Qing Dadao- Chinese Swords and Swordsmanship Series

Qing Dadao- Swords can generally be classified as being either pattern weapons, those made according to military, or in the case of Chinese swords, imperial regulations, and those that are not, or in other words civilian or as they are sometimes call folk or village weapons.
The dadao is a sword that started as a village militia type of weapon, but in the late Qing became a saber also carried by official troops. After the fall of the dynasty, they were carried by soldiers of both warlord and the nationalist army.
This particular dadao is a fairly nice example. Remember, these Dadao were village made and so quality and decoration varied greatly. The same is true of the dimensions. But in general, they have short sturdy falchion blades, with these clipped tips and a long enough grip to allow for a two-handed grip.
Dadao typically have blades that are short enough to easily wielded with one hand. However the long grip allows the swordsman to quickly change up to a two-handed grip and wield it like the much longer Dandao or Miaodao. This makes the Dadao quite a versatile weapon. It can be wielded with one hand to deliver quick, but powerful cuts. Or, as when facing a spear or rifle with a bayonet, swung with a two-hand grip that provides for the solid deflections and the control one would need to fend off the longer heavier weapon.
This Qing Dadao might have been carried by a rebel seeking to overthrow the dynasty, a village militiaman looking to defend his home, or a Qing trooper patrolling the countryside. Whoever carried it, it is a weapon designed for no nonsense swordplay.
If you are interested in learning more about how to wield Chinese Swords, please check out the link below to Academy of Chinese Swordsmanship-
www.chineseswordacademy.com/
There is also a link to a detailed article on the DaDao at-
A Social and Visual History of the Dadao: The Chinese “Military Big-Saber.”
chinesemartialstudies.com/201...

[@mugenGRTC]

Practical Dadao with Scott M. Rodell 50% off for the First 20 signups! The Practical Dadao System was developed for Chinese Soldiers during the Early Republic and designed to meet a bayonet head on. At that time, military rifles only carried 5 rounds and were slow to reload. Every army of the period drilled bayonet fighting extensively. The Chinese answered by drawing on their long tradition of two-handed saber fighting. In this course, you will learn the entire Practical Dadao Form (實用大刀術), created by Jin Enzhong, to train troops. Every Form lesson is followed by an in-depth presentation of the Martial Applications of the movements facing a bayonet. Basic Cuts and Solo Drills are also covered. Jin published his manual in 1933. YOU WILL LEARN: - The Complete Form created by Jin Enzhong - Martial Applications for Each Posture - The History of the Dadao - Basic Cuts, Solo, and Partnered Drills - How To Use a Dadao in Full Contact Freeplay against a Bayonet Get Life Time Access for just $99 (Use code Dadao50 to save 50% - first 20 signups only!) www.chineseswordacademy.com/practicaldadaocourse

[@timdarmetko4039]

thanks again for your time and skill set

[@puma0085]

Thanks for sharing another great video. The Da Dao is very interesting weapon. It is really nice to learn more about it.

[@scottrodell6654]

Thanks for your support, we appreciate it.

[@DaiAndrews]

Wonderful, thank you for sharing.

[@mugenGRTC]

Thanks for your years of support Dai.

[@nonsononessunooko4066]

thank you so much for sharing🙏 and your school its awesome

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

Thanks, we think so ;). But it is nice to hear it from friends afar. Stay Strong...

[@WhiteApeMA]

Well done again. Never knew much about the history of the da dao. I noticed them frequently in two-handed variations but I don't remember seeing this sort of hand-and-a-half variant before. Very cool!

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

Thanks, please let us know what video topic you would like to see in the future?

[@WhiteApeMA]

@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 Be neat to see an explanation of the proper wearing, drawing and resheathing of the jian.

[@allengordon6929]

That is extremely reminiscent of 14th-century German Grossemesser (greatknives): riveted slab-grip fulltang hilt, short one handed and one edged blade for a two-handed hilt, and a more protective guard than usual (particularly the knucklebow). Also associated heavily with peasant levies and rebels and bandits.

[@lolasdm6959]

a big chopping knife doesn't need much training, just hack your enemy.

[@allengordon6929]

​@@lolasdm6959messers ironically are never large choppers. They're actually extremely light and fast. European martial logic often operated in the reverse of chinese logic, perhaps due to prioritizing energy conservation due to wearing heavier armor more often. Faster weapons are for the unskilled because they're liable to defend themselves and hit the enemy just by flailing and can do it constantly. Heavier weapons are for the skilled because it takes years of training strength and skill to develop the gross motor skills necessary to use them effectively all the time.

[@lolasdm6959]

@@allengordon6929 No it's not the reverse, Chinese professional soldiers trained in similar martial practices as European soldiers. The Qing military system basically collapsed and therefore relied on private militias, which had varying quality. Heavy large weapons are quite perfered by poorly trained militias anywhere, just look at Germany's peasants war, they probably liked big clubs and flails for similar reasons.

[@thedukeofskull1383]

I'm back with another one 😁 My Sifu and I were looking at some jian drawings that I did. I mentioned that it would be nice to learn it. He said with a laugh, " You are a mongrel, you need the darn dao, I agreed with him. This was back in 1985' and I finally found a Jian for a mongrel. It is a 2 handed Spring and autumn sword, it weighs 7 pounds, American. He thought it was funny when I shown it to him. 😋 I thank God for your videos ! They are a breeze of cool fresh air on a hot day. Sure there are others talking about Chinese swords, but your style is more peaceful. 👍 AND I LIKE YOUR SWORD STANDS ! 😀

[@MLGsniper-oo8xp]

Very interesting

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

Glad you enjoyed it. What other videos would you like to see from Great River?

[@MLGsniper-oo8xp]

@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 maybe some special sword skills unique to Chinese swordsmanship

[@henrymrowicki7004]

I would truly like to see a cutting version to match the dao and jian. That would be a fantastic set.

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

We got them brother. Here is the link to the Companion Dao to my Cutting Jian: sevenstarstrading.com/site/hanwei/cutting-dao/

[@davidstooksbury8835]

Thanks. Very informative.

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

Thanks, tell us what you would like to see in the future?

[@DanGerman-]

Great info and skill as always!

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

Thanks, we appreciate your support. Let's us know what videos you would like to see in the future?

[@DanGerman-]

@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 And the wisdom you share it's much appreciated by me. Given the chance to choose... It's been a while since the last archery video. But proper clay cutting would be great also. Anyways, I know it'll be worth watching.!!!

[@lewisray2697]

👍👍👍

[@dannynova3412]

The Qing Dadao seems like it would be a good sword for modern Nandao practice.

[@bobmilaplace3816]

I guess the hand and a half sword has be reinvented over and over again.

[@orochiuroko]

I love your videos and I like the shape of this sword ❤️

[@mugenGRTC]

Thanks!

[@robertmccann5838]

Perhaps I missed it, but does that sword have a distal taper? It also strikes me as being very similar to the "taiji dao".

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

Yes. The short answer is that all Chinese swords, dao and jian, all have a distal taper. Note that many modern fakes do not.

[@allengordon6929]

4:51 that can be done with any sword reallly.

[@robertmccann5838]

Sifu, my instructor said that I should turn the blade 90 degrees (to lead the tip and/or to slide between the ribs). Is that from a variant form or is his HEMA practice blending with the taijidao form?

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

Thanks for your question. Two misconceptions here. First is that the ribs are a target. They are a sort of natural armor, a strong place on the body. It is far more effective to thrust just below the ribs (this can effect the heart), or just above to the throat. There is no guarantee that a horizontal blade will hit the ribs just right and slide through. It is more lightly to get stuck in the bone. The obvious and better alternatives are sure target I just mentioned. The second misconception is that the tip of a curved blade will pierce a target. They generally will not, and will far more likely glance off the target. Note that in the Yang Style Taiji Dao, the thrust is not even included in the list of Basic Cuts.

[@robertmccann5838]

@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 thank you, Sifu.

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

@@robertmccann5838 No worries brother.

[@mugenGRTC]

實用大刀術 PRACTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE LARGE SABER Saturdays Starting October 8th Form 10 AM EST Applications 11 AM EST www.chineseswordacademy.com/membershipsandcourses 1st Session Wò dāo shì 握刀式 Gripping the Saber Yùbèi shì 預備式 Ready Posture Dì yī shì... Pī dāo 第一式...劈刀 Posture 1: Spliting Dì èr shì... Guà dāo 第二式...掛刀 Posture 2: Hanging 2nd Session Dì sān shì... Zhǎn dāo 第三式...斬刀 Posture 3: Chopping Dì sì shì... Sǎo dāo 第四式...掃刀 Posture 4: Sweep 3rd Session Dì wǔ shì... Liāo dāo 第五式...撩刀 Posture 5: Lifting Cut Dì liù shì... Lūn dāo 第六式...掄刀 Posture 6: Rolling 4th Session Dì qī shì... Jiǎo dāo 第七式...繳刀 Posture 7: Seize Dì bā shì... Duǒ dāo 第八式...挅刀 Posture 8: Heavy Chop 5th Session Dì jiǔ shì... Bō dāo 第九式...撥刀 Posture 9: Deflecting 6th Session Dì shí shì... Lā dāo 第十式...拉刀 Posture 10: Pulling Dì shíyī shì... Chán dāo 第十一式...纒刀 Posture 11: Wrapping or Coiling 7th Session Dì shí'èr shì... Cìdāo 第十二式...刺刀 Posture 12: Thrusting Shōu shì 收勢 Closing 8th Session Review, Q & A Session

[@MLGsniper-oo8xp]

First

[@skycin]

can you buy this sword stand anywhere?

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

There are similar Dadao made by a number of forges, but this example is an antique and not for sale.

[@definitelycorrosive6274]

where do you find these kinds of swords for sale and how do you know if they are authentic? There always seems to be some on ebay that are questionable

[@mugenGRTC]

Those found on eBay are indeed questionable at best. Rodell laoshi was in the Antique Sword trade, dealing in Chinese weapons starting 3 decades back.

[@definitelycorrosive6274]

@@mugenGRTC Thank you. Are there reputable sellers and reference books you'd recommend?

[@mugenGRTC]

@@definitelycorrosive6274 contact Scott Rodell at Seven Stars Trading Co...

[@renbukancho]

South East Asia blade

[@raphlvlogs271]

the s shaped cross guard is a European influenced design.