Weapons - Kwan Dao  偃月刀 Other names:  Big knife, falchion, Spring Autumn knife; guan dao, kuan dao, reclining moon blade; Also included: Elephant Kwan Dao and San Jian Liang Ren Dao (Three Point Double Blade Sword)

Versions taught: Shaolin (Grandmaster Wing Lam); Chen Family style Tai Chi Chuan (Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, Grandmaster Zhu Tian Cai, Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei) Recommendations: learn saber and staff and spear first. Cost: varies from $70 to $200 or more.  There is much to be said for considering the more expensive versions that have a staff that unscrews into two pieces - much much easier to travel with. My own personal tastes run to the larger, heavier and stiffer blades as opposed to the smaller, lighter, wiggly (and therefore noisy) versions. For teachers, consider that 16 or more wiggly blades make a lot of noise, especially in an acoustically bright room. Even if you and all of your aides avoid headaches, this might well be torture for your acoustically hypersensitive students. Research is underway (June 2018) to see if a fork weapon can be taught between Chen Family style spear and Chen Family style Kwan Dao sets. We are looking for a commercially available fork and a satisfactory recording of a set. 2018 - a survey on Kwan Dao usage might still be available on allcounted.com For some experiments with using Zhan Ma Dao, Goose Wing saber and Ghost Head saber blades on long handles as alternatives to the Green Dragon blade shown below   click here

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