What Is A Butterfly Sword?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ned_D'Agostino]Ned D'Agostino
A butterfly sword is a short sword, more like the size of a large knife that was used by the Chinese to slash at their enemies. The word butterfly comes from the shape of the blade which looks like a wing, flat on one edge and wide and curved on the other. The handles are short and an oblong guard included, designed to protect the back of the hand.
The butterfly sword is called dao for short, or Baat Jam Do in some forms of Kung Fu. These terms mean a blade with one edge, or "eight chopping slashing knives" in Kung Fu. It was first used in southern China and rarely used in the north.
The blade is designed with balance, weight and ease of use in mind and the perfect sword usually measures the length of the forearm. This also means that this sword could be hidden up a baggy sleeve or inside a long boot. Very often the butterfly sword was carried in pairs; one concealed in each boot or placed in scabbard on the belt, side by side which gave the impression there was only one weapon on the carrier.
The butterfly sword also incorporated a cleverly designed cross-guard which skilful swordsmen could use to hook under an opponent's sword to disarm or deflect. It is a deceptively clever weapon that could only be used by highly skilled swordsmen as the blade is blunt from its center point down to the hilt, which meant it could be used without killing or slashing the opponent too and more importantly without damaging the edge of the blade.
The butterfly sword was made by craftsmen specifically for a particular swordsman. The skill of Chinese weaponry makers is renowned and each weapon was made with years of skill and knowledge behind it, using only the best steel. Martial artists today tend to be taller than the first Chinese martial artists that used this specialist weapon and a blade today is typically around eleven inches long with a six inch handle. Older weapons are of course extremely valuable to today's collectors.
The butterfly sword was used as an extension of a fighter's hands, and watching a skilled swordsman use a pair of swords is quite amazing. It takes years of practice to achieve their speed and dexterity with this sword.
If you wish to include the use of the butterfly sword as part of your martial arts skills, they are used mainly within the Wing Chun, Lau Gar and Hung Gar disciplines. It is important to purchase a sword that feels comfortable in the hand, has good balance and does not weigh too much. These swords are not only versatile but have the capability to be used as both offensive and defensive weapons and with their unique design the butterfly sword can also be used for non-lethal purposes.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Is-A-Butterfly-Sword?&id=6624439] What Is A Butterfly Sword?