Chinese Longsword's explicit mission is to "promote and preserve martial arts ancient wisdoms and knowledge" and "translate ancient Chinese manuals to share it with the world", a mission that it has been accomplishing rather well. The selection of the texts available is very interesting: texts that are not easily reachable for the western practicioner (although some of them can be found in chinese on the internet), in translations that are modern and accessible. The rarity of some of the weapons adressed, like whip (鞭) or shield and wolf brush (牌與狼筅), make the translations already interesting from a historical perspective.
The texts are some centuries old, and refer mostly to shaolin or military manuals. At the time the distinction between internal and external martial arts was starting to brew. For example, the "Boxing Treatise"(拳經) from the "New and effective methods in military science" (紀效新書) by Qī Jìguāng (戚繼光) is more or less contemporary to the "Sword Treatise" (劍經) translated by Chinese Longsword, it is also arguably one of the first to adress internal aspects of martial arts.
Even if these are mostly "external" manuals, if one understands the evolution of the internal martial arts, the interest is immediate.
As a note of caution for those looking for ancient sword techniques, the "Sword Treatise" (劍經) is mostly about the staff, as it is seen as the source of techniques for other weapons.
The texts are some centuries old, and refer mostly to shaolin or military manuals. At the time the distinction between internal and external martial arts was starting to brew. For example, the "Boxing Treatise"(拳經) from the "New and effective methods in military science" (紀效新書) by Qī Jìguāng (戚繼光) is more or less contemporary to the "Sword Treatise" (劍經) translated by Chinese Longsword, it is also arguably one of the first to adress internal aspects of martial arts.
Even if these are mostly "external" manuals, if one understands the evolution of the internal martial arts, the interest is immediate.
As a note of caution for those looking for ancient sword techniques, the "Sword Treatise" (劍經) is mostly about the staff, as it is seen as the source of techniques for other weapons.
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