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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2009 4:21:53 GMT
I have a banshee, it's not very sharp so I just use it to chop wood.
I have self-taught myself the jian, just by looking and forms, and some help from Garrett.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2009 8:33:16 GMT
Sirtre, It is the Katana influence that really makes the weapon lose its appeal to me I like the classic machete styling, as I said what I use mostly is the CS 24" Latin, and I have an 18" wal-mart cheapo that does get used alot when our camping but only for making kindling and cutting fish bait. The CS is by far my favorite and it handles remarkably like a true dao only lighter and quicker. Makadona, Thanks for the info on the banshee. One of Hanwei's notable over sites is that they seem to forget to sharpen anything except their katana. Garett is a great guy, I'm waiting to hear back from him about a quote for some custom work I want done. As for the self-taught from forms ... That is how I have been learning also although I had some experience with European straight sword. If you do the video thing www.kaiming.co.uk/dvd.htm has a combined straight sword and broadsword video for "in GBP the price inc P&P is £23 which according to paypal is $34 [USD]" which seems quite reasonable if you are interested in the Cheng Man Ch'ing (Zheng Manquing) style of sword. That video is released by the British Kai Ming Tai Chi Association and Mark is usually happy to answer questions, though he will start sending you the association newsletter once you contact him. Ken Van Sickle, is considered the authority in the US on this style of sword and has two videos which can be found here www.sinobarr.com/store/dvds.htm#FeatherSword for $54.95 each and are supposed to be quite good. I'll probably be picking up the Kai Ming Association's videos in the next couple of weeks. If you want an opinion then. Personally, I've been training with the Yang 13 saber from the video put out by Taichihealthways, so look at my post titled "Some simple Dao forms" if you want the link. As for Jian, I've been learning through net correspondence with a few instructors in the CMC (ZMQ) style although my leanings are heavily towards the dao blades. |
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2009 13:37:03 GMT
The banshee isn't based off of a katana actually. It's based of the Thai Dha.
What will your custom work be like? I may be doing the shipping of it.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2009 21:51:25 GMT
Haven't heard back from Garett with a price quote but I was wanting an Ox Tail with and extra long blade and non-standard fittings ie "S" hilt and ring pommel if possible.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2009 9:38:34 GMT
Quick review for the aspiring martial artists out there looking at Adam Hsu jians:
There's a new wushu jian that hanwei put out modelled after the adam hsu practical taiji jian, but the handles/scabbards are bright red. It was designed to be floppy and dull to avoid injury during practice, and it is. Way. Way. Way too floppy. The edges were already full of tears and rips near the tip from fajin during 2 (yes, only 2) chen taiji forms. The blade near the handle is almost perfect, but the tip isn't even capable of supporting itself in a straight line if you hold it horizontally.
On the other hand, the fittings, handle/handling, look, and sound of the sword was pretty great. I doubt it was just a lemon, but hopefully that's the case. I was really excited to see a high-carbon steel wushu jian because it looks so much better than spring steel, but i guess it was only a pipe dream. Go spring.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2009 3:47:58 GMT
I know Garrett is in Edmonton. If anyone in that area wants to see REAL chinese swords, I own 4 antique jians, 2 willow leaf sabers, 2 oxtail sabers, 2 goosequill sabers, ALL antique blades. I also own some Huanuo monosteel and sanmai jian.
Real chinese swords are as robust as any other real sword from other cultures. they were not whippy and were designed to cut and parry like any other sword. too many people have been brainwashed by bad movies and the crappy wushu steel swords sold in Chinatown.
Also there was no such thing as a 'tai chi sword'. Just jian/dao.
Also fans of Chinese swordsmanship should go to one of Scott Rodell's seminars and get a dose of reality. It really puts your tai chi sword form in perspective
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2009 8:35:22 GMT
Actually I do hope to attend one of Mr. Rodell's seminars in the future. I would thoroughly enjoy such a learning experience.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2009 9:01:31 GMT
Just for some information -- going slightly off topic-- shootermike really did shoot the banshee, there is no BS there what you see is what you get.
Boyle: I agree with you on the machete, I would take my fable blade up against any other weapon with no fear of it not surpassing what I expect of it.
About the "natural feel" of things I completely agree. Look at a shovel for example. Using a shovel has many elements of using a pole arm. Digging teaches you to thrust with it, lifting and shifting teaches you the way the shovel moves in the horizontal and the vertical. It is not that much of a stretch to see how the mechanics of using a shovel can be translated into using it as a weapon. If you've ever had to fight a snake with a shovel you really get an understanding of the shortcomings of a shovel but also the strengths of it as a weapon.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2009 23:05:41 GMT
Like I said I formed this theory after seeing two different Green Berets on two separate occasions both lose fights the farmers wielding farm tools. In both cases the Green Berets pulled issue bayonets, weapons they were used to and well trained with. On those occasions the farmers were armed with (respectively) a sickle (overseas) and a cane knife (in KS, think machete sized straight razor). As I stated on both occasions the Green Berets lost. (I was the medical radio operator in both cases, detail duty.)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 0:30:10 GMT
LPBoyle i already had alot of respect for you reading your posts, but to find out you worked with medics doubled that. I am an EMT and have a great respect for my dispatchers. Were you also a medic, or only radio dispatch, either way a lifesaver!!! just keep in mind we can patch them up after we win the sword fight...LOL.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 8:46:37 GMT
Actually, I was a mechanic. I had to help out my unit's medic with dispatch on a regular basis because of my knowledge of how to work the radios. It seems several of them could only manage to turn the radios on, but not really operate them well. Back when I was in the service that was my way of getting out of some of the less than pleasant work details. Since, my primary job function was recovery mechanic (think tow truck operator with a 72 ton tow truck) I had to be good with radios, comms, and map reading. That's why the medics liked it when I would fill in with dispatch. However, that was not my primary job so don't give me undue credit. I currently work in the medical field, but in the supply system, that is all. If you've ever had to fight a snake with a shovel you really get an understanding of the shortcomings of a shovel but also the strengths of it as a weapon. Actually my traditional armaments against snakes consist of a machete and a large branch. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 18:26:56 GMT
Your snakes must not be as bad as ours  We need the length to keep the deadly snakes at bay, I'd never take a sword up against a snake, reason being our snakes don't stand up before they strike, they just lash straight out at incredible speed and knowing what is in the fangs of our snakes I really don't want to take the chance of a bite. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 21:22:16 GMT
Most rattlers, cotton mouths (water mocassins), and copper heads will stand to strike. The trick to using a machete against a snake is the let the snake strike and dodge it (easier said than done), hit snake with branch - follow up with machete just below head. Go about two inches down the body if you want to eat the snake. (I don't but I know several people who think of rattlesnake meat as a gourmet delicacy.) Coral snakes, I won't bother as they aren't very aggressive and generally won't bother me.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2009 6:38:08 GMT
Snakes, we've got over here in Taiwan, too, ots of them, brown cobras, russel's vipers, 100 pacers, bamboo snake, you name it.
A pity, I never had a sword at hand, as we mostly meet them on the morning walks, when our little dog notices them first. We just pass around, more frightend than in the mood of a fight, lol.
Taiwanese prefer to eat bigger snakes, then mostly non poisoneous, lol.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2009 8:26:37 GMT
To this date I've personally only ever had to kill one stubborn cotton mouth who wouldn't take the hint to get away from my house. I have, unintentionally, ended up assisting several acquaintances on impromptu rattlesnake hunts. Which is how I learned the technique. Not my favorite activity in the world. Anyway diamondback rattlers get from 1.5-2 meters long so they're not exactly small snakes. To be honest killing any animal bothers me more than having to attack or defend forcefully against a human. As for eating snake meat I prefer food that comes with a lower level of risk in the capture. A rainbow trout can't kill me with a single bite.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2009 6:39:31 GMT
To this date I've personally only ever had to kill one stubborn cotton mouth who wouldn't take the hint to get away from my house. I have, unintentionally, ended up assisting several acquaintances on impromptu rattlesnake hunts. Which is how I learned the technique. Not my favorite activity in the world. Anyway diamondback rattlers get from 1.5-2 meters long so they're not exactly small snakes. To be honest killing any animal bothers me more than having to attack or defend forcefully against a human. As for eating snake meat I prefer food that comes with a lower level of risk in the capture. A rainbow trout can't kill me with a single bite. Glad to hear, agreed a 100%. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2009 8:20:14 GMT
Yeah, personally I don't condone unnecessary violence against animals. (I'm in the food and defense school of thought here - ie the only reason to kill an animal is for food or to defend your own life.) However, I have throughout the years know some crazy bas****s who will see a rattler on the side of the road and immediately stop their vehicles and jump out shouting, "dinner."
If a snake strikes at me, it's obviously because I got too close, I have no idea why people act so aggressive most of the time.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2009 16:16:25 GMT
Because it is in our nature to do so.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2009 22:32:19 GMT
But is aggression in our basic nature. This conversation started out a discussion on Tai Chi swords. Tai Chi Ch'uan (taijiquan as I usually spell it) is a martial art based on non-aggression the first principle of the CMC (ZMQ, Cheng) style the I study is "Invest in Loss." Let an attack just happen and react to that. So is aggression basic human nature or is it a learned behavior?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2009 8:28:58 GMT
But is aggression in our basic nature. This conversation started out a discussion on Tai Chi swords. Tai Chi Ch'uan (taijiquan as I usually spell it) is a martial art based on non-aggression the first principle of the CMC (ZMQ, Cheng) style the I study is "Invest in Loss." Let an attack just happen and react to that. So is aggression basic human nature or is it a learned behavior? I find that a fascinating philosophical question. I believe time, circumstance, and the influence of others, plays the biggest role in learning aggression. Taijiquan teaches exactly what you have stated. But it seems the more one learns on how to fight in this style (if his teacher has good spirit) is that inner peace is the greatest goal. It seems that as I learned more fighting skill, the less I wanted to hurt someone. Of course, as you mentioned this started of about swords and wound up about philosophy, but can a swordsman truly discount philosophy? I think I would find you in agreement w/ me in that we cannot. The highest level of taijiquan is meditation, whether moving or still. I like how you think here. One day I would like to meet you and have tea and spend the day discussing philosophy. Seems like you have a lot to impart. |
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We need the length to keep the deadly snakes at bay, I'd never take a sword up against a snake, reason being our snakes don't stand up before they strike, they just lash straight out at incredible speed and knowing what is in the fangs of our snakes I really don't want to take the chance of a bite.
