Thanks to Jeremy for letting me borrow this blade and thanks to my brother and his dog for helping me film the applications in this video! There is still a lot that could be said about this sword and I wanted to clarify a couple things here. For one, I have not extensively studied Qi Jiguang's manual or the Kage ryu scroll. So I am currently unable to say whether or not there are any shared techniques between the two with any degree of certainty. Aside from this, my interpretation of Cheng Zongyou's Dandao Faxuan is an ongoing project. Though, I have studied the manual for a while, there is always room for refining technique and revising interpretation / translations. For example, the "forward push posture" 迎推勢 could also be translated as "inviting push posture". In the future, I may discuss other sections of the manual or revisit some of the ones I have done here.

I enjoyed the use of a spearman to illustrate the techniques. Made for a better understanding of how the form could be used

I went on an internet deep dive the other day, and I discovered some interesting points that might be worth putting here. In Qi Jiguang's manuscript, it's mentioned that the blade is five rulers in length. Although that would make the sword almost unreasonably long, in Korea they have just that - a massive, 2 meter long blade that has a brass fitting at the bottom in order to use the sword like a polearm. There are a handful of videos that showcase not only this massive sword, but also the sword form that is in the Qi Jiguang inspired Korean manual "muyedobotongji". Look up "joseon swordsmanship" and you'll find what I'm referring to. I'm hoping LK Chen makes another Changdao with these measurements, just cause that would be awesome lol.

As someone who is taught in the German Longsword technique I find it fascinating how many of the stances and techniques are similar to how we use a sword with a smaller handle. Interesting how just some principles of swordsmanship are somewhat universal.

I've been following you since shortly after you started your channel, and I think I found you via a comment on one of Matt Easton's LK Chen sword reviews. I commend you on your improvement in your presentation skills and quality of content over these past few years. I very much appreciate what you do as one of the few English speaking presenters of Chinese martial arts who reference historical sources.

AT LAST!! I have been patiently waiting for you to discuss this weapon for a long time and now it's here! YAY! :) As someone who has dug into historical Japanese martial arts and used to practice koryu, you're pretty much spot on regarding everything you said regarding the Japanese-influence on the Changdao. Great job! *A few notes to add from my perspective:* When comparing the Ming changdao sources with the few historical Japanese sources we have available like the mokuroku for the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, Aizu Kage Ryu and Yamamoto Kansuke's Gunpo Heiho Ki, Kenjutsu No Maki, it's very clear to me that most of the techniques from the changdao sources are predominantly Chinese in origin. A long taolu-like sequence of moves like shown in Dandao Faxuan is extremely alien to Japanese koryu; modern and historical Japanese swordsmanship prefers to just have brief shows of a singular technique that reset to a neutral position before doing the next one kind of like what's done in HEMA and very unlike Chinese sources. In addition, the stances in the Chinese sources are sometimes weird and formatted very differently from a Japanese perspective. Japanese koryu kamae are actually pretty straight-forward and usually have a set of kamae named as high/jodan, middle/chudan, and low/gedan and possibly a few extra stances thrown in unique to the style. The Chinese sources seem to have a weird "everything and the kitchen sink" approach to the number and variety of stances in their styles without any real clear overall formatting like the high/middle/low classification for most Japanese systems. That and some stances like the "right/left leg stand stance" are never seen in any koryu I'm aware of and look very much like a "Shaolin kung fu" sort of thing. One odd thing though regarding Japanese influence is that Dandao Faxuan is one of the only historical East Asian sources I'm aware of that clearly shows and describes techniques for the sword being drawn in a "katana-like" fashion i.e. with the blade worn edge up thrust into a sash or belt. Since this method of wearing the sword isn't typical in China to my knowledge and more commonly shown in Japan, that probably is a strong indication that Dandao Faxuan did have some Japanese roots originally, but most of it is probably Chinese. What's even weirder though is that even in Japan, iaijutsu/sword drawing techniques are rarely if ever described in the historical sources. Hope these tidbits of info help clarify a few things from the Japanese side of things! :)

日本刀的“house-shaped spine”在中国被称为“鲫鱼背”，元朝的弯刀就有这个东西，明朝“鲫鱼背”在刀上的应用更是十分广泛

Extra long video for an extra long sword. Very cool! Thank you 🙏

this is the only informative video on youtube..... out of 100s of videos i've seen. i only learned from here. you are special. keep uploading more

You did a really great comprehensive breakdown with this video! I think this is one of your best so far! Please do keep up the great work!

I really appreciate you and your brother for showing the techniques in context. I've seen people do movements like this before, and they just look ridiculous on their own, particularly when spinning.

this was supposed to be my sword.. but i visited my pond.. and meditated. the god of steel told me in my practice to give this to Jeremy. in a way i gave to my sword community cuse this guy gave me alot but jeremy should me the placement ..i love you all i hope i paid it back.

Been really looking forward to you covering this type of sword and really appreciate the technique demonstration. I do want to point out though, that swords with a ridged geometry, the Shinogi, and distinct junction point, yokote, and somewhat similar proportions existed in the Tang and earlier. As there are 500 years between then and 1514, there is almost certainly no direct connection between these swords. However, it does mean that swords with such features were not new to China, and they may have been somewhat familiar to the people of the time, perhaps as an "ancient style" of sword, or something. In terms of usage, it's interesting that it focuses so much on beating spears, whereas I have not noticed this fixation in the little odachi material I've seen.

Another excellent video with very insightful information, thanks!

Awesome stuff. I'd also love to see a video on the Miaodao.

Love the history, love the cutting. Keep up the great work SG

Great stuff! ^^ Love your channel

Great video, Brother! I'll be saving this for reference; great information you've presented here! 🙏

Thank you for another amazing review I have been torn between this and the crossbowmans Dao I did wonder about the grip and now I will do for the Crosbowmans Thank you 🙏

great balance of scholarly background and demonstration of relevant technique. i wish such a comprehensive approach would be the norm for sword review videos, but as it is i find this outstanding in the field and look forward to more quality content.

Love greatswords👍🏿🤠👍🏿

Hey, really interesting video. One thing I noticed with a lot of the stances is that one leg is always straight and the other is bent, for example the bow stance, lower insert stance, bury head stance etc.

Nice breakdown of the techniques. I dont think Ive seen anyone practise the techniques in such a practical manner before. Great vid!

Great videos man I especially love this one as I'm zeroing in on my first Nodachi/ miao dao (still debating China or Japan) but this is nonetheless very comprehensive as to the blade I'll be working with. And with your explanation of the king fu forms I do now see it as a bladed staff rather then a thin longsword.

Exelent video ❤ thanks for sharing technics

Great video! Thanks

Fascinating. I wasn't aware of CHMA (is that a thing ?). Loved how much effort you put in exploring the techniques as closely as possible to the book's descriptions.

lk chen will love this.. we nailed the chang dao vids.

so similar to the Miaodao but still identifiable

for grip wrap I use 3m tape one two side of the grip and wrap on, additionally LK's wood fitting will shrink over time in drier climate (Canada in my case) so the wrap need to be redone couple time in the first couple years, after that the wood settles

Great explanation

glad my sword was used for good use

Beautiful Sword

I havr never said this before, I am astonished by the quality of your content and the criminal underrating of this channel.

this is really cool

Do you know what the Five Flowers (五花) techniques are that are mentioned in the Dandao Faxuan? It's used to describe so many techniques, like "Five Flowers Turn" (五花迎轉；五花右／左转身) or "Cut Five Flowers" (砍五花). I can't seem to find an explanation in manual itself.

Very nice video. Though I have a question, how does this Chang Dao compare to its future counterpart the Miao Dao (let’s say lk chen silver swallow Miao Dao). Also how heavy is it feeling wise for this Chang Dao ? Is that heavy ? Or you can indeed use it one handed for some situation ?

Great. Now it seems obvious seeing you do it, but I hadn’t considered that low-line straight arm for the empty hand block for “shoulder dao” before. The single-handed pair of postures look like a simple system within themselves I guess: mid or low stab, use the straight arm to intercept and lift, for a higher one, use a closing forearm, then step in and follow up? If the spear attack aims to your outside, I guess you could change slightly into “single carry,” scoop or wipe to your outside, and either one-hand liao or reposition to thrust? So, like, single hand baiting and attacking to inside and outside? And pointing out grip wrap issues on this is good info, thanks.

I like ur sword display shelf . Im needing something for my swords and cant find anything i like.

i'm not sure if it would be possible to do such a deep dive review of l k chen's flying phoenix, if any relevant enough manual even exists for han jian. be that as it may i would love to see your take on this sword. i'm doing my best to develop a personal practice for it, drawing inspiration from various sources including hema rapier technique to supplement jian forms of later time periods.

Hello brother, what about the four routes from Li Shu Wen?, Do You know where this came from?

i agree has i do jo training i use in my miao dao training both apply

the blade collar acts just like the Ricassos on later period European swords

So what are the differences between a changdao and a Zhanmadao?

Any chance for a spear video? Glaives etc

Where can I buy one?! 🤩🤩🤩

【按虎刀】接【单撩】做得相当漂亮！ 24:19

So where did you get that manual? Is it a reprint for sale?

There's some slight errors (of the video, not the content): at 24:05, your static shot and the manual image are changed to 腰砍刀勢, but the text didn't change. Also, at 24:48 you executed a 背砍刀勢 as a follow-up of 外看刀勢/Outer Watch Stance, but did not provide static shot/manual image for it.

nice techniques

Do you know how this dao was carried? I noticed there aren't any belt attachments, so I wonder how those who used this dao carried it around.

What was this type of sword really built for ? Infantry ? Cavalry riders ? Other ? Your thoughts if you can shed some light on period and theater or area practical uses ...?

I've been having trouble figuring out the differences between chang dao, wodao, zhanmadao, and liaodao

14:33 why those user figures were depicted like monkeys?

At 24:58, wouldn't it have been possible for the opponent to counter you just drop the spear, and close the distance while you're mid-spin to either put you in a hold, or if they were armed for a real fight, pull out a knife and stab you in the back? At 26:40, think it could have been easier if you had a buckler on your off-hand?

Are there steel practice versions of this sword? And not some wushu variety either

Great video; very interesting. Maybe you know already, but the style Wan Sheng Quan has a Miao Dao routine that still includes the flying knife technique. I don't know if it's a direct descendant of the technique from the manual, but it seems like it would be a big coincidence if it wasn't. You can see it here.. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/h89ijJud0rGXdXk.html

i do want to send you both my demon blade the tang zhan ma dao

know the demon blade may cut you, its evil

右邊那把刀，來介紹 (看影片視角)

26:22 Hello my friend. I am also a 长刀 player. I understand your difficulties on switching Right Liao to Left Liao. So when doing the Left Liao, it would need you to “pull back” the handle with your left hand while using the waist & back muscles to turning your body. This explanation said from the Miaodao master 郭桂德 from Cangzhou, China. I hope this could help you 🙏 kzfaq.infodfGZH-XUbyA?si=RRAwY1RM2kgBBCkX This how he demonstrates Liaodao technique

能不能介绍宋手刀，来自中国

Very nice, I can't believe I am learning this from a white guy.

It could just be a Miao Dao

“Not exactly 12 inches.” Trust him. He would know 😉. Where do you find these goons to beat up lol?

Hey mr seely

HI MR, SEELEY I don’t like then new teacher we have can u come back PLSSSSS 😢

Oh btw mr, seeley I like Korea better