its paid sponsors, whose products you need!
“Stay ‘unreasonable.’ If you
don’t like the solutions [available to you], come up with your
own.”
Dan Webre
The Martialist does not
constitute legal advice. It is for ENTERTAINMENT
PURPOSES ONLY.
Copyright © 2003-2004 Phil Elmore, all rights
reserved.
Tiger Claw Wushu Butterfly Swords
A Product Review by Phil Elmore
The Batt Jamm Do, or butterfly swords, epitomize Wing Chun Kung Fu.
They are extremely effective, intended for close range combat, and wielded in
pairs. They are not particularly flashy, but a fighter using both hands at
the same time can carve a swath of destruction through multiple opponents.
Sifu Anthony Iglesias demonstrates with the Batt
Jamm Do.
Typical butterfly swords resemble large, D-guard Bowie knives
with broad, deep-bellied blades. The D-guard normally extends in a curved
prong that can be used to catch and deflect. “The primary use of the
Batt Jamm Do,” according to Sifu Anthony Iglesias of the
Syracuse Wing Chun
Academy, “is for
slashing, to maim the opponent’s wrists, knees, and ankles. Some systems of Wing Chun also incorporate stabbing. This
obviously comes much later in Wing Chun history due to the fact that the system
originated at the Shaolin Temple. Their religion did not allow them to slaughter
anyone.” I’ve watched Sifu Iglesias work with the butterfly swords
before and always walk away impressed.
While I’m not actually at the stage of the Wing Chun
curriculum at which I would be learning the advanced butterfly sword material,
I’d be lying if I said I had not pursued the weapons unofficially. It was
with great pleasure, therefore, that I received a pair of
Tiger Claw‘s Wushu
Butterfly Swords for evaluation. It’s worth noting at the outset that
these are not cutting blades. They’re training tools only, intended
for use while learning or perhaps performing forms in competition.
The Tiger Claw Wushu Butterfly Swords are, according to the
product literature, made of “light steel with bendable blades.” Each
weapon is 18 inches overall, 13.5 inches of each consisting of unsharpened
blade. Handles are lacquered wood capped with brass and secured with brass
nuts.
The end cap nut on each sword secures the handle.
Out of the box, my Wushu weapons didn’t feel quite right.
I looked at them closely and realized the handles which are asymmetrical to
allow the blades to nest together flat to flat in their carrying bag were
reversed. They’d obviously come loose in transit and gotten turned around,
so I rotated them and then tightened the end nuts to secure them. Properly
tightened, there is still a little give to the handles, but nothing that would
come loose in practice.
The brass caps on the handle are consistent with Chinese
manufacture. The red wood guards are reasonably attractive, while the
chrome-like finish of the blades makes them stand out at a distance for
competition. Up close, the blobs of solder used to secure the blades to
the guards are visible.
I imagine the average Kung Fu practitioner has smaller hands
than me, but the handles of the swords fit me well and were reasonably
comfortable despite their asymmetry. The swords are quite blade-heavy,
with points of balance about three inches above the guards. They are also
very light and move quickly, as they weigh only three pounds taken together.
My Wushu Butterfly Swords travel in a Tiger Claw padded Nylon
carrying case. This is also made in China and exhibits fairly good quality
(as does the carrying case for my Tiger Claw Kung Fu shoes). The bag has a
zipper closure and is contoured to fit the blades snugly.
The carrying case is nicely padded and neatly stitched.
These are obviously a little rough in terms of fit and finish,
but as training tools they get the job done. They’re the right size, they
are properly proportioned, and they have the features students of the Batt
Jamm Do would likely expect.
Train safely.