Straight Sword Fighting Techniques

[fakemadereal]

Hmm.... I will use the newfound techniques in my next nerf sword duel.

[Gamesrock096]

I'm writing a book and it involves sword fighting. And since I know next to nothing about sword fightning this is very helpful!

[cigromful]

1. form of the fist that follows the will. Each blow is a killing blow unlike other chien forms. You see the will of your opponent and before they complete you have defeated them. The form focusses on cutting the opponent entirely in half. Rather than a wrist, slice all the way through the torso. Fa Ching (internal explosive power, like a sneeze that's controlled, or an animal shaking off water). Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. So happy to see Hsing I Chien!

[kungfukennyg]

@cigromful The techniques shown here are not necessarily Hsing-I. They are common techniques in several kung-fu styles. This is just a very short segment from a longer DVD.

[meNtor890]

You think it's cool to start practicing sword techniques without knowing any other forms of combat? I have the idea that the sword is like the ultimate weapon/challenge in a series of different combat forms one should master at first, like kung fu, jiu jitsu etc. As in the sword is like a prize. I'd feel like I cheat if I get the prize without earning it :D

[kungfukennyg]

@meNtor890 I'm not sure what you're talking about. I've studied martial arts for 38 years. Is that enough for you? I've been teaching for almost 15 years. My students all learn the basics of Hsing-I before they begin learning the straight sword. It takes years to become good at it, like any other art. But I believe that it's possible in some countries in the past, people took up the sword before they learned other martial arts.

[Thenewbeat2011]

How can i practice this at home?

[wahab010]

do you have information about arab ways in sword fighting ?

[kungfukennyg]

@wahab010 No, I don't. It's an interesting idea, though. I wonder if there are experts in that?

[meNtor890]

@kungfukennyg then you can wonder if the sky is blue at the same time :D

[kungfukennyg]

@meNtor890 I have no idea what that means but I like it!

[InuzukaCds]

@wahab010 Hahaha the mastery of yelling and charging at someone right? I can teach you that. (Joking)

[KihonNitenIchiRyu]

@wahab010 its called " GATKA "

[MrAmbition774]

i'll be honest i came here because my brother beat me with action bats

[kungfukennyg]

@MrAmbition774 Maybe I should make an action bats video. :)

[mrnarutomaniac1]

That would be a drag to get your wrists cut off

[erock676]

You know why zombies are so big right now? Its because we can't use any if this stuff anywhere else. Obviously people still role-play and stuff you don't get to chop the guys wrist off, of course you cant use this in war either(unless you made a time machine, contact me). That's my thought at least. Guys need some choppy choppy

[kungfukennyg]

@erock676 I have a very sharp sword next to my bed. I wouldn't expect to be burglarized by a zombie at night. :) So, swords aren't used on the battlefield anymore, but they do have their uses. I like using swords -- as much for the art as anything else. And if you learn to use a sword well, pick up a stick sometime and you'll see some similar techniques that could be useful.

[James2Johnson]

@kungfukennyg Any Chance you could do some more videos with a straight sword? Or point me in the right direction to where I can learn myself.

Thanks for the vid :)

[kungfukennyg]

@James2Johnson You're welcome. I have an online school with all the video on it of the Hsing-I straight sword form, plus general kung-fu sword techniques, including blocks/deflections, strikes, stances, etc. I also have a DVD of the Hsing-i straight sword form with instruction on the general straight sword techniques.

[James2Johnson]

@kungfukennyg how can I get hold of this DVD and are the videos on Youtube or another site?

[kungfukennyg]

@James2Johnson Go to my websites. For some reason I'm getting an error message when I try to type in the URL so go to kungfu4u dot com.

[SkyKingGenesis]

@erock676 Until you get zombie blood sprayed into your mouth or eye. Haha

[erinpwnerer]

I study Fiore de Liberi, an Italian sword master, and I don't understand why you do so many cross steps mid-battle. Is it a difference in the way people fought in Asia?

[kungfukennyg]

@erinpwnerer This is an instruction video showing only a few techniques. This is not intended to show the complete art of straight sword fighting. Most human beings probably fought the same way when on the battlefield, regardless of continent. I'm sure it was very brutal. But different fighting styles did gain popularity in different continents. No one in America knew what kung-fu was until the 1960's or 70's and nobody in this country fought that way.

[erinpwnerer]

@kungfukennyg I was wondering because the way I was taught, we don't ever do cross steps while in range of your opponent because it takes away your base of balance and they can just knock you right over.

[kungfukennyg]

@erinpwnerer It's a good question. I think there are some things that have developed in some of these arts that wouldn't necessarily be techniques I would personally use in a fighting situation, and I think you've hit on something here. There are cross steps in some empty hand forms, too, but I have used a cross-step once or twice to close the distance and throw a side kick or hook kick in a sparring match. In the end, it doesn't hurt to practice different ways of stepping, I suppose. :)

[TheaSinensisSerpenti]

@erinpwnerer There is a good reason that cross steps are heavily used in many weapon and grappling systems, including European ones. The cross step is a good way of closing while moving off line. It naturally twists the body. By allowing the arm and weapon to follow the body it creates a deflecting motion which can open the enemies defenses. Then the step out of the cross step results in the body untwisting which can be used to power the follow up thrust, slash, etc. 

[dandaman0402]

awesome vid, do more!

[Proskillerz1]

love this style... i watched it go against a japanese sword style...everytime the guy with the katana would go to attack he would get cut on his wrists eventually fearing the wrist cut he left his throat open to a thrust

[circutwolf]

love this style... i watched it go against a japanese sword style...everytime the guy with the katana would go to attack he would get cut on his wrists eventually fearing the wrist cut he left his throat open to a thrust

[tangocolt02]

So i'm curious....why do you keep your finger on the... I don't know what it's called with that style of blade, ours are called crossguards in that area....

[kungfukennyg]

@tangocolt02 One hand is on the grip and the other fingers are touching the wrist in some of the moves. The free hand is held with two fingers held together and pointing out. Some people say that the free hand is held that way so you can hit pressure points on your opponent. More realistically, it represents holding the scabbard in the free hand. The scabbard could be useful as a blocking and deflecting tool while the sword does the cutting.

[tangocolt02]

@kungfukennyg Ah i see, thank you kindly Sir :) I do roman reenactment so entirely different style, tempted to use some of the techniques from this however

[MrGuitarphenomenon]

yeah this will help a shiet ton in the 21st century

[kungfukennyg]

@MrGuitarphenomenon You'd be surprised how much it will help when you pick up a stick. Perhaps you should stick to the guitar and leave the martial arts to others. :)

[jimiwannabe69]

@MrGuitarphenomenon wanna try and fight him bet you would get your ass handed to you from the buthcer in his right hand

[abigfartstain]

i have done years of weapons training, and I've seen many people claim to be able to handle a weapon, believe me the methods that this post are showing is very good and accurate. However I would be using wooden or heavy plastic weapons for training, for safety more than any thing . I have no relationship to any of the peoples involved in this post.

[TheAlexander356]

hmm, I think it's better to always keep you're blade in motion, I could try to explain how I would do that to block something come at me horizontally, but that might be to complez.

[RangerColinLZ]

Hmm I suppose the point of putting the tip of your foot on the ground would be for a speedier step forward, or what purpose would it be for?

[kungfukennyg]

@RangerColinLZ That would be what is called a cat stance in many styles. It implies a kick. And yes, you can kick even when sword-fighting. It's a basic stance but in this particular situation, it's done in movement and transition.

[glassesization]

@RangerColinLZ I think the idea of such a stance is to remember to put less weight on your front foot and concentrate more weight on the rear. When you advance, you push with your rear foot's heel to go forward. You take the weight off your front foot. When you retreat, you use the balls of your front foot rather than your front foot's heel to push you backwards. This system I describe only applies for systems of fencing using wide stances. In kendo, this is not always the case for example.

[glassesization]

@RangerColinLZ I must also add why there is such an emphasis on retreat rather than on advance in sword fighting. This is for 2 reasons: 1) Whether your attack successfully cuts the opponent is up to the opponent's response. 2) Whether you get hit by your opponent's sword is entirely up to your own actions (including predicting feints successfully). Less weight on front foot allows controlled advances but also for quick retreat. It is often attacks fail, so retreats after an attack is important.

[4thDan]

Nice demonstration of blocking/defense applications.  Always nice to see sword techniques from a different style than I train in. Keep up the good work!

[tyjohnston87]

Nice, basic moves. Interesting to me the similarities between Eastern and Western techniques, though there are obvious differences as well.

[evilfinger66]

that will result in a broken blade

[kungfukennyg]

@evilfinger66 Wrong. It's the way fighting is done.

[hispanoswords]

wows

[mastercheif677]

really now u shouldnt be useing those blades u should be using wooden swords ur gonna damage the blade thats not the way to practise its a waist of money to go and practise with an actual blade sharpened or not

[kungfukennyg]

@mastercheif677 These are practice swords, not real swords. They could never be used for combat -- they aren't combat steel. So it doesn't really matter. :)

[codabowsrock]

@mastercheif677 Curious, are you a martial artist? If not then don't say anything, if you are then you're wrong, either way, you martial arts is respect so you shouldn't be critiquing another teacher. RESPECT HIM! Anyhow now that's settled. a sword doesn't have to be wooden to be a practice sword, there are many practice swords with unsharpened and unconditioned blades. I've always practiced with steel blades over wood it feels more eral and gives a better idea of combat.

[tangocolt02]

@mastercheif677 Pretty sure he knows what he's doing... I also do steel sword combat training...

[jesuskopp]

Nice job, in the fma's the drag & lift would be a form of de-fanging the snake.

[jnconick183]

This is some practical use with a sword I don't care much for the flashy stuff,but this style of sword I like the subtle .

[omegagilgamesh]

Thanks a lot. I'm an instructor of Southern Tiger Kung Fu, but I never got up to the jian during my training days. As soon as I have the money, I'm totally getting this video.

[wcifo]

i didn't know george kastanza from seinfield did wushu? lol

[kungfukennyg]

Come on, man, haven't you heard of shrinkage?  :))

[perdurabo1]

it's quite similiar to german school pflug and ochs stances, though leg movements are bit difrent(you are standing realy wide, and maybe i'm wrong but i would definetly try to attack them - they are "standing out" for me ;) ), also "lift" witch is similiar to ochs is usually done with sword facing opponent not sideways, so the tip of the blade ends in opponents face. In first stance you are right to hold it close to body, but i prefer to hold tip mutch lower, to do thrust imediatly.

[joshua61991]

is he teaching george castanza?

[CenrionPrime]

I did fancing and european sword fight also a little bit chinese i think chinese sword styles very same like western fancing but on this style i have to say it is do much defense and to much moves back,

[wudangjian]

very nice basics!

[abrotogunnarbo]

Good vid, wrist part was a very smart moove

[ArmeAntica]

Yes, very nice. This is very similar to western sword fighting techniques, what with the use of he blade's flat or edge-of-the-edge to deflect the adversary's incoming attack. And not only theoretically.

These two parry left and parry right positions are identical to the two western longsword guards of the Plow, right and left (with the only difference, of course, being the Plow is done with two hands since it is a longsword).

[SavageInsight]

@ArmeAntica There's very little you can do differently and better when the basic shape and build is the same - if the sword is basically the same, so are the basics. Any metal blade can't block with the edge for one, and often, it's better to cut by blocking than blocking with a sword

[Ieatbabyseals]

Very cool somewhat similar to arma.

[sidiagung]

I think at the heart of this all is that there are just so many systems around that a "One Answer" scenario is just out of the question. In both Gung-Fu and Kempo at least as I learned them, punches, kicks elbows, all come into play and the theories of avoidance that come in with the hand to hand training still apply. I've picked up some "western" over the last decade or so and love it. But don't get those guys arguing over technique or accuracy or you'll be there all week.

My two cents..

[noobzaebot]

Do you think this style is effective against strong slashes or hacks such as those of samurai katana, which emphasizes more on powerful impacts. I think Chinese sword style is too soft (not to discredit, but to be objective). To me brute vs. soft, brute power wins.

[kungfukennyg]

Hi,

This is a training video showing techniques. The Chinese were excellent fighters and their swords were combat steel -- as heavy as Japanese swords. Actual combat isn't soft -- it's brutal. But step one in learning how to use a sword is to learn proper footwork and technique. From there, you build your speed, technique, and power. You can't just start by being brutal because anyone can do that without having any technique. It's the technique that makes the swordsman. :)

[itachi1303]

Actually, the Japanese first used straight swords, then when they use horseback warfare, they curved it and made it one sided, for a more clean slash.

[idolfrankmir]

samurai hated to fight by hitting each others swords like knights did so u need to get ur facts straight ( i mean that in a positive way)

[kungfukennyg]

You need to get your facts straight, too. This is no samurai sword-fighting. It's kung-fu. You know, Chinese. :)

[slipnot4l1f3]

i Think Kung fu is the best Martial arts and my Favourite

[kempobrad]

not true, they just didnt hit blade to blade. of course it's best to avoid clashing, but it happens.

[kungfukennyg]

Oh, Brad, what am I going to do with you? What teacher told you they didn't hit blade to blade? He has no idea what he's talking about. How do you parry another sword, or deflect, or tap, without hitting the blade? How do you "listen" to another sword's energy? Combat sword fighting was not pure or pristine. It was brutal. Search for the YouTube clip of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Fight Scene with the two women to see how swords are used. It's a great tutorial.

[Ranziel1]

It's interesting to hear that, I get the feeling that European sword that I practice is very similar to kung-fu. I know exactly what you mean about "listening to the sword", we call it "fuhlen" in German, "feeling". How about posting more videos, I'd like to "borrow" some kung-fu techniques for my studies =)

[sethadam26]

@kungfukennyg Blade on blade means cutting edge to cutting edge, if I parry I use the flat of the sword to parry never the edge or the blade. because that can damge my cutting edge.

[Sukuraidogai]

@kungfukennyg I think what he means is that swords are a way of killing, not meant for sport. Take samurai for example. Their swords never clashed... It was always a one stroke kill for either side. Musashi Miyamoto was such a great swordsman because he found a perfect technique for killing. It didn't involve sword clashes at all.

[SavageInsight]

@Sukuraidogai To say that swords *never* clashed is wrong. 300 and 400 year old surviving blades created *to* cut have nicks along their edge from use. You won't see much of that from cutting live bone. It's true that the ritual method of combat popular in certain periods of Japanese history greatly reduced this phenomenon, but remember many Ronin and other Samurai sword wielders were both human and less than saints. Many often chose to live at the cost of form.

[kenji62]

brute vs soft ether would win and i proved it i have a training straight sword and a bokken my and my students tested it because people always say brute wins well soft wins just as much

[LotusDragon09]

They are just practicing. Actual combat is far quicker and stronger. With this perticular sword, the techniques are more graceful than a Dao, for example, but still quick and powerful. Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi) is very soft, but also very quick and designed specifically to overcome brute force. Its all in the techniques. Brute force with no technique and focus can easily be overcome by soft force and a lot of technique.

[JackWithCandle]

Hello. After watching this video i have one question. I think that if an opponent will strike with chop (like in drag & lift examples) he would hit defending opponent's leg before riposte attack. Am I wrong?

[kungfukennyg]

Well, combat steel weapons are much heavier than our practice weapons, and that means the slicing action on his wrist is going to be pretty powerful. It's even likely that you could cut through a good portion of the wrist. I believe that would take quite a bit of force off his chop.

[JackWithCandle]

I think that I've got your idea, thanks.

[poopwadmcgee]

i am repeatedly struck with how similar so many sword arts are. italian longsword, chinese straightsword, and japanese katana all have moves and techniques that are similar enough to be recognized, but different enough to be fascinating in thier own right.

i love martial arts.

awesome video btw. gorgeous intro to parries and basic counters.

[veritasthesaint]

true

gotte love martial arts^^

[RedMarxMan]

Well thats because humans have same anatomy :) So hand moves in same pattern - and effective movements are same.

[itachi1303]

unless a righty fights a lefty. That is always tricky.

[calmandweak]

what impact can that type of sword hold. i don't want to be mean but (just the first parry for example) it's a really flexible sword so if you try the left parry and that i don't use the same weapon than you (it's unlikely to have two exact sword facing each other) for example an iron mace and that you stop it that way instead of dodging won't you still be badly hurt or am i underastimating this kind of blade due to lack of knowledge?

[kungfukennyg]

Hi calmandweak,

Well, naturally, you wouldn't parry different weapons the same way. And a combat steel sword is heavier and not as flexible as our practice swords. A lot sharper, too. The straight sword was considered the "master's weapon" and using a lot of skill and maneuvering ability, you could handle just about anyone who wielded another weapon. If you parry with the side of the blade or the dullest part of the blade (near the grip) you avoid blunting the cutting edge of the sword.

[supersims796]

And the cutting edge gets dulled rather easily, right? How would the weapon's weight effect the manueverabilty? So many questions. I used to study tae kwon doe (which is probably why I'm so mellow), but I wanna learn about more.

NOW GET TO ANWERING! Please?

[kungfukennyg]

Yes, you shouldn't deflect with cutting edge but with side of blade.

[kungfukennyg]

Combat swords are heavy but with strength and practice, very maneuverable.

[MennyPunns]

@kungfukennyg I am a self-taught swordsman, and I use a very mixed style and switch back and forth frequently. I have gotten to the point where I am able to turn either half of my arm independent of the other, say turn my shoulder one direction and my wrist another, and that has become crucial to several offensive and defensive tecniques I have worked on.

[girardbcp]

@kungfukennyg How come Kung Fu hasn't developed a free competition involving sword fighting, like a sword UFC? I'd like to see straight sword vs fencing vs Samurai sword

[Troyocorus]

i was taught to guide the opponents weapon into an attack. if he strikes, put the flat of your blade on the opposite side of your attackers on coming blade while stepping to the side, leaving him wide open for an attack. this way we avoid as little impact as possible.

[kungfukennyg]

That's a good technique. There are many good sword techniques, depending on the situation, the opponent, his attack and his weapon.

[Troyocorus]

very true.

[Golden191987]

he should have a class...this is great!

actually things that look as if they would work.

[SoloUltratus]

Nice video!

[MichelleSeven]

this is cool! =D I'm using this in my yoga moves, with an imaginary sword. It's very cool! Thanks for this!

[skyline232135]

video is very helpful

[skyline232135]

awesome video its helpful

[TrueFieryDiamond]

Very helpful. This will greatly improve the fight scenes in the story I'm writing with my best friend.

[burce8185]

now i want a sword even more now

[Troyocorus]

i was wondering.. what are the two fingers for?

[kungfukennyg]

It represents holding the scabbard and can also be used for striking.

[neijiaxuesheng]

My sword teacher told me that when the fingers are placed on the wrist they are used for strengthening the arm. The fingers can also be used for striking vital points which can cause some damage. There are specific qi gong methods used to strethen the fingers and also toughening methods such as finger press ups and striking trees.

[kungfukennyg]

Many teachers say that the fingers are used for striking vital points. That isn't very realistic, however. The most realistic use of the empty hand is to hold the scabbard and use it as a blocking and deflecting weapon as you use the sword to cut.

[willadams160]

cheers guys! i really want to learn sword techniques and these videos are really helpfull!!

[bladesaint21]

thanks Sifu! Another gem!