As many of you will notice, I am a newb here. I am a very fresh martial artist currently training in Hung Gar Kung Fu, however i am interested in that of Sword Training. I was looking to purchase a quality sword that can last awhile and take multiple training sessions whilst mostly being used for forms. I have heard Chenness is lacking in quality as of late, so i was curious if anyone could point me in the right direction ? The sword in mind was the Mokko Ko Katana. Thanks in advance guys !
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If One was to purchase a Chenness sword, what would be a better option ?
- Thread starter twc97
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Katana doesn't really seem like the best sword for a kung fu practitioner? What style are you looking to learn?
Also, what's your budget? Without those minimum pieces of information, it's pretty much impossible to give you an informed recommendation.
Also, what's your budget? Without those minimum pieces of information, it's pretty much impossible to give you an informed recommendation.
Thanks for the reply- Sorry, I should have further specified. I am looking at basic Kempo classes, however would be learning various sword techniques through the Kung-Fu class as well. I would like to keep the cost under 400 dollars as I am going into college, do not have much $ to throw around. I am limited to Kempo and the few Kung-Fu sword movements I will learn as I (later) progress through the belts.
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The sword techniques you'll learn won't be katana related at all. You'll likely start with the saber (ox-tail dao), and would be wise to get a training one of those. That shouldn't be terrifically spendy to get one to practice with. Finding a good one that's sharp and not made of the wobbly spring steel that's far more common for wushu demonstrations can be a bit of a challenge, especially at your budget. The Hanwei Practical Kung Fu Broadsword might be a "good" start given your budget, or the Ox Tail Dao, also from Hanwei. At a little more pricey, you'll get the Dynasty Forge stuff, which may be hit or miss for the price, and then the most expensive non-custom that I know of is the Hanwei Song Dynasty sword, which is discontinued and very hard to find (and over 1000 USD MSRP). Or, you can always look into customs, although you'll be hard pressed to find a sword maker who works within a $400 budget.
My training was a long time ago, so things may have changed; it was quite a while before we were permitted to use real swords in any way. You may want to check this before shelling out your limited funds. That being said, I found my Hanwei Practical Gongfu to be a real bargain and a fine performer.
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Usually a dojo has wares for sale or can suggest items consistent with the technique being trained.
That being said Dynasty forge is nice and Kris cutlery is as well under that price range. But for in school training beginners should not use sharp blades.
That being said Dynasty forge is nice and Kris cutlery is as well under that price range. But for in school training beginners should not use sharp blades.
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Want a sword you can carry around without risking arrest? Get a wooden one. If you are interested in training anywhere but your own backyard, you need something that won't trigger LEO interest, and in a lot of places it is actually illegal to carry a sharp sword. It can be in your trunk, or you can be going directly to your training hall or place of exposition or returning directly home--stop for a burger and you are looking for trouble. Seriously, check your local laws; it can be legally safer to open carry an AR-15 than sharpened steel thanks to some dumb*** who wanted to get his name on a law. Colleges in particular are gray areas and may have campus rules worth knowing...Never again will I train with a whip chain in a an open field.
Hung Gar uses a lot of weapons but always starts with the basic 4. It is recommended to have "3 tiers" of training weapon. First one is always wood, second is blunt, third is a sharp that is heavier than the weapon you would actually use. Wood is a great material, and more forgiving when you nick yourself or your surroundings. A friend training with his blunt bent his tip hitting a floor, and since it was a blunt he could just straighten it with a hammer--pity he didn't notice it was a waffle face though. If you don't like what is available, you can make your own; I like purpleheart for heft and density, but a curved ax handle could quite easily become a saber. For entry level metal weapons, the brand you probably want is Longquan. For about $80 you can get a dao that handles like a weapon should and will survive training. Avoid weapons that have Wu Shu, Wu Su or damn near anything with Wu in the name. "Modern" is also code for "super light, flashy, tinfoil blade." Look for a "traditional," "spring steel," or "combat steel" sword to get a blade that is realistically weighted and won't flop like a politician on debate day. Training weapons are meant to be disposable because you will be learning what not to do, usually the hard way.
Hung Gar uses a lot of weapons but always starts with the basic 4. It is recommended to have "3 tiers" of training weapon. First one is always wood, second is blunt, third is a sharp that is heavier than the weapon you would actually use. Wood is a great material, and more forgiving when you nick yourself or your surroundings. A friend training with his blunt bent his tip hitting a floor, and since it was a blunt he could just straighten it with a hammer--pity he didn't notice it was a waffle face though. If you don't like what is available, you can make your own; I like purpleheart for heft and density, but a curved ax handle could quite easily become a saber. For entry level metal weapons, the brand you probably want is Longquan. For about $80 you can get a dao that handles like a weapon should and will survive training. Avoid weapons that have Wu Shu, Wu Su or damn near anything with Wu in the name. "Modern" is also code for "super light, flashy, tinfoil blade." Look for a "traditional," "spring steel," or "combat steel" sword to get a blade that is realistically weighted and won't flop like a politician on debate day. Training weapons are meant to be disposable because you will be learning what not to do, usually the hard way.