A Practical Guide to Test Cutting for Historical Swordsmanship

Good hints for beginners!

A small book but a useful one. I've already made one of the stands talked about in the book and I'm about as good with tools as I am at rocket science.

A very informative book on the history of the sword and test cutting. Nice chapters on testing your sword before cutting, building target stands & what to use to cut, and how to repair damaged blades & sharpening. A must have for the swordsmen's library. Rick Clark

As a student of Teacher Rodell, I was impressed by how well this book encapsulates the shizhan ("test cutting") sessions conducted at our Washington, D.C., school. Right from beginning, Teacher Rodell lays down in direct and unambiguous terms why shizhan is essential to swordsmanship and beneficial for martial practice in general, giving students a clear understanding of why they need this practice. Then he takes you step-by-step through everything you'll need to consider in order to have a safe and productive test cutting practice, from selecting a proper sword to building your own test cutting stand to finding an appropriate material to cut (the book contains an excellent listing of different test cutting materials organized by their difficulty). A Practical Guide to Test Cutting also contains sections on the more mundane aspects of cutting one might not immediately consider, such as how to repair various types of edge damage or bends in the blade that can occur during shizhan practice. Finally, and perhaps most importantly to a student of swordsmanship like myself, the book describes some of the most common beginner's mistakes and offers advice for correcting them. That guidance, coupled with Teacher Rodell's thoughts on shizhan and one's intent while practicing it, will help the student progress even when they're not staring down a piece of bamboo with their sword.

Any student of traditional swordplay (whether Asian or European) who is interested in what makes swords cut, and wants to acquire proficiency in cutting, should pick up this book. Author Rodell does an admirable job in covering a topic that he obviously knows very well. I find the book to be well-organized and clearly-written. The prerequisites for safe practice and productive training are plainly stated, as are pointers on how to select a suitable sword for cutting practice and how to maintain the blade. One of the best things about this manual is its focus: on cutting techniques which have practical use in combat, as opposed to spectacular feats that only serve to showcase the swordsman's strength or the power of a blade. Of course, nothing beats hands-on training in the presence of a QUALIFIED live instructor, but a student who wants to augment his training-hall experience, or an experienced martial artist who wants to add another dimension to his skill-set will be well-served by this useful little volume.

I found this book informative, direct and practical. I was pleasantly surprised that this manual on test cutting, was not specifically about Chinese cutting techniques. In fact, only the first nine pages refer directly to taijiquan swordsmanship and Chinese martial history. It isn't bogged-down with an overabundance of Mandarin terminology. Rather, it is an easy-to-read, overview of the primary criteria involved in historical test cutting. Insofar as most of the information is presented scientifically and explained clearly, it is just as valid and applicable to any school or lineage of swordsmanship. I would feel confident recommending it to students of European, Japanese, Korean, Philippine or Chinese traditions of swordsmanship. In short, it is an invaluable reference guide and offers the qualified perspective of an experienced swordsman. I would encourage any student of the sword to crack it open. Be well and practice often, Jon Palombi