Do you know of any good English translations of his manuals? I've been looking at Chaoxian Shifa and Dandao Faxuan primarily at the current moment, but am lacking anything that I can understand for single-handed, among other things.

@@DarkwarriorJ I don't know of a direct translation atm, but I've been working with my colleague Keith Seeley (Scholar-General), to determine the meanings of the characters and illustrations; Keith has the language and history, whilst my education in both Japanese & Chinese swordsmanship, brought together, we were able to not only identify the instructional character's meanings, but even tested it in the school with live miaodao vs. spear. If/When a translation becomes available, it's definitely something I'll report on my channel. ⚔️

​@@saberserpent1134 I'll be looking forward to that! I've been watching some of Scholar-General's stuff; his interpretation of the saber-and-shield as well as the Dandao Faxuan techniques make sense. Looking through Terra Prime Sword Lab's translation of the manual, one thing that struck me was that it lacked obvious offensive initiative-taking methods, leading me to wonder if offensive initiation is meant to be just the counterattack without waiting for the enemy's first response... or if the manual is meant to complement another manual on the Dandao. Certainly, the outro on that manual instructs us to be flexible and adapt the techniques as required! I have been working to decipher Chaoxian Shifa myself, building off Jack Chen and OldSwordPlayer's interpretations. Compared to you and Keith, I'm unqualified - I don't have a martial arts background, and my language and history background consists of readings online + family background. However, I recently had a breakthrough in interpretation which made every technique seemingly work and have a clear purpose vis a vis each other, and I hope to verify it in sparring with my friends once weather permits. The breakthrough insight was thanks to the comments on Yu Dayou's footwork in the Jian Jing in this article link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-19-2037-0_12 . The specific comment was "In a similar vein, Yu Dayou states in Jianjing that when using a hafted weapon, including a long two-handed sword, one should keep “the front leg bent and the left leg extended (Yu).”". I haven't had the opportunity to read a good translation of the Jian Jing and verify this interpretation yet, but it worked very well in utilization. With a strong forward foot weighting in the majority of techniques, the techniques just flow, can be very explosive, and make sense. Biomechanically, it is my current belief that the shuang shou jian of Chaoxian Shifa, and probably the changdao Dandao Faxuan as well, are primarily waist-powered from positions where we pivot around one foot or the other. I don't know if this can help in your own interpretations, or if you've already been operating with this knowledge!

Yes. I caught it.

I love it also because it's modern, just like the Dan Pai wudang I have handed down from Li Jinglin, which continued to be refined in each subsequent generation. Where others are exploring the courtly arts of medieval sword "fighting", we practice the real art, which is to say the art as it has been continuously advanced to the present day. We need to step up and start sparring the western swordsmen.

Why?

They sell miao dao on ebay and etsy and on amazon. Just search high carbon steel and full tang. You’ll need to use mineral oil or choji oil each time you use it, keep it from rusting.

Same!!!

Small note: I'm now researching Chinese longsword and finding the observation that basic techniques derive from rod technique to be sound. (This was a subject of the fairly recent film "Sword Identity", starring the only real wudang fencer in movies, Yu Chenghui.) I was able to do spar effectively using longsword techniques with no experience on that weapon. What I did have was training as rigorous and correct as what is shown in this video, over decades with a recognized master.

Hema is limited in the martial arts battlefield combat. Too safe.

@@ColossalSwordFormAndTechnique Sure, but traditional wudang is far better for multii-opponent (battlefield) and we can teach the body mechanics to anyone. Chinese longsword goes back to at least the Han dynasty, and Yu Chenghui was an celebrated wudang sword master before he reconstructed the Chinese longsword. I don't even knw who the instructor in this vid is, but I know he's the real deal. Guessing Wing Chun based on how he uses his waist. Beginners never realize it's all about the counter, and, when done correctly, you only need to "show" the cut or thrust-there's no question about who would win. Cutting is significantly easier-just practice each one "a thousand thousand times" literally and you don't have to worry about your ability to cut.

If memory serves well, Miao is an ethnic group while the Miao in Miao Dao is about the shape of the blade.

Start with this: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/i6tmqpaasLi9aJs.html Then find a real master and practice for at least 10 years, ~4 hours per day. You will also need extensive 2-person drilling to get used to countering and riposting. Swords are way more dangerous than most people realize, and the teacher here can win again most people in the planet with just a wooden rod against sword.

It’s similar to European double edged greatsword, except you focus more on thrusts and only single edged.

@@ColossalSwordFormAndTechnique I'd also add that what you see in this CCTV video is real, and comes from an extant tradition, and that we've been refining sword technique and advancing the art consistently over the 20th century, with each new generation. What this instructor is showing works *today*, not just in the distant past. This is modern swordplay-no nonsense.

No, why ? Martial arts is for everyone

Actually, having hundreds of millions training hard is how you produce the true outliers. Like everything else, it's a numbers game. How may people played hockey for how many generations to produce Gretzky, Orr and Gordy Howe? How many ballers to produce Michael, Kobe and LeBron? You don't get Bruce Lee & Donnie Yen any other way, and they're just the ones who became most famous. There are plenty of masters who can do it at that level or higher and aren't famous outside of China.