CHINESE SWORDSMANSHIP
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Traditional Chinese Sword training is a fully immersive weapon study taught at Imperial Combat Arts in Denver CO. Chinese Swordsmanship at a historically accurate combat level is a very different study than the theatrical and acrobatic sword training seen in many modern Chinese martial arts schools.
Our combat level sword training has direct lineage to the battlefield, and can hold its own with, or surpass any other weapon system in the world, and blends seamlessly with our hand to hand, ground systems, and chin na, as a complete combat study. |
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While there are numerous swords and other weapons taught at Imperial Combat Arts students begin day one with the most common Modern Weapons they will face today such as Knife, Gun, and Club. Later at higher levels students can move into Traditional Battlefield Weapons and Specialty Melee Weapons.
The number of swords taught at Imperial Combat Arts can seem overwhelming, but in reality many of these blades are very similar in training, with some even sharing the same forms and sets. Initial study of sword-fighting can take years to master, even with just a practitioners first sword. After mastery of a first Tao (Dao) and Chien (Jian) is accomplished, all other sword variants come much quicker, as secondary studies with similar weapons. In the end this training enables Masters to be proficient with any type of sword from any weapons system.
Like Chinese Martial Arts there are different types of swords for different body types and fighting styles. There are two primary categories of Chinese swords, the Tao (Dao, Dou, 刀), and the Chien (Jian, Gim, 劍).
The Character 刀 (Tao) represents any single edged blade from a combat knife, to a 7 foot Long Saber.
The Character 劍 (Chien) represents any double edged sword from a small Dagger, to a Two Handed sword.
The number of swords taught at Imperial Combat Arts can seem overwhelming, but in reality many of these blades are very similar in training, with some even sharing the same forms and sets. Initial study of sword-fighting can take years to master, even with just a practitioners first sword. After mastery of a first Tao (Dao) and Chien (Jian) is accomplished, all other sword variants come much quicker, as secondary studies with similar weapons. In the end this training enables Masters to be proficient with any type of sword from any weapons system.
Like Chinese Martial Arts there are different types of swords for different body types and fighting styles. There are two primary categories of Chinese swords, the Tao (Dao, Dou, 刀), and the Chien (Jian, Gim, 劍).
The Character 刀 (Tao) represents any single edged blade from a combat knife, to a 7 foot Long Saber.
The Character 劍 (Chien) represents any double edged sword from a small Dagger, to a Two Handed sword.
刀
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劍
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SHORT SWORDS
Short swords are any Saber or Straight Sword that is used with one hand, also including hand-and-a-half swords that have a hilt long enough for some intermittent second hand use. These swords are often used in pairs, with a second smaller weapon, or with a shield. Also included in this study is a variety of Knives including the Modern Combat Knife and other unique Short Blades.
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LONG SWORDS
Long Swords are defined as any Tao or Chien sword that requires two hands to wield effectively. Some of these traditional swords reach as much as eight feet in length and have the power to kill a horse with one cut. Long Sword training includes swords such as the Sprout Saber, the Horse Beheading Sword, the Chinese Long Saber, as well as Two Handed Straight Swords, and Divided Tao's.
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BATTLEFIELD SWORDS
Battlefield Swords are swords that were military issue at some point in China's vast military history. Chinese Swords date back to the bronze age and have been adapted throughout history into some of the most effective and well know sword styles used in the world. These weapons include Daggers, Short Swords, Sabers, Scimitars, two handed war swords, and the powerful Assault Sword.
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SPECIALTY SWORDS
While these unique weapons were never used in the military, their effectiveness throughout history has made them some of the most well known Chinese Weapons. These include the Hooks Swords, Deer Horn Knives, Wind and Fire Wheels, Sickle Blades, and the Raptor Claw Swords and Sickles. Some of these weapons are rare and ancient, with each one providing distinct advantages.
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CHINESE GLAIVES
Glaives are long and powerful pole-arm weapons that are essentially single-edged swords on a long staff. Also known as sword-staves these weapons have been used the world about for ancient and medieval warfare. The Glaive or Fauchard is a European term for these weapons though there are several types of Chinese Glaives including the Assault Sword and the Reclining Moon Blade. Enter Page> Chinese Glaives
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THROWN BLADES
Hand-thrown and projectile blades are a traditional part of Chinese Weapon study. While some of these weapons had direct military applications, most are specialty weapons that were designed to deliver poisons, or were used to surprise and soften targets upon approach with a primary weapon. These thrown weapons include Knives, Axes, Swallow Tails, Thorns, Needles, and Darts. Enter Page> Throwing Weapons
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WU TANG SWORDS
The Wu Tang Martial Arts taught at Imperial Combat Arts are legendary for their Sword-fighting skills.
H'sing-I uses several types of swords some of them quite unique such as the Chicken Claw Saber. Pakua is famous for its array of swords including a massive Saber known as the Pakua Tao. Tai Chi is a further refinement of sword skill with the Tai Chi Saber & Chien. |
ANIMAL KUNG FU SWORDS
Each of the Eight Animal Styles has its own favored swords that complement the powers and movements already developed in their martial art. Some arts like Leopard and Falcon favor fast, light, dual swords such as the Butterfly Swords or Deer horn Knives. Power styles like Tiger and Panther mostly prefer large heavy weapons to fit with their strong and powerful fighting styles.
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TRAINING IMPERIAL SWORD
Traditional Sword Training taught at Imperial Combat Arts was forged in a time when melee weapons were the primary focus of battle. Through this rigorous and fully immersive study practitioners today can become just as powerful and effective in melee combat as our warriors and champions of old. This high level sword study uses drills, forms, sets, targets, and matching to reach the highest levels of Swordsmanship.
BENEFITS OF SWORD TRAINING
Sword training strengthens the grip, wrist, arms, joints, and bones. This strength in turn helps deliver unarmed strikes, the joint conditioning helps to apply and defend against joint locks, the shock of weapons interaction and striking against training dummies, helps to strengthen the bones. Wielding an object such as a sword trains the body much differently than empty hand training alone. This training prepares the body for armed combat, where survival depends on certain skills, maneuvers, and techniques specific to weapons.
SWORD DRILLS
Sword drills are an important part of training sword. These drills teach primary grips, stances, maneuvers, cuts, chops, slashes, blocks, parries, and thrusts, and build these important movements into the body as a second nature reflex. Weapon drills are done in the air, vs partners, dummies, and all types of specialized equipment. The intricate artwork painted on the floor of the school at Imperial Combat Arts is designed for students to drill attacks and defenses against multiple opponents in all 8 directions.
SWORD FORMS
Sword forms are one of the primary ways Masters pass on the ancient knowledge of sword-fighting to the next generation of Warriors. These challenging forms teach dynamic flow, maneuvers, sword handling, and numerous proven and effective techniques. Every movement and technique in the sword forms at Imperial Combat Arts relate directly to combat, and are trained dynamically in sets, and matching. Forms are a way to practice your techniques routinely, and turn them to muscle memory, as needed for battle.
SWORD SETS
Dynamic sets allow students to learn effective techniques and sword applications that could never be used in sparring. Even with full pads a training sword can cause serious injury or death, therefore mastering sword requires a skilled and dedicated partner with focus and control. This repetitive partner interaction is one of the ways proven techniques are taught. At Imperial Combat Arts weapon sets are done vs multiple opponents, with realistic training weapons, as well as with padded weapons.
SWORD TARGETS
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Throughout history target practice has been a crucial part of sword development, as it still is today. In all parts of the world Straw Men, and Wooden Pell's of various types, have been the primary targets used to practice attacks and maneuvers. Imperial Combat Arts indoor/outdoor school has a full array of traditional and modern training dummies, accuracy rings, cutting posts, and dynamically moving targets designed specifically for sword training, as well as ranged targets for thrown bladed weapons.
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DUAL WIELDING
After mastery of the single sword Imperial Combat Arts practitioners move into dual wielding with various combinations of melee weapons they have previously trained. This includes Shuang Tao (Shuangdao 蛇刀) which are dual sabers contained in the same sheath, and Butterfly Swords which are dual short swords in the same sheath. Other combinations include, long and short sword, sword and axe, sword and knife, as well as sword and blunt weapons such as club and mace.
SWORD AND SHIELD
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By around 500 BCE the sword and shield combination came to be regarded as superior to the spear and dagger-axe in battle. Throughout the world shields of all types, shapes, and sizes have been utilized in battle. Shield training is a part of all melee weapons study at Imperial Combat Arts. Additionally several martial arts techniques with the empty hand are based of shield training concepts. Modern ballistic shields are also trained. Enter Page> Shield Training
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SWORD MATCHING
Aggressive matching with training swords is an important part of preparing for the chaos and fray of battle. This matching is also done in unusual and compromised ways, such as blindfolded, or on beams and posts. Most all matching done at our school, whether armed or unarmed, is done versus multiple opponents. These intense matching sessions are designed to be painful, yet safe, and push practitioners ever forward in skill. Aggressive Sword matching can only be done safely with padded weapons and armor.
SWORD VS OTHER WEAPONS
Aside from sword vs sword, there are numerous traditional sets to teach swords interaction with other weapons. Some of these pairings are legendary such as sword vs spear, sword vs axe, and unarmed vs sword. Additionally learning how to use short swords vs long swords and different combinations of dual wielding vs each other is an important part of melee weapon mastery. Many of these concepts and lessons transfer to empty hand tactics such as fighting opponents with superior reach.
SECRET SWORD HAND TOUGHENING
There are highly toughened hand and finger weapons developed in the arts that allow Sword Masters to use their extensive sword techniques with their empty hand. This high level hand toughening is part of the overall hand toughening trained at Imperial Combat Arts and can take years to master. At the highest level masters of these arts demonstrate breaking boards and holding their entire body weight on the tip of two fingers. With this strength they can launch full force strikes using the same techniques and maneuvers as sword.
Enter Page> Hand Toughening
Enter Page> Hand Toughening