I figure since these aren't really within the scope of Dan's production, that these would be ok to share, since other than the Zashi, Dan hasn't really dabbled in Asian style blades. If not, admins lemme know and I'll dig up one of my Scrapivores for a size comparison . I've had the Duandao (the little one) for a month or so, since I decided to start training with live blades, and my dear Mom ordered the Luiyedao from China for me for Christmas. After a little basic maintenance (loctite on the threaded tangs, glueing the endcaps on with a removable adhesive), they're both tight and ready to train with. Just in time for Double Broadsword this coming year (for me, there comes a point where a dull training blade just doesn't do it anymore. To use a weapon is to respect it, and you can't truly respect a blade unless it's very sharp... off soapbox ) I plan to pin the handles at some point, since it's a lot more solid lockup, and you can't really count on a threaded tang to hold up to much use, sadly. Both blades are folded steel, and both came with a radiused tang (which I didn't expect for their price point), so with a little TLC, they'll be/remain combat capable. And MAN are they sharp!

Nice
I want to some day get a real hard use hand and a half sword.

Cool...

You studying a specific kung fu style or dabbling Caca?

I wouldn't call it dabbling, but our art does contain almost any animal style you can think of (the usual suspects, tiger, crane, snake, mantis, as well as bear, horse, and chicken in one of our bagua forms), plus lots of weapon forms, Dao, Guan Dao, Kuen, Chang, Cha, Jian, Erchikun ("Knife", or broadsword, General Kwan's Knife, White Waxwood Staff, Spear, Sai, "sword", or straightsword, and Nunchucku, in order of appearance). You name it, we probably have it. There's internal and External, so Tai Chi is a normal part of it, I mentioned Bagua, Xingi, meditation, pressure points. There's a Chopsticks form for the Associate Master level (5th black) which focuses on the pressure points. We even have a Tai Chi Fan form that was originally from Chen Village in China, which the village lost the art, and when our school went to China in 2009, we performed it for them, and reintroduced their form to them after 400 years At any rate, I'll be schooling with the Elder Masters until I'm 60 at a minimum. I feel like I landed at the right school. The scope of the material is amazing, and it's really hard to get tired of it.

/\/\/\ Can you tell I love Kung Fu?

That's cool. I did a praying mantis style for years and played with some other styles too. The variety of weapons in kung fu is...something!

Very nice!

As for training, I used to watch Kung Fu and have both Kill Bill movies. .....................................

I also am well versed in the Asian ways.

Kung Pow
Egg Fu Young
Fried Rice...Well you get the point. I am not afraid of diversity.

It is quite a variety, RN, I agree. It's amazing to me that many of the Shaolin weapons not intended for military use originated from farming impliments, the Shaolin Spade for example, very clearly a repurposed hoe or shovel. The Nunchucku and Three sectional Staff all originated from Grain Flails. Power to the people, eh?!

LOL Guys... I also know Judo...

Judon't know if I got a Gun, Judon't know if I got a knife...

Good one!