Jian - Where to learn it?Is there a chinese sword fighting art like kendo/kenjutsu?

**variance** · Posted On: 11/30/2007 7:01am

Ever since I saw the wonderfully choreographed sequence between Jet Li and Anthony Delongis in Fearless, I've been interested in the form of the chinese straightsword or jian.

I have two in my poesession. One is a WuShu forms Hsu Jian from Paul Chen.
and

one is a hand forged/folded Carp Jian from Eastwind Knives & Sword that is a dead accurate replica of a authentic period sword used for actual combat. (I like having one real authentic sword from each culture/nation). Point of Balance, Weight, etc is all legit.

So I've had it sitting pretty for awhile now.
I'm primarily a FMA practitioner so while stick techs would work with butterfly knives.
I don't think my skill-set carries over as well with the jian/gim.

Im here to ask you expert CMA practitioners which art/style would give me a good idea (at the very least the basic form of usage of the Jian.) if not actual practical usage of how to use it.

I figure Tai chi would be one place.. but I'm not sure how many of those schools actually still teach the sword form.

It doesn't seem like I could fence with it as well or as fast as the ribbon like wushu blade Jet Li had. my legit jian has a pretty solid blade. (as most non-decorative jian did according to swordforums)

but from what I understand its a point and cut sword similar to the many european "fencing" type swords.

Educate me please.

**Ronin.74** · Posted On: 11/30/2007 9:13am

What is your location? With that info several people here may be able to point you in the direction of an instructor in your area.

**Rivington** · Posted On: 11/30/2007 12:50pm

Yeah, taiji would be it, though they might also want you to pick up a solo hand form or two first. Where are you?

**variance** · Posted On: 11/30/2007 4:33pm

I'm in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex un Texas.
I apologize I should have stated this earlier.

**The_Tao** · Posted On: 11/30/2007 11:37pm

SD teaches tia chi sword, and I'm sure there's a school around there somewhere.

**eyebeams** · Posted On: 11/30/2007 11:42pm

Gim (jian) sets are pretty common. I'm working on one from Choi li Fut right now (or was until my recent injury). Tai Chi sets are the most common and not hard to pick up. I've been playing with the gim on and off for maybe a year now, so I'm just beginning.

I've found that some of my fencing experience translates into application, but there's some more dynamic cutting. The applications I've learned generally start with cutting the arm and moving in.

Lots of sets have the "gim hand": a two finger hand position that you place near your wrist. This was explained to me as a way to keep your hand from waving around where somebody can cut it.

**NJM** · Posted On: 12/01/2007 12:36am

Isn't the gim a longer, heavier straightsword?

**variance** · Posted On: 12/01/2007 2:43am

Originally Posted by NJM

Isn't the gim a longer, heavier straightsword?

I thought the terms

gim/jian - chinese
geom - korean
kiem - vietnamese

were relatively interchangeable
generally meant a straightsword of some sort.

The straight swords varied in length and weight depending on the era they were made
and their purpose. (decorative/display/ceromonial, forms or actual use)

and I think there are one or two shaolin-do schools around here. Do you think I could just learn the sword form by itself from them or would they make me go through their system? or is that something Id have to ask the instructors themselves.

I'm pretty much just interested in the sword forms as I already have a MT and FMA striking base.

**eyebeams** · Posted On: 12/01/2007 4:49am

If you just want the form, get a video. The movements for the basic Yang set are not too complicated. My teacher does workshops on basic movements that go like this:

1) Getting the figure-8 ish motion down and explaining how it works.
2) Parrying. (This is where my fencing was especially helpful, because the parries can use a beat or pris de fer feeling and I could catch it on the bottom third.)
3) Practicing the cuts on a target (usually, a partner who's kind enough to let you pretend to cut them up a bit).
4) Introducing a movement or two from a form and working applications.

I personally think the Tai Chi set's a bit staid. I learned most of it, but I switched to Choi li Fut for a bit more variety. Some sets use the weapon in surprising ways; I learned a close range whipping cut from a set called Moi Fa Gim that was quite a bit of fun and, if style's your thing, pretty fancy looking.