Paul Chen Practical TaiJi

Forum comments regarding tai chi sword (aka gim/ jian) have been mostly negative... this is mostly directed at the flexible blades. For someone to truly review a sword, they need to be truly familiar with the type of sword that they are reviewing. This type of sword is not used in the barbaric methods of chopping and hacking. Paul Chen tai chi swords are not recommended for common cutting exercises, not because of construction, but because of the design. This design is a gentleman's weapon, much like the rapier. You do not use it in battle to amputate nor decapitate. It is for civilian self-defense. Some say that is would not stand up to defense from attack with a broadsword, or katana. I plead contrary to that. You do not block with the edge of the blade. Much like tai chi itself, flexibility is used to absorb the opponents energy, then circled up, over, and around the opponent's blade in a circular, or semi-circular parry. Then a counter-attack is launched with a slice-type cut. Major targets are tendons to disable your opponent, giving them chance to surrender, or "yield". The Forumites down-playing this sword usually are those who have no kung fu training, let alone tai chi. I am very happy with this purchase, and have sparred a few times with my best student (him using Musashi Black Bamboo "another fine sword available here at SOM")just to prove to him the capability of this PC Practical Tai Chi Sword. If you do not know tai chi, but know how to fence w/ rapier or foil, then you will be just as well pleased with it as well.

WOW. Just did another bottle cut only this time I changed direction in mid-cut. the bottle has a concave cut thru it. I haven't done this with any other sword. I have also seen a tatami cut vid on you tube done with this sword. gonna have to buy some mats next.

practical is correctly used here. at first site I knew this gim is great. the handle had me concerned tho. it is a polymer composite. I read reviews that say that is better, but had a doubt. after some sword fully functional play, we found it passed the test... handle still tight. the blade is thin... REAL THIN. you cannot use this for a real sword sparring set unless you learn how to use it. if you don't have a tai chi class try fencing. other than postures, the 8 stroke style and the 8 basic fencing moves are extremely similar. the tai chi sword is not a percusion type weopon, nor chop and slice. muche like a rapier, it is a gentlemans weopon. most people in sword forums say you could never use it to sword fight. only true if you don't know what you are doing. this thing is so lite that my favorite sword student had samurai sword and I had practical tai chi sword and worked him over. for a tag I slapped him with side of blade... he say it felt quite a sting. some say you can't cut with this. went thru the box like a razor. bottle cuts nice too. I will later post some stuff about how to block using this functional wonder.

I originally bought this sword from my local sword shop. However I have to tell you how amazing this sword is. It took 4 months of me trying to break this sword to break the last 8 inches off, and to split the handle in four peices. This sword cut up to 4 inch thick pine wood both dry and wet. It's an amazing sword. I hope to learn how to dual weild these swords. They've recently got in stock some newer ones with fiberglass handles much more sturdy and a nicer grip. I had no problems with this sword at all, the price on it is a complete deal.

This is an amazing value. A beautiful sword that is in a class of its own, compared to other Taiji Jian. There are other swords on the market that look like this Jian, but none come close to it. You can't go wrong with this Jian.