Remember this is a beginners class. The Shinai allows Mike to demonstrate the applications of the moves in the form without any danger to the students. The actual Miao Dao is an imposing weapon and too long and heavy for inexperienced students to swing around in a group. It is better to find yourself a clear room in which to practice with the Dao after learning the form. I hope to have the opportunity to learn more from Mike about this weapon in the future as his instruction is excellent.

Miao Dao and Chang Dao is probably the same thing, or the Miao Dao evolved from Chang Dao. Chang Dao means Long Blade and it really means it, as it appears longer than even the Zhanmadao which is already over 5' long. Wo Dao are Japanese swords exported to China, mainly long Tachi and Nodachi, which became surplus after Japan ended Sengoku and the Bakufu government regulated length restriction, which made Katana short.. Miao Dao and Da Dao both right up to the Second World War.

Very nice. I'm booked onto Mikes Leicester workshop in March and really looking forward to it.

"I hope you enjoy objectively." Interesting way to word that, but yes, I enjoyed this quite a bit. With the miaodao's recent 400th birthday, I've been doing a lot of studying up on it.

More likely the zhanmadao, changdao or wodao; from what I understand the miao dao is a modern sword. Anyway, I'd say most swords have been "proven effective in battle." That's pretty much the minimum requirement for qualifying as a weapon in the first place.

"If you do this with the big sword, it will take your body away from you." I love how he worded that. ^^ Anyway, I really dig the look of this style. It looks a lot more fun then kendo, anyway. Also, I think I see some European longsword similarities in it. I really wish there was someone around where I live who could teach it to me.

So amazing techniques

I broke my shoulder last year, and the first thing I thought was, "I don't move like that any more! I'd be in real trouble in that class." My second thought was, "It might help rebuild some of the flexibility and range of motion." Maybe I should give it a try.

awesome! hope you are preparing some DVD material!

Me gustó mucho el video, me gustaría aprender a usar el miao dao, en argentina no hay maestros

Fourth level are warm ups? Shouldn't the be the very first thing you do before ever you even touch a sword/ shinai? Why are you warming up on the fourth level?

Did the Chinese invent the shinai?

Speaks English but has to count in Mandarin? That's funny.

sad that he has to use shinai though