One Perfect Jian Cut: Bringing Together Speed, Power & Precision
January 13, 2024

Test cutting was a forgotten tradition in Chinese swordsmanship that has been revived at Great River Taoist Center. The jianke (swordsman, 劍客 ) cuts different types of targets to test different skills. A small, unsupported piece of bamboo is widely considered one of the most challenging cutting targets. The cut must be absolutely straight, fast and powerful. If any of these are off, the cut will fail.

Teacher Scott M. Rodell preformed the cuts in this video with the sword he designed, the Hanwei Cutting Jian. He is the director of Great River Taoist Center based in Washington, D.C. as well as the author of several books including: "Chinese Swordsmanship - the Yang Family Taiji Jian Tradition," “Shi Jian Pu - Manual of Ten Sword Skills - A Handbook of Chinese Swordsmanship,” “Fundamentals of the Wudang Sword Method,” "Test Cutting for Historical Swordsmanship," "Taiji Notebook for Martial Artists," and "Traditional Manchu Archery of the Qing Imperial Guard." Rodell teaches regular seminars across the US and Canada, and in Netherlands, Estonia, Germany and Poland. His blog is: stealandcotton on tumblr.