Chinese Swordsmanship: The Yang Family Taiji Jian Tradition [Paperback]

Scott M. Rodell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2005

Chinese Swordsmanship in the Yang Family Taiji Jian Tradition: Scott M. Rodell's well-crafted book traces the history and development of the Chinese Way of the Sword from the Bronze Era through the Warring States Period up to modern times. Rodell covers all aspects of his subject from the etiquette of handling bladed weapons to basic cuts and classic forms as well as swordplay. The book is profusely illustrated with historical photographs and woodblock prints as well as photographs of contemporary swordplay. The Author brings to this book his many years of expertise as a student and teacher of Taiji Jian and as a recognized authority on the nearly lost art of Chinese swordsmanship.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A real contribution to the field." --Douglas Wile, Author " Tai Chi's Ancestors"

"Scott Rodell's mastery of his subject and his great devotion to it are apparent on every page." --Donald J. LaRocca, Curator, Arms & Armor, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

"Overall, it is a fascinating book." --J. Christoph Amberger, author, “Secret History of the Sword”

About the Author

Scott M. Rodell has studied martial arts since the age of nine. The last two decades he has devoted exclusively to study of Yang Family Taijiquan. Rodell spent many years traveling to find and study with the best teachers in this lineage to full fill a person goal - renovating Yang Family Taijiquan. He sought out teachers known for certain specialties, pulling together elements of the system that have become separated and fragmented. Rodell has been privileged to receive instruction in Push Hands and Free Fighting from William C. C. Chen, Sword and Push Hands from T.T. Liang and the Yang Family Michuan Taijiquan, form, applications, push hands, sword (jian), fan and spear, from Wang Yen-nien. Rodell is the Director of the Great River Taoist Center. The Center was founded in 1984 and now is headquatered in Washington, DC and has branch across Norhern Europe. For more than 1o years, Rodell has been teaching across western Russia and Estonia. He began teaching in the Soviet Union at the request of the Soviet Wushu Federation in 1991. For more information about the Great River Taoist Center, please call 703/846-8222.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Seven Stars Books and Video (September 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974399949
• ISBN-13: 978-0974399942
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #384,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book on Chinese Swordsmanship to Date, November 22, 2004

By 

T. D. Schott "Shen Tianrong" (Santa Clarita, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chinese Swordsmanship: The Yang Family Taiji Jian Tradition (Paperback)

I bought this book, read it and was utterly amazed that someone with the knowledge and skill level finally wrote a reference guide for those of us who haven't been able to go that extra mile because of lack of the information available. I really recommend this book for someone who is learning Taiji sword (from a teacher of course), because it will be of big help to you when you need to refer back to it.

The book is about the Yang Family Taiji Sword Tradition. Two different styles are presented: one which most of us are familiar with that was down from Yang Chengfu's lineage and taught to Mr. Rodell by Master T.T. Liang; the second one came from Master Wang Yen-nian of the Yang Jianhou (Yang Chengfu's Father) tradition. Those that are familiar with the history of Yang Taiji will understand that there is a difference between father and son's technique.

The book begins with the Author's Introduction and then History, Sword Ettiquette (which I found particularly interesting), Jian (sword) Anatomy, how to hold the sword and perform the secret sword fingers, basic stance and sword cuts. Then both forms and their applications(!) are shown using real antique weapons from the Ancient China. There is also some interesting stuff in the Appendices.

I hope you buy this book it will be of great benefit to your training.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A cut above its competition, July 3, 2004

By 

Philip M. Tom (Torrance, California, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chinese Swordsmanship: The Yang Family Taiji Jian Tradition (Paperback)

This is an outstanding contribution to the field of publications dealing with Chinese martial arts. Not only is it a meticulously-written and well-illustrated guide to sword technique, this remarkable book also supports the topic with information which "flesh out" the art's social and historical context. It explains not only the "what", but also the "who", "why" and "when". In this way, it is not only an invaluable guide to serious students of taijiquan and its sword techniques, but will also appeal to those readers who are interested in the role that martial arts played in late imperial China. The author's experience as an instructor and his dedication to scholarship ensure that the information in this book is accurate and well-reasoned, with none of the unsubstantiated and fanciful lore which has been the bane of martial arts writing for years.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential!, January 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Chinese Swordsmanship: The Yang Family Taiji Jian Tradition (Paperback)

This book is one of (if THE) best book on Chinese swordsmanship and taiji sword on the market today. While many practitioners "play" endless solo forms, Rodell has a clear understanding of how the sword is used in combat. I attended a week-long seminar of Rodell's, and I can say from first-hand experience that he can use his skill with the sword in full-speed, totally unrehearsed situations, which is a very special skill nowadays. "Chinese Swordsmanship" has clear photos for every movement in two different Yang Family sword forms along with the application for each movement; the applications show Rodell using the jian against a variety of authentic Chinese arms (not just the jian). If you practice taijiquan or taiji sword, this book is a must-have.