, hahaha! I can't stand it, it's disgusting to watch.
As for sword fighting art, with a jian or with a katana style blade, I can do all of them no matter light or heavy, it's not because I am good, it's because I am willing to try and learn it. You can't stop yourself when you break the "limit" one day and see that you can actually keep learning and learning forever. So the fun of martial arts comes into play. Basically learning one more weapon is one more style of fun. hahaha.. That's why I have so many weapons too! If you buy something, you want to use it and manipulate it well too.
I think nobody will really understand a real jian combat unless they are willing to learn it with a real jian in practice, unsharpen, but at least a sturdy metal sword, then that is something going to teach you what real swordplay is about. It's really scary, let me tell you this, a stab to your face and you step up with aggressiveness = deep semprini. I am not joking but that IS a scary thing because you can loose your eye or something in that move. Everything is different now.. who even care to learn it the real way? haha!
Talking about katana, here is a long one, hahaha!
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Post by Turok on Nov 9, 2012 7:17:59 GMT
Hey thanks Blackthorn, that's exactly the image I was trying to convey! Where did ya get that image BTW? I think it's a very handy picture to show the difference between modern jians and antique ones!  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2012 8:13:10 GMT
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Post by Lancelot Chan on Nov 9, 2012 17:47:28 GMT
And you're not the only crazy person who sparred with semi-sharp sword. I sparred with fully sharp swords three times. 2 were for practice to get the feel of facing sharp swords. Once was a challenge issued by the visitor, to duel to the first blood.
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Post by MakChingYuen on Nov 9, 2012 20:49:59 GMT
First blood? hahahaha! Lancelot, you remember me? Damn I meet you again. This is Ling Meow Tin Si 靈貓天師 , you remember me now? The guy said will fight you with a steel sword in 1997 or before that time when you were on wa shan forum. Remember me now? hhahaha.. met an old friend here man. I am now running my taoist temple in Canada, I saw your site and you are doing quite good with your RSW too, good stuff man.
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Post by MakChingYuen on Nov 9, 2012 20:59:52 GMT
by the way, not to go too off-track here, aside from acknowledging who I am, I wanna share my experience here then. Maybe you can comment abit and share yours too. haha..
Seriously I had sparred with a steel swords a lot back then in 2004-2007, that is the time when I teach kungfu in local small groups a lot and people come for challenge too. I remember there was one time when a girl came and she claim to know you as well, you remember her? I forgot her name already, but she came for fun only.
Anyway.. so back then, basically we fought with a few types of swords for different purpose. There are semi-sharp swords, which are like not RAZOR sharp, but they can cut into a pork feet if you want because it's heavy and it's sharpen to a point it can cut when use force to cut (haha, pork feet.. I saw your vids too much) so these swords were use to fight only when the student want to learn real swordsmanship, meaning some real practical sword fight. I hate to do it to students who freak out and scream, so only those who really want to get insane get to try. I don't mind them go crazy on me but they do get very freak out when blood is out.. haha..
Another type is the typical long chuen (dragon well) swords that are not "sharpen" but they do flex abit and do hurt if you thrust and "dip" at the opponent's bare skin. These are used all the time for casual practice and dual. I used to fight with these weekly and do tai chi sticky swords practice to gain sensitivity on the blade.
With the 2nd method, I taught a few students to fight with me with the semi-sharp sword because they gain the "guts" to fight in that method.. but then now thinking back to those time..I know I am too crazy, if people really got injured badly and sue me, I am doom man! So I skip that part and never go back unless the student is very exceptional. It's different from sparring, when you really do hold a semi-sharp or sharp sword, you know you can kill, it's pretty damn scary.
Now, what's the sharpen sword dual like for you Lancelot? did you wear armor or still those ugly big leather gloves with the big bastard sword over your head? (LOL! I told you I know you well back then, haha) Share your stories! Who won?
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Post by Lancelot Chan on Nov 10, 2012 6:30:48 GMT
Of course I remember you. Do you have a photo of the girl? I don't know who was she.  For the 2 sharp sword drills, I was using Brescia Spadona (an over 1K USD European sword) with my advanced student. 1 ended without any injuries. 1 ended with a very small wound on his face. For the duel, I also used the same sword, wounded the challenger once in the waist, once in the knuckle, and cut opened his sleeve. No protection. No gloves, no helmets, no face guard. All of the above were video taped, but I did not share them around to maintain a "civilized" image rather than being "totally hardcore". |
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Post by Lancelot Chan on Nov 10, 2012 6:38:16 GMT
I found that sparring with sharp swords like I did, wasn't very beneficial for techniques. It creates more artifacts than sparring with RSW. Mainly the hesitance to hit the opponent, not because of afraid of getting hurt myself, but because of the need to make sure my opponent to stay alive and healthy even after the "controlled" hits.
If we do not have such concern, the fight would be very much alike the ones we do with RSW. The advanced students always have a healthy dose of self-concern so when they spar with RSW, they don't take stupid risk just to be aggressive. After all, we treat RSW as sharp sword for we end each round in a good hit and don't trade blows.
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Post by MakChingYuen on Nov 10, 2012 6:40:34 GMT
Hahaha! Yeah I don't have a photo of the girl though, I was teaching my classes back then and she pop in to visit and so basically I was just doing my normal thing and she come to see. But yeah, my kungfu really changed a lot because I had been through a few sifu and scammed by some crap and now I found my way. Finally off those silly traps.
Anyway, your battle seems pretty non-civil though, no armor and protection sword fight, what if people did get injured and sue you back? You really trust them don't you? Or you trust yourself only? Maybe you just happen to have good people visiting your place. In Canada, people sue others even for slipping them with you wet floor, it's crazy. When cops arrive, they never help you but bring more hassle. That's why I toned down my teachings and not go too hardcore too.
I once faced a wrestler challenger and he came to my temple to ask one question, I was like.. is this really a question?
"I doubt your taichi can fight, can you proof it to me?"
Yeah what a "question". I took on the challenge and ended up bang him into a big counter which is MY counter, damn! I was afraid to break more things and so we have to stop but it was close to a fatal accident. Really, when people come for challenge, I now just used to say "I don't do these things". hahaha..
Maybe I am getting old minded, conservative...!
You really do have guts man, fighting with live blade is like cowboy fighting with guns to see who shoot each other's leg first, LOL! You need a different outlook, a cowboy look, redneck, haha! It's already over 10 yrs since I know you eh? and now I am looking just about the same and your face is looking about the same too, surely martial art bring people rejuvenation abilities. haha!
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Post by Lancelot Chan on Nov 10, 2012 6:50:06 GMT
For the advanced students, I don't worry because they're the selected few who also pursue the way of "true sword". For the challenger, it seems he was more crazier than I was, so I wasn't worrying. He doubted the realism of RSW, and asked to fight with sharp sword. So I let him try and then after bandaging him up, we did it with RSW so he could compare. He agreed that RSW was real enough and less troublesome in the "bandaging" part. I'm a Buddhist now and I practice Chinese martial arts after switching from German longsword style in 2008. If you're interested, you may read my story here (I know you can read Chinese): hk.myblog.yahoo.com/chanlancelot/article?mid=383 |
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Post by Lancelot Chan on Nov 10, 2012 6:52:42 GMT
Sharing with you my recent test cut video:
Practicing some advanced cuts with left hand leading, so that I can save the targets materials.
The cuts shown in the videos were mostly "turning cuts" (except the one cutting from below to above). They were cuts with feints preceding the actual cuts.
The difficulties lies in several aspects. First, to maintain good blade alignment after a sharp reversal, which is especially difficult with a heavy sword due to the high inertia. Second, to accelerate the blade again after the turn, with the lack of distance and still being able to speed it up enough to cut the targets. Both are especially difficult with a heavy sword.
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Post by MakChingYuen on Nov 10, 2012 6:54:51 GMT
"Trade blows" - great word. I saw this in many kungfu competitions and that is why I am pissed and disgusted by those crap. The people fight for the cups and medals, and so it's like gambling in the game, you hit or miss... when you hit, you win and you got that silly cup (cheap stuff). Hey, what's the point?
Yeah, as you geared toward the "benefit" for practicing, then you start to see the point of doing these sparring. I do agree with you here that using your RSW or similar type of thing is good but that only apply to when the partner is also experienced and tuned in with a correct mindset of wanting to "learn" and not to "win". I do admire you that you found a group of enthusiast who are willing to "learn" and not to "win" or "win face" for their girls. haha! Your passion toward this thing in the past years did bring you to a paradise.
I can guarantee that MANY so called masters now can't beat you in those swordfights too because they really are big talkers and no do-ers as well. I watched that HKTV show where the guy visit wudang with your RSW, haha.. that wudang guy was so poorly trained and the guest win over him big time already. I was thinking.. was that guy trained by you first and then go for a challenge? hahaha! No joke, but even Chen Si Hung the wudang guy wasn't that good in "practical" swordsmanship either, he is a good performer only. Maybe I am wrong, but if I got a chance, I really want to try to "challenge" his students to see what it's like, hahahaha!
My focus now is mainly on my Taoist temple though, finally dream came true and my career set, man.. I am old. (no worry, you are still young in your spirit!)
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Post by MakChingYuen on Nov 10, 2012 7:09:27 GMT
Just read your story there. Pretty badass, I knew you got sickness back then but I don't know it was that serious. I had a student last year who have very bad sickness too for over 16 years and it was so torturing already. Fortunately was fixed by Taoist magic in a few months, sigh.. sickness does make people change a lot too.
Well I am no Buddhist or Buddhist lover but then I am happy to see you change from the beast to the you now. hahaha! Yeah I do remember your fighting video back then and you are right, you do go pretty aggressive and wild too, with those crazy looking ugly gloves and helmets, haha! It was quite insane.
So you got into Chinese sword now eh? Back then you don't seems to like Chinese swords for some reason, am I right?
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Post by MakChingYuen on Nov 10, 2012 7:12:30 GMT
Cool vid! Those are your rolled up wet newspaper eh? I saw them on youtube awhile back and I thought of trying it out too but it was too messy for my indoor range. LOL! maybe I should try that in my temple in the future, we got more space there and no need to worry about water too.
What is that sword you are using in the video? Seems high class stuff as well, surely a heavy one too.
I know what you are talking about with the techniques, I did try that myself to get the technique too, it was fun but not easy at first. Kinda make you exhausted to race yourself at first but when you get the hang of it, it becomes very normal. I see that you sort of hopped abit with the stance too, it was not too "Chinese style" of steppings. haha..
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