Product Review: Training Swords

Master Circle · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject: Product Review: Training Swords

http://martialartsmart.net/3517.html

These swords are a little disappointing really. They do offer a safe means of practice, but the balance is poor and they lend themselves more to striking than cutting and stabbing, so the translation to actual sword skill is poor. In addition, they bend very easily, which is an understandable necessity for the sake of safety, but all parries and blocks executed with the weapon and nearly useless.

I would not recommend them for adults, but my youth students do enjoy using them for sparring, though the swords weak points quickly contribute to the degradation of the exercise.

PS. I couldn't get the image to post, so if anyone can set an image of the swords in this thread, I'd appreciate it. Thanks Smile

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Jason · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

I have a friend who trains with Grandmaster Stephen Hayes in Dayton. They use a product something like this for moderate to heavy sparing exercises and has been very impressed with their applicability to sword training. I know he has told me about some the free response practices they use the swords for and they sound like the must hold up pretty well. I'll try to find the manufacturer and post a link here
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Leo · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:35 am Post subject:

Funny you should bring this back up, Jason...

My current instructor has tried using many of the training swords out there. He ended up making his own out of 1" PVC wrapped in pipe foam (you can also use that stuff called "noodles" that kids play with in swimming pools... cheap and serves the purpose). He used a red piece of electric tape to show indicate which side of the sword is considered the sharp end.

I've used them... they work well for training and sparring. Good weight and provides a little bit of "sting" when you get hit by your opponent. I think that that part is important as it teaches us to get the @#%$# out of the way! Smile

I'll see if I can make one then post pics of how I did it. It's pretty easy and mucho cheaper on the budget. Wink

- Leo
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Please email me for site ideas and/or concerns:
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tazemii · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

Go photbucket *cheers*
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