I’m not sure it it was just an ‘East Coast’ thing or if it spread to the larger Shaolin Kempo community, but we imported an elementary broadsword form as a weapons form. Here’s a rendition of the form that captures the general nature of how the Shaolin Kempo schools did it:
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Nice form. I may try to learn it this summer.
Minor rant aside from the form.
Personally, I don’t like using those flat aluminum blades swords, since they don’t have the feel of a actual Chinese broadsword. They are dao, i.e. cutting blades, and that wide spot near the tip is wider in a live blade. Really changes the balance. You can feel the blade pulling through on a cut. Using a life blade really increases your level of focus. 😉
I picked up a hard plastic blade a few years ago that has a better weight distribution. Good for those times I don’t want use the live blade, as well as being something I’m more likely to hand a student to use.
It’s a fun form – I got one of those flimsy sheet metal swords as part of the seminar. I agree that the real blades present a very different experience. I’m still on the fence as to whether it really ‘fits’ with the rest of the system. As far as live blade use, I have met an instructor that did live blade only because of the ‘increased focus’ it tended to encourage.
The advantage to the sheet metal swords is that they are cheap. Which is good if you want a few around to introduce people to the concept. If someone is really interested, I’ll point to them to something more substantial than the sheet metal.
My take on weapons is if a student is interested, I’ll get moving in the right direction. I personally prefer the Chinese broadsword to the katana or the Tai Chi sword. Probably because I fenced saber in college, and that is the closest fit.
Does it fit in the system? Eh, may be not as much as single/double stick escrima, but more than a katana. That is just my opinion though, and probably slanted by my experience.
I try to do a weapons class every few months, often right before or after a holiday break. Focus on things other than than standards like the bo or Escrima work. I’ll bring sai, butterfly swords, broad sword, etc., just to let the students try them out and see what they like.