Eastern Martial Art Specialising in One-handed Sword

[Chew]

Hello All

Does anyone know of an eastern martial art that specialises in one-handed sword? I believe the discipline includes the use of the 'secret sword' employed 'in' the off-hand.

I've been researching this for ages and have not found very much information.

If someone could tell me what they know or point me in the right direction to get some good information, I'd be very grateful.

Many thanks.

[Chew]

btw I think it's Japanese.

[Melanie]

Welcome Chew

Thanks for joining us. :)

Not sure who to direct your question to, but hopefully some one here can help. We look forward to hearing more from you. :)

[Chew]

Hi Mel

Anyone who knows, really. Thanks for the welcome.

[Spike]

It sounds like a Chinese style that uses the tai-chi sword to me, although it could be one of the styles that uses the chinese Saber.

[Chew]

Thanks Spike, I really need to know the name of the discipline though. Someone out there *must* know!

[Jim]

Can you post a picture in the gallery? If we can see the sword itself it may lead to the answer.

[Freeform]

Sounds like something you'd do with a Ninja Tor (don't know if thats the right spelling). Ask the Bujikan Ninjitsu guys.

[Chew]

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture. Only a vague recollection from a friend.

Who are the Bujikan Ninjitsu?

I'll search for Ninja Tor on the web....

Thanks for the replies tho.... I'll keep looking.

Keep up the good work :)

[Chew]

There's absolutely nothing on Ninja Tor on the web apart from some 'cool dude' posing! :)

The search continues...

[Jim]

The spelling is incorrect (although translated from Japanese who can say...).

I think the weapon you're looking for is a Ninja To. It is sometimes refered to as a 'secret' sword. There are so many others it could be, even butterfly knives, etc. Are you sure it's an asian fighting style? Any more info you could give would be helpful I'm thinking.

Why are you looking for it?

[Chew]

Hi Jim

Thanks for the lead, I have have started to research "Ninja-To" on the web and (thanks again) have got a new lead that is promising.

Here are a couple of quotes from (http://swordforum.com/sfu/primer/ninjasword.html):

The first quote speaks to the existance of the Ninja-To...

"Sword Primer
Ninja Swords - Did They Exist Historically?

Often depicted as a straight bladed weapon with a square guard, the ninja sword (or "ninja-to") is an area of historical controversy. Contrary to the many fine examples of curve-bladed swords used by Samurai, the fabled "ninja-to" does not have living historical examples among today's antique swords in museums or private collections."


The second quote is from the end of the page....

"Today's historically-accurate ninjutsu arts seem to promote both katana-length and wakizashi-length blades which, by default, were the primary sword of the Samurai; being shorter, they were more apt for indoor fighting and thus were the sword the Samurai had beside him when eating, sleeping, or bathing. While little distinction is made today, true wakizashi were single-handed weapons while uchigatana were dual-handle length weapons, though the blade lengths were the same."


I think that if I follow, the wakizashi lead (because of the single-handed reference) may bring me to the names of single-handed discipline(s).

Thanks again for the hint, I'll post back here with what I find.

[Chew]

I've just discovered that there's a single-handed technique in Taijiquan (Chen Village) but it uses a sabre. The secret sword is present too. Here's a link:

http://home.rochester.rr.com/rochchentaiji/bs.htm

[Chew]

I forgot to say, Taijiquan is Chinese and appears to be another way of saying Tai Chi.

[Eddie]

Single handed swords are found in many disciplines, including Chinese Martial Arts.
The most commonly known CMA sword style would probably be Taiji tian (Yang, Chen, etc), and very often the Tian (or Gim in Cantonese – Double Edged Straight sword) are called the Taiji Sword (which could be misleading).

Many styles of kung fu uses this sword effectively, and very often it is called DaMo Sword or Bodhidharma Sword. There are also variations on Drunken Sword for this weapon.

Many people believe that the authority on straight sword would be the WuDang Temple and the Wu Dang swordsman were seen as the best swordsmen in the world. Wudang (even Taiji) sword techniques are aimed more towards cutting the wrists, and are not as much focussed on stabbing. Movements are more in circles.

With the Kung Fu Broadsword (Saber or Dao), the fighter also use only one hand on the sword and the other hand is free to block or shield hand attacks. Broadsword uses different techniques than the gim, and my personal opinion is that this sword is also more for dog fight like battles (if you know what I mean).

The Japanese Katana also originated from China (off hand – I think the Song Dynasty). Over this last weekend I saw a demo from a very famous Chinese Master on the Chinese Katana techniques. For the life of me, I cannot remember the Chinese Name for the Katana and this type of sword fighting. When my memory starts to serve me again, I will post it here.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need more info.

[Jim]

Chew,

I don't think the Wakizachi lead will help you. The short sword (Wakizachi) was mainly used to 'finish off' opponents after the real fighting was done. That is before Mushashi found that you could use both at the same time.

The historical stuff you've found about the Ninja-To is the same as what I've found before. Problem being that if it ever existed where did they all go?

But I think that's probably the techniques that you're looking for. Do you remember if the swordsperson wore all black?

Why are you looking for it again?

[Chew]

Hi Jim

Thanks for the interest. I've been researching further and have discovered the Wudang Sword (or Jian) form. Do you know how this discipline works? Does anyone else reading this?

I do not think the swordspersons wore all black.

I'm looking for this information for my current project. I am interested in the rarer martial arts because, in my writing, I wish to use authentic but not the over-used standard martial art forms.

I am not looking for just any rare martial art, the one I seek was described to me by a friend who cannot remember enough detail for me to use. I will try to post samples of the writing here, when I have to information I need and I am pleased with the work: as a thank you for any information given.

[Eddie]

Chew, I cannot help thinking you never read my previous post.

This might sound stupid, but if you watch the animated movie, Mulan, you can actually see an animated version of a straightword form. Ref to a section where mulan's father trained a sword form in the back yard. Personally, I don’t think Crouching Tiger.. showed proper use of this sword, as the actors were basically fencing to look more impressive to viewers.

I totally forgot that even Thai and Indian Martial Arts has some single handed sword techniques. These are also pretty effective, but somehow I think they all root in some Chinese Style.

[Chew]

Hi Eddie

Sorry about not giving credit to you for revealing Wudang Jian, I did read your post (I have the email reply service set up), I just forgot that it was on this forum.

I'll try and get a copy of Mulan; I have already (b4 I read this latest post) begun looking for a copy of Crouching Tiger (so far only a German version has surfaced).

As to other movies, I have read about one starring Jet Li called 'Kids from Shaolin' which apparently has a 10 minute fight scene at the end involving a Wudang master. I'll probably have it in a few days.

Further research has led me to investigate (variously) Drunken Sword, Wudang Drunken Sword or Zui Jian. I was able to get a movie clip of the Wushu 2000 Nationals where David Chang demonstrates Drunken Straightsword. Very interesting.

The technique I'm looking for definately involves a straight, two-edged sword and the 'secret hidden sword' in the off-hand.

Thanks again for the interest.

p.s. My research (following up your lead, Eddie) has not revealed exactly how the Wudang Sword form actually works...

[Eddie]

Chew,
:) I did not want credit, I just thought you missed my post.

to give you an idea of wudang gim, I do suggest you find a teacher to show you how to use it or perhaps get an instructional tape. Its pretty hard to descripe the movements over an internet forum.

Basically, the gim is used to cut the wrists, in appose to 'fencing' like action, although there are some great fencing techniques.

I found a site with a video clip of the Choy Lay Fut gim form http://www.choyleefut.com.au/update/gallery.asp

Maybe it could help you in your research.
good luck, let us know what you find

[Sphyerion]

Just to clarify:

Tai Ji Quan
Tai Chi Chuan

The correct spelling (according to the standard that has been set recently) is Tai Ji Quan. =) note that it is extremely common that people spell it Tai Chi... simply because it has been mistakkenly used by nearly everyone =P It's hard to get eveyrone to revert to the correct after using the old version for so long.

[Intan86]

Hey, Chew! Maybe you meant for Wudang. Just like Shaolin Kung Fu, Wudang is very famous with its sword fighting. Try that?