STRAIGHT SWORD
​ CHIEN - JIAN - GIM
 劍

Chien Sword training is an advanced weapon study taught at Imperial Combat Arts in Denver CO. The Chien, also known as the Gim or Jian, is a double-edged straight sword dating back to at least the 7th century B.C.E. and has been used in battle in China for over 2,500 years. This legendary sword which was first forged in the bronze age has been refined over the centuries to become one of the most well known and well studied swords in human history, and a primary sword in several of our Martial Arts. 
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 study.

SINGLE CHIEN
单​劍

TAN CHIEN | DANJIAN
The standard Chien is a double-edged straight sword that averages a 30 inch blade and 8 inch handle. There are numerous variations of this sword that have been used throughout history that feature  different lengths, metals, and different materials for the grip and scabbard. There are also variations of the blade shape, though the overall function of all styles are relatively similar.

ANCIENT CHIEN SWORD
昆吾剑

KUN WU CHIEN|KUNWUJIAN  
This style of ancient Chien was the very first of Chinese swords. The blade of this short thrusting weapon is shorter and wider than that of modern Chien Swords. There are 3 types of these swords, those cast in Bronze, Iron, and Modern Steels. Some Imperial Combat Arts Masters also train with a Roman Gladius or Scottish Dirk that have the same basic shape and size.

TWO HANDED CHIEN
雙手劍​

SHUAN SHOU CHIEN| SHUANGSHOUJIAN
These powerful two-handed Chien swords usually measure 4.5 - 5 in length with a 13 inch handle and 42 inch blade. Two handed straight swords date back to China Bronze Age with records of large Horse Beheading Chien's and other great swords that were custom forged for large and powerful warriors. These swords, like a two handed Scottish Claymore, have a significant reach advantage.

SHORT CHIEN
矮劍

AI CHIEN | AIJIAN
The Ai Chien or Short Chien is a double-edged short sword. The blade of these swords usually measures around the length of a forearm, or 15 inches, with a 6 to 8 inch handle. In history short Chien's were used primarily as last resort or backup weapons in close quarters combat. Additionally these smaller lighter swords were easy to carry for daily civilian use, and for use by small fighters.

DOUBLE SHORT CHIENS
雙​矮劍​

AI SHUANG CHIEN | AISHUANGJIAN
These double-edged short-swords are crafted to share the same scabbard, and are likely the first style of Chinese weapons designed for dual wielding. Most dual wielding in China was done by troops that didn't have hands free to carry a shield, such as troops that operated ballista, or other devices such as Kun Pei. The dual swords would help balance these troops against shields if caught in melee. 

DOUBLE CHIENS
雙劍​

SHUANG CHIEN | SHUANGJIAN
These double-edged straight-swords are crafted like most other Chinese twin swords to fit together in a single scabbard. Wielding a single Chien is already an advanced sword study in itself, dual wielding these weapons is in some ways the pinnacle of the study. These twin swords are usually slightly shorter in length that their full size relatives with handles that are flat on one side.

HOOk SWORDS
鈎刀 

FUTAO |FUDAO
Hooks Swords are also known as Tiger Hooks Swords, "Heaven & Earth, Sun & Moon Swords", and Twin Swords. These northern Chinese civilian weapons are most often associated with our arts of Mantis Kung Fu. At a combat level these swords are double edged, have a sharp pommel tip, and a sharp edged crescent guard. Without being able to thrust, these swords pull, capture, slice, slash, and cut.

CHICKEN SABER SICKLE
鷄刀​鐮

CHI TAO LIEN | JIDAOLIAN 
​This Sword also known as the "Binding Flower Waist Carry" is a straight double edged sword much like the Jian though with the addition of a hook, "claw" and "spur" forged into the blade. This unique weapon is a favorite in our arts of Hsing-I Ch'uan (Xingyiquan). Like the Hook Swords this sword loses its thrusting ability but excels at capturing opponents weapons, slicing, and cutting.

SNAKE SWORD
蛇​​​刀

SHE TAO | SHEDAO
The Snake Sword is a straight sword that curves back and forth like a snake in a similar fashion to the Lu Pu Chi (Lubuji) or Snake Halberd, and the Snake Spear. The tip of this unique sword can end in either a point, or a split point similar to a snakes forked tongue and the guard is that of a standard straight sword or a sharp crescent guard. These weapons are trained in our arts of Snake Kung Fu.

FLUTE CHIEN
​笛​劍​​

TI CHIEN | DIJIAN
The Flute Sword is a small Chien that is sheathed inside a fully functional bamboo or metal flute. These unique weapons, used by flutists, were carried for self defense. The first Chinese flutes appeared 7,000 years ago made of bamboo and long before the Sword was created. At some point in ancient history these two traditional objects were married into this unique weapon/instrument combination.

DAGGERS
匕首​

PI SHOU | BISHOU
​Daggers are the smallest of the double-edged straight swords and can range from just a few inches up to lengths just shy of a short sword. Most daggers are at least long enough to effectively reach vital organs with blades around 6-8 inches in length. These easy to conceal and easy to carry weapons have been used the world about since the Bronze Age, and are still some of the most common blades.

THROWING BLADES
​飞刀​

FEI TAO | FEIDAO
Hand thrown weapons are a traditional part of weapon mastery that helps to develop accuracy and a linked body. There are several types of these blades trained at Imperial Combat Arts on our fully equipped outdoor archery, and thrown weapon, target range. These thrown weapons include Knives, Axes, Hand Arrows, Swallow Tails, Thorns, Needles, and Darts. Enter Page> Throwing Weapons

STREET SWORD
​陌刀

MO TAO | MODAO
​This sword/pole-arm hybrid is a unique and effective weapon usually around 7 feet in length and is also known as a Sword-staff or Divided Chien. Unlike the curved single-edged blade of the Assault Sword, this weapon features the straight double-edged blade of a Chien (Jian). This unique combination gives straight sword lethality at an increased distance, as well as more cutting area than a spear.

EAR SWORD
​耳​​刀

ERH TAO | ERDAO
These unique Chinese Glaives date to the Iron Age and feature various diamond or kite shaped blades on a long handle. These weapons are also called Ox Ear Swords after the diamond shape of an Ox's Ear. Where the Mo Tao has a long thin blade, the Ear Tao has a shorter much wider blade sometimes with two points and more focused weight for chopping and crushing than thrusting.

TRAINING THE CHIEN

China's Three Kingdom Period 220-280 C.E. was one of the bloodiest in Chinese history. During these years of war and rebellion the Tao replaced the Chien completely on the battlefield. The Tao requires much less training time for soldiers, an important factor when needing to quickly replenish fallen troops. From this point forward the lighter and less durable double edged sword came to be trained only by officials and expert swordsman and known as "The Gentleman of all Weapons".

Still today at Imperial Combat Arts the Chien is taught only after mastery of the Tao, and as an advanced sword study. The standard Chien is primarily a single-handed weapon, and being double-edged, this allows for minimal second hand reinforcement, with either both hands occupying the same space, or reinforcement with only one or two fingers of the second hand. For this primary reason mastery of the Chien requires much greater skill, maneuverability, and body dynamics during force on force weapon interaction.

BENEFITS OF CHIEN TRAINING

Chien 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 Chien 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.

CHIEN 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. 

CHIEN 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.

CHIEN 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.

CHIEN TARGETS

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 Chien training, as well as ranged targets for thrown bladed weapons.

TAI CHI CHIEN

The Chien is a primary weapon in Tai Chi as well as several other Martial Arts taught at Imperial Combat Arts. After standard training of the Chien and all it's variants is completed, Tai Chi Chien offers a greater refinement of skill and deeper intimacy with the blade. Tai Chi Chien forms taught at Imperial Combat Arts are trained slow and in depth, as well as full speed. Every technique in our forms directly relates to fighting multiple armed opponents, and they are also used dynamically in sets and matching.  

CHIEN 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.

CHIEN 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 Chien vs Tao, Chien vs Spear, Chien vs Axe, and unarmed vs sword. Additionally learning how to use short swords vs long swords, and dual wielding, is an important part of melee weapon mastery. These important concepts and lessons transfer directly 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 Chien Masters to use their extensive straight sword techniques with their empty hand. This high level hand toughening 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 mastered with their sword. Enter Page> Hand Toughening