Miao Dao

[Thomas Chen]

Hi guys

Also, check out these 10 pages of Miao Dao variant number 1, a 2-handed saber form taught in China and dating from the early 17th century:

Warning: LARGE pics (So have a coffee break) and in Chinese only
http://miaodao.freewebspace.com/


The above form incorporates a lot of flowing, circular and sweeping moves and really exudes a lot of grace.


Its lineage is:

Founder: Shaolin Monk Cheng Zongyou (1561 - early 1600s?)
> Wu Shu (active : 1670s)
> Mr Yang (no name recorded, only surname is known; active: late 1800s ??)> Xie Jinfen (active: late 1800s - early 1900s)
> Liu Yuchun (active: 1920s-30s and instructor at the Nanking Central Martial Arts Academy)
> Guo Changsheng (active: 1920s-30s and instructor at the Nanking Central Martial Arts Academy)
> Guo Ruixiang (Guo Changsheng's son, still alive in his 70s)



There is a spin-off of this form, created by Guo Changsheng (mentioned above), which is a combination with Piguan Quan (Pigua Fists), and it's called the Miao Dao variant number 2, a Mainland Chinese official competition level form, which you can download the acrobat pdf files at:

http://chineseswords.freewebspace.com/favorite_links.html

______________________________________________




Cheers
Thomas Chen

[Thomas Chen]

StumbleFist

Did you learn it from Taiwan's Adam Hsu's school, those Wu Tan clubs ?? They have a branch in California teaching Miao Dao as well. May I know who was your teacher and school, if it is not Adam Hsu's ??

Do let me know if you still cannot access my websites, which are hosted on servers based in the US.

You are right, I am wielding a 2-handed Chinese jian / gim, not a Miao Dao......

[Xebsball]

Very cool! Thanx

[Thomas Chen]

StumbleFist
I didn't know that you were in China; unfortunately, my websites and related server hosts are all inaccessible from there. Sorry.... But one could access it from HongKong though.

Hey, you didn't answer my last question :D Who was your Miao Dao teacher ??

[ffab@cyberkwoon.]

For those interested we are proposing in very small quantities [3 of each titles] Guo Ruixiang VCD on Pigua quan and Miao Dao

Check there @ cyberkwoon DVD & VCD store (http://www.cyberkwoon.com/store/?ref=KFM_Thomas_Chen)

OK, that is blatant CM but can fill a blank ;-)

[RAF]

Thomas Chen:

I learned the miao dao from Tony Yang (Xiao Dong) of Taipei, Taiwan. He, in turn, learned it from Adam Hsu. I was told Adam learned it from Han Qing Tang.

What I learned consisted of four basic training moves: Stationary cut down the middle, moving cut down the middle, stationary cut to the left , right side of neck (artery) and cut down the middle and same thing moving. From there we learned 4 moving lines part A and the 4 moving lines of the fight, Part B. There also is a two-man continously linked form, very fast and we use the bambo kendo sticks for that fight.

My teacher brought a box of wooden miao daos from Taiwan, purchased in the late 1970s. The handles are different from the Japanese bokken. The miao daos tend to cover the length of the forearm.

On another note that you might help me with (I've posted previously but no luck). I learned a taiji sword that came to Liu Yun Qiao from General Zhang Xiang Wu. Wu was stationed under General Li Jing Lin and I have found a citation in a translated piece from China that indicates General Li hired Song Wei Yi to teach the sword forms to his officers of which Wu was one.

Although the form is played continuously, it can be taught in 8 lines, Part A & B and many of the techniques are taught as two man exercises where each participant walks in a circle, touching swords and rotating swords (kinda of like a bagua push hands). The technique, say hui, is played out from the circle and then the other starts the circle and plays out the technique from the other side (there is no change in direction as you would find in a bagua sword form and it does not resemble anything from the bagua sword form I know, Cheng style)

Barbara Davis in her translation of Chen Weiming's (Yang Cheng Fu's disciple) taiji sword book, indicates that Li Jing Lin taught him the fighting part of the taiji sword (not clear whether Yang Cheng Fu had the two man exercises or the fighting side of his form) and the sword that Li Jing Lin played was indeed a taiji sword (adhered to the principles that Chen Weiming expressed in his taiji sword form).

Also where and when did the Yang shi taijiquan lineage receive its taiji sword. One story has it that Li Jing Lin traded his sword forms for Yang Ban Hou's taiji forms.

Any light cast upon this would be greatly appreciated as I am in the middle of writing an article on the taiji sword form taught by Liu Yun Qiao and have hit a dead end. Few of his formal students (actually none that I am aware of learned this sword form as Yang's taiji wasn't one of Liu's major systems) seemed to have had an interest in it.

Thanks.

[premier]

I can't make it work. The PDF pages are blank...


premier

[Thomas Chen]

Stumblefist:
I think you really like to "stumble" me. Isn't it a funny coincidence that your Miao Dao teacher is T. Chen or Tom Chen..... my namesake ?? :D :D :)


RAF:
I have posted your questions to the Chinese swordsmanship section of swordforum.com; Scott Rodell (the moderator there) might be able to answer. Will get back to you over the next couple of days or you can check here for any replies:

http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=4654

______________________________


Premier
Did you install the plugin ?? It is compulsory, if not the files will appear blank after downloading.

If you have installed the plugin, and afterwards click on the file links, the acrobat reader software will be activated and the downloading would start automatically. However, the acrobat reader screen would remain BLANK until the entire pdf file has been completely downloaded; the time required, of course, depends on the speed of your Internet connection. If you are not using cable or broadband but are using an ordinary 56K modem, this will take at least 25-30 mins for those 3.4 megabyte-size files.

Also, do note that the plugin works for only acrobat reader software version 4 or newer, so check your acrobat reader version number please.




Best regards
Thomas Chen

[RAF]

Thank you Tom.

However, I think I have run into a dead end.

Perhaps the reasonable question is where did the jian form and practice come into the Yang lineage?

Also holds for the Chen. too.

Somewhere I read that Chen Fake never practiced a jian form but only spear, staff, and dao.

[premier]

Yep. I have Acrobat 5.0 and the plugin and the files downloaded, but still only blank pages.


premier

[Crimson Phoenix]

Premier, maybe, just like me, you own a Mac (that is, you possess superior mind and class hehehehehe). Apparently, these PDF on the site do not work with Macs (I read a warning somewhere)...I don't know why, it's weird, my OS X uses PDF as a core foundation and still it doesn't work...I don't know what with these PDF on the site...

By the way, Thomas, can't you fix that? I mean...it must not be that hard to do, and lots of people are surfing on Macs...that would be just great :-)

RAF: Li Jing Ling was expert in Wudang sword...He was for example very famous for his Tai Yi wudang sword form, and one of the best swordmen in China (his nickname was "magic sword Li". He met Yang Chen Fu in a friendly bout once, and Yang in one move made him drop his sword just right after they squarred off. It means that Yang was already incredibly good at sword even before he came in contact with Li for the first time...hence, I doubt the sword of Yang Taiji comes from Li Jing Lin, or even from his teachers who also were skilled in Wudang sword, but no Taiji sword mentionned...
It doesn't answer the question, but I guess it rules out one possibility...

[Crimson Phoenix]

well, I thought this was not a mythical story...from what I thought, Li himself reported his surprise and admiration to the guys at Nanjing central kuoshu institute (I heard it from two sources, one coming from Han Ching Tang, the other one from Jiang Rong Qiao). It was Li's only recorded loss, and I was told the fact that Yang Cheng Fun, although a superb martial artist, was an ungentle social **** was the only reason why Li didn't want to mangle with him. From what I have been told also, this bout took place with many witnesses...
But since I wasn't there, who knows (I still heard it from a direct student of Jiang, who got all his wudang sword from Li himself)...there are so many mystifications in MA...

[RAF]

Crimson Phoenix

The story of Yang Cheng Fu and Li Jing Lin seems highly unlikely. Again, if you can get a copy of the Barbara Davis's translation of Chen Weiming, Taiji Sword, Chen tells the story of meeting Li Jing Lin and learning the fighting part from him. Chen Weiming had to be one of the closests associates of Yang Cheng Fu. If the event were true (losing in one shot), then it is highly unlikely Chen Weiming would even bother with Li Jing Lin. In fact, he would have recorded it in his taiji sword book (unless the event took place after 1928) Robert Smith flaunts the story around in his latest text but I don't think there is a credible source to back it up(but your references are very interesting). For the record, the Chinese wrestler Butterfly Deng also states he defeated Li Jing Lin in a friendly match. I believe it might have been Li Jing Lin who then taught Deng his taiji and I know that Li Jing Lin learned his taiji forms from one of the Yang Cheng Fu's older brothers (this was told to me in a correspondence with someone associated with the Li family) That is where I speculate the introduction of the jian was made into the Yang lineage.

Zhang Xiang Wu (officer/warlord under Li Jing Lin and also a disciple of Li Shu Wen, baji taught us our taiji sword and taiji forms. Our taiji dao isn't really a form but sets of fighting lines) was listed as a Vice-President to the Nanjing Central Kuosho Institute. Although it was my understanding that they only used his name. Wu's reputation for taiji was well in place before the formation of the Nanjing Institute and we know it did not arise from the Yang Cheng Fu lineage. We have no records or mention of him ever meeting Yang Cheng Fu. I also wonder if there is some sort of rivalry between Yang Cheng Fu lineage and Li Jing Lin's taiji lineage.

An old issue of the journal of Chen style Taijiquan had a translated article stating that the taiji sword most likely came from the kun wu sword techniques, san cai jian, and possibly the wudang sword.

However, I never have encountered any stories about Yang Lu Chan or others having a jian skill or system. It seems only to arise with the generation of Yang Cheng Fu (even his uncles whom I speculate learned form Li Jing Lin do not seem to have any jian sword associated with them).

Thanks for answering and I'll keep the story tucked. If you looked at the age when Li Jing Lin met Chen Weiming, its very close to time of Li Jing Lin's death (1928 Chen Weiming wrote it in his book. Yang Cheng Fu's death was in 1936, 8 years later. Li Jing Lin died in 1931. So the event had to take place between 1928 and 1931. I seem to have read one of Smith's stories in the JAMA that in his later years, Yang Cheng Fu was even doing any public teaching and most teaching was carried out by disciples while Yang Cheng Fu stayed indoors, occassionally checking them. Was the Nanjing institute still in operation?).

But thanks again. I would like to hear from the anyone associated with Li Jing Lin's family (I believe they are in England).

[RAF]

Crimson Phoenix:

Another interesting point I found in Davis's booK:

Li Jing Lin arrives in Shanghai in 1927 and serves as assistant director to the Institute. Also writes an insription for Chen Weiming for his book, Questions and Answers on Taijiquan. The original book was published in 1929. In the English translation, by Ben Lo and Robert Smith there is not mention or illustration of that inscription.

Also page ix:

"In regard to sword fencing, there is no information about it in Taiji Sword. Chen only makes brief mention of fencing in his preface, saying that Yang Cheng Fu did not teach a specific fencing routine, and that when he (Chen) knew fencing better, he would write another book."

To me that doesn't mean Yang Cheng Fu couldn't fence or teach the techniques, its just that every traditional form in fencing that I know or have been exposed to (san cai jian, kun wu sword, my taiji sword form, bagua sword) has a part B fighting form to follow the part A.

In her second footnote, Davis also indicates:

"There is little historical information about Taiji sword practice. The Taijiquan Classics handed down in the Yang lineage, for example, make no mention of any weapons (Lo et al. Essence) and the Wu-Li-Hao lineage of the Classics only mention knife (dao) and staff. (Gu, TJQS, p. 372).

I find the whole history of the Yang's taiji sword both interesting and frustrating.

[Thomas Chen]

Hi All

His name is Guo Ruixiang, and in my opinion, this man is the foremost Miao Dao expert in mainland China. Check out his moves:

http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=24935

[Thomas Chen]

Also check out this picture of an antique Qing Dynasty Chinese Imperial 2-handed saber with trimmings of gold on the intricate fittings. Wouldn't it be COOL to use this for Miao Dao practice ??......

[neit]

excellent post.

[taichi4eva]

I was wondering if anyone practices Miao Dao, particularly of the Han-Ching-Tan lineage. Can anyone provide a description of the form? Is there any Japanese influence?

I was wondering if anyone has purchased Scott Rodell's DVD- International Tai Chi Festival. The Miao Dao is featured in it. Any opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[count]

Probably from Muslim roots. Not Japanese. But than, Hans Longfist was from Muslim roots too. It's a mainstay weapon from Hsing-I too. I learned a very short form but most of the training was the basic cuts and body method. One main difference I see between Japanese sword styles compared with Chinese sword styles, is you will never draw your sword back before cutting.

[WanderingMonk]

Its roots are japanese, General Qi manual state it clearly. don't ask me to quote it. It was a while back when I was looking for this type of info. The chinese did modify to suit our taste but the original techniques were "extracted" from the Japanese pirates raiding the chinese coast by Qi's soldiers.

someone on this forum does have the miao dao form from GM Han's line. Whether or not he will post it depends whether or not he see your post and feel up to it.

[Robert Young]

> I was wondering if anyone practices Miao Dao, particularly of the Han-Ching-Tan
> lineage. Can anyone provide a description of the form? Is there any Japanese
> influence?

The Miao Dao from LF through GM Han was from Nan Jin Guo Shu Guan where GM Han was the first year students there. Miao Doa was not popular in Chinese civilian martial arts world. It was mainly from the military side in dynasty time and mainly for. Some master in NJ Institute taught Miao Dao to the public. That was how LF got it Miao Dao.

As far as I know, GM Han had never taught Miao Dao one man form, but he did taught two man Miao Dao sparring form. But, there are two Miao Dao forms that were taught in NJ Guo Shu Guan.

Personally, I don't think our Miao Dao has any Japanese influence as how it is used. The weapon itself may be influence from Japan, but who knows. Even it was from Japanese originally, Chinese would have changed it. There are some moves that we do in our two man Miao Dao do not exist in Japanese Katana.

Cheers,

[Chow Farn]

Recently the 'Miao Dao' has caught my eye.
I have done Korean sword arts (Haedong Gumdo & Kumdo/Kendo) for over 8 years.
The design of the sword looks close (but size looks longer).

So I was wondering what they had in common etc.

I'm just interested in hearing from people who have trained in the form/style.

[YouKnowWho]

The Miao Dao was created during the Ming dynasty when Japanese pirates invaded Chinese coast line. It was an identical copy of the Japanese Samurai sword but much longer, wider, and heavier. During that time, the Miao Dao did scare Japanese pirates quite a bit because the much longer reach. It was like Chinese tried to tell Japanese, "You call your Samurai sword a sword? I'll show you what a real Samurai sword suppose to look like." :p

The design of Maio Dao has more psychology effect than physical effect. IMO, the spear is much longer. Just because Japanese did respect Samurai sword, they must respect giant size Samurai sword by default.

The main strategy for Maio Diao is to build a bridge (sword touch sword) and then remain contact and slide in.

[mawali]

The samurai sword techniques were taken from a Chinese long sword of the period but the Japanese, as usual, used that single sword form to make it a historical while the 1001 dao forms ended up as just pantomine or circus.

I am not saying they (Chinese forms are excessive) are useless but that the Japanese utilized a single form and improved it to match the weapon length.
I will try to find the source!

[jdhowland]

Miao dao training is interesting because of the weapon's limitations. As YKW suggested, it is dangerous to disengage for a cut because it is such a heavy weapon. Hard to overcome that kind of inertia. That same quality makes it good for studying strategic positioning and learning how to use the sword's curvature for defense.

We practice a form that is associated with Wu Tan and possibly derives from a military tradition. I have heard that captured Japanese were made to fight with their tachi in order to force them to reveal their techniques to the chinese imperial guardsmen, with little success.

Centuries ago, japanese soldiers also had a type of o-dachi that was as long or longer than the miao dao. This period of giantism in japanese weapons is associated with a decadence in standards of training. Send a lot more bodies onto the field carrying big chunks of steel and they might be able to beat a smaller force of highly skilled experts.

Good luck in your efforts.

jd

[Three Harmonies]

The Miao Dao Wutan plays is the same as John Wangs, just a different flavor in usage.

They way it is played in Tong Bei / Pi Qua circles negates what you all say in terms of short range, inertia etc. Continuously flowing technique, coupled with full body usage/power makes it a very unique weapon indeed!

Cheers
Jake

[Eddie]

I learned a miao doa form from Wong Guan Quan, and it was pretty cool form, but the saber is heavy and uncomfortable to use.

Later, I learned a similar form from Sifu Chow Keung (TaiSing pek Gwa) which has similar movements, but we use a shorter double hand saber. The story he told me was that this sword was used to kill the Japanese, as it is used in a similar way as the Japanese sabers, but its lighter and easier to handle. We simply call it double hand saber and use a sword that looks like a pok dao, only with a shorter handle.

Can post a video later

[Mr Punch]

Interesting history there people, thanks.

I have two questions:

1) The 'original' Japanese samurai swords in the 8th century, according to many sources, were based on what...? I've seen references to their being made based on Chinese folding techniques imported as early as the 2nd C AD... but I've also seen references to their having been direct copies of a Chinese style of sword. So which is it?

2) If it was a direct copy, did the Chinese version fall out of use? I can only assume that it had to have done, since the Chinese later 'copied' and enlarged the (by then 60-ish cm) blades of the wako (wukou)... they wouldn't have needed to had their own versions still been in use (the o-dachi had been out of regular use for a couple of hundred years at least by the time the Japanese pirates came along).

[Three Harmonies]

Good questions! Not sure. I know very little about the history of the weapon.

On a similar note....
Would there be much interest out there if I hosted Mike Martello for a weekend of Miao Dao work sometime? We have talked about it for his annual visit to Seattle, but I was unsure of how many people would want to work it?

Good topic guys!
Jake :D

[jdhowland]

Interesting history there people, thanks.

I have two questions:

1) The 'original' Japanese samurai swords in the 8th century, according to many sources, were based on what...? I've seen references to their being made based on Chinese folding techniques imported as early as the 2nd C AD... but I've also seen references to their having been direct copies of a Chinese style of sword. So which is it?

2) If it was a direct copy, did the Chinese version fall out of use? I can only assume that it had to have done, since the Chinese later 'copied' and enlarged the (by then 60-ish cm) blades of the wako (wukou)... they wouldn't have needed to had their own versions still been in use (the o-dachi had been out of regular use for a couple of hundred years at least by the time the Japanese pirates came along).

Good questions there, Mr Punch. I think the best sources we have are still educated guesses. Here are a few ideas to consider:

Donn Draeger's researches indicated that the Japanese blade derives from a straight bladed mainland original type. The Chinese eventually settled on a format with two sharpened edges although many earlier straight swords had single cutting edges. The curvature comes from differential expansion and contraction of thick and thin portions of the blade during working, annealing and quenching. It was soon discovered that a curved blade cuts better than a straight one and is less susceptible to breaking. For some reason, the Japanese chose to do without shields, allowing them a stronger two-handed technique which affected the morphology of their swords; for example the tsuka became longer and the tsuba developed differently from mainland Asian samples, being not a hand guard but a weight designed to bring the weapon's center of mass closer to the hands. Evolution from a straight sword is somewhat supported by the fact that the Japanese use the kanji for both ken/gim/jian and to/dou/dao in reference to their swords. The most typical Tibetan swords are also of a single cutting edge type and either straight or only slightly curved and Tibetan culture is known for its conservatism in artefact types.

As for the obsolescense of the o-dachi, it may well have seen some use during the Qing. Even though the katana became increasingly popular during Tokugawa times and later, many bushi may have simply chosen to wear the o-dachi upside down to reflect the new style. There are koryu systems today that still use the o-dachi, or in some cases, use a more modern blade but still call it o-dachi.

Personally, I see "typical" Japanese and Chinese swords as being part of a continuum with many atypical and transitional types between them, both on the islands and on the continent. What is really different is how they were used. The physics are the same, the cultural demands quite different.

Be well.

jd

[SimonM]

Miao dao training is interesting because of the weapon's limitations. As YKW suggested, it is dangerous to disengage for a cut because it is such a heavy weapon. Hard to overcome that kind of inertia. That same quality makes it good for studying strategic positioning and learning how to use the sword's curvature for defense.


It's interesting to note that in Europe large swords (such as the Zweihander, the pre-basket hilt design Claymore, the Flamberge and the Long Sword) were frequently used as a compromise between sword and spear. Soldiers so equipped would be dispatched to break pike and polearm formations and make them more vulnerable to cavalry or light infantry (such as arming sword / buckler troops). The blades provided some ability to counter the range and, with the inertia behind the heavy weapons they could break through a wall of pikes and snap wood shafts.

Of course there was also a ceremonial / organizational aspect to big-sword use... past historical research has suggested, particularly with the scots, that a clan leader carrying a large and easily identified blade would have had an advantage in rallying troops simmilar to that of standard bearers.

IIRC this has been discounted by more recent research as being unimportant of of lesser importence to the impact of the blades on pike formations.

[jdhowland]

...in Europe large swords...were frequently used as a compromise between sword and spear.

That's a good description of miao dao as taught in schools that prefer to keep them pointed somewhere in the enemy's vicinity most of the time. The technique resembles that of the spear although slicing and grazing cuts are used more than stabs.

jd

[Mr Punch]

Great post, thanks.
For some reason, the Japanese chose to do without shields, allowing them a stronger two-handed technique which affected the morphology of their swords; for example the tsuka became longer and the tsuba developed differently from mainland Asian samples, being not a hand guard but a weight designed to bring the weapon's center of mass closer to the hands.The Japanese chose not to use shields and to use curved swords because they were mounted most of the time (hence their bow shooting practice from horseback too... and hence the curved swords because it's easier, more accurate and more stable to slash from horseback than to stab)... so the weighting of the tsuba would also allow for stronger one-handed cuts too, no?

[SimonM]

prefer to keep them pointed somewhere in the enemy's vicinity most of the time.

I think I would be most dubious of any school that preferred to keep swords pointed somewhere in the vicinity of ones allies rather than ones enemies.

[Oso]

best thread of recent times...good reading fellas! :)

[YouKnowWho]

Chinese has curve sword such as 柳叶刀 Liu Ye Dao (willow leave sword). The purpose of the curve shape can allow your sword to slide over a shield by using the back of the blade and then stab at your enemy's chest. It's like the 2 sections staff that you have one long section and one short section. Both sections are linked by chain. When you swing at your opponent and if he used shield to block it, the small section can still bend over the shield and hit on his head. Both weapons were excellent design for using in battle field.

[Oso]

possibly Off Topic but I just watched 'Mongol' and those were some fairly large ass scimtar/tulwar/saber type weapons they were using.

trying to remember my 'Burton' regarding where in history the curved sword first appeared....off of the axe way back I think and I think he regards the samurai sword as a cross between the two (straight and curved) to maximize potential for both types of action

[jdhowland]

I think I would be most dubious of any school that preferred to keep swords pointed somewhere in the vicinity of ones allies rather than ones enemies.

Hah!

I agree wholeheartedly. Without wishing to malign any schools that use a lot of figure eights and "flowers" with their miao dao, this is just what they are doing. It is probably good exercise. If we wish to keep battlefield applications in mind a more subdued and critical technique is called for.

jd

[SimonM]

Precisely.

I applaud your reason sir.

[jdhowland]

The Japanese ...were mounted most of the time ... and hence the curved swords because it's easier, more accurate and more stable to slash from horseback than to stab)... so the weighting of the tsuba would also allow for stronger one-handed cuts too, no?

Excellent point. The Japanese tachi, the Hungarian sabre, the scimitar were all horsemen's weapons. The miao dao would be perfect for that application. I have never heard of any record of its use in battle except the description of a sword drawing technique. Since the miao dao was too long for most men to draw in the normal fashion, a buddy system was used: each soldier would carry his partner's dao. To prepare for battle you face your partner and draw your sword from his scabbard as he does the same. That could be awkward. That does seem to indicate training for foot soldiers only.

jd

[Mano Mano]

Excellent point. The Japanese tachi, the Hungarian sabre, the scimitar were all horsemen's weapons. The miao dao would be perfect for that application. I have never heard of any record of its use in battle except the description of a sword drawing technique. Since the miao dao was too long for most men to draw in the normal fashion, a buddy system was used: each soldier would carry his partner's dao. To prepare for battle you face your partner and draw your sword from his scabbard as he does the same. That could be awkward. That does seem to indicate training for foot soldiers only.

jdWouldn’t it be more practical to carry resting on the shoulder.

[GeneChing]

This was in my morning paper. I only add it here because this thread popped up when I searched "Korean sword" (Jungshin came up zero).

Sword-wielding workout taps into inner power (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F02%2F13%2FDDOH1GCB TC.DTL)
Sam Whiting
Monday, February 14, 2011

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2011/02/11/dd-obsession14_p_0502844235_part6.jpg
Chantal Dominique Anderson wields a wooden sword during a workout in a Jungshin class.

Chantal Dominique Anderson of Sausalito has her initials engraved in her Jungshin sword. It lets her opponent know she means business during this fitness class derived from a Korean martial art.

Why: I love having the ability to tap into my own power quickly, get a killer workout as a warrior wielding a sword, and achieve complete relaxation through the closing meditation - all within a one-hour class.

Greatest accomplishment: Being in the best shape of my life at 33 years old and the fact that I can do 20 fingertip push-ups in a row.

Gear you can't live without: My 41-inch red-oak, custom-weighted, engraved Jungshin sword. The engraving provides an instant connection between the body and the equipment, like the sword is an extension of me.

Where you train: The Sports Club/LA-San Francisco, the "Urban Country Club."

Best time to train: Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. The instructor, Annika Kahn, is the founder of Jungshin.

Most annoying thing people assume about athletes in your sport: People say they could never handle a sword because they aren't coordinated enough. Handling the sword actually helps coordination.

Advice you'd give a rookie: You have an incredible amount of power within yourself. Jungshin will teach you how to tap into that fire and channel it positively within your everyday life.

Those red-oak, custom-weighted, engraved Jungshin swords sure look a lot like red-oak, off-the-rack, unengraved bokken (http://www.martialartsmart.com/40-03.html). What these people need are some Hankook swords (http://www.martialartsmart.com/35-26l.html).

[Lucas]

What, only 20? :rolleyes:

;)

[bawang]

miao dao families all have that ming dynasty dan dao manual. first page it says

"true authentic transmission of japanese sword"

lololoollol

It was an identical copy of the Japanese Samurai sword but much longer, wider, and heavier.
noe. its from japanese ye tai dao, 5 feet long

[PalmStriker]

Excellent sword skills with this 2 hand long sword: :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noYb1p3L0Sg

[TaichiMantis]

Nice! I think some mantis lines have Miao dao forms...

[SPJ]

I may see many long staff methods.

No wonder that they say the long staff method is the mother (general/minister) of all long weapon methods.

The long spear is the father/king.

:cool:

[GeneChing]

See our NOV+DEC 2011 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=999) cover story: The Chinese Samurai Sword (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=1012)

[GoldenBrain]

I enjoyed that! Very smooth and fluid movement...solid!!!

[GoldenBrain]

See our NOV+DEC 2011 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=999) cover story: The Chinese Samurai Sword (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=1012)

Looking forward to it.

[mickey]

Greetings,

I agree 100% with SPJ.

mickey

[PalmStriker]

See our NOV+DEC 2011 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=999) cover story: The Chinese Samurai Sword (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=1012) :) A great compilation article on the MiaoDao! Missed that one first time around, thanks for posting!

[PalmStriker]

Check this out: :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_tCbaaJ4ws

[GeneChing]

We do have a thread for the Sword Identity (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?61839-The-Sword-Identity). That's connected to our JUL+AUG 2012 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=1047)cover story The Two-Handed Sword Reborn (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=1051) on the lead actor from that film, Grandmaster Yu Chenghui. It's not about Miao Dao however. It's about Shuangshoujian (http://www.martialartsmart.com/45-39cs.html).

[Tainan Mantis]

I was invited to perform two person Miao Dao on TV when the Kung Fu Panda craze was in town.

Two Person Saber - Tampa Kung Fu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-D2nArcKYM)

Student learning Miao Dao

[Cory Nyenhuis]

Where does one acquire a miao dao. I have looked for years and only find ones slightly larger than katana.

[PalmStriker]

Check out this multifunction blade: :) http://chinesemartialstudies.com/2014/08/18/through-a-lens-darkly-25-a-sawback-dadao-in-hangzhou/

[YouKnowWho]

In the following clip, they should remove the tassel at the end of their Miao Diao.

The tassel at the end of your

- spear can be used to confuse your opponent.
- Miao Diao (od Dao) can only be used to confuse "yourself".


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-D2nArcKYM

[Tainan Mantis]

In the following clip, they should remove the tassel at the end of their Miao Diao.


It is for looking good on TV during the Kung Fu Panda promotion, don't have to be so strict.

[PalmStriker]

:) Bagua Broadsword: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2akL7S5Y98

[PalmStriker]

:) Old School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ8ZMdcMXts

[GeneChing]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrTQADo6aWA


Miao Dao (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?52456-Miao-Dao) @ KUNG FU TAI CHI 25TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?69762-KUNG-FU-TAI-CHI-25TH-ANNIVERSARY-FESTIVAL-May-19-21-2017-San-Jose-CA)