title: Chinese Swords: An Ancient Tradition and Modern Training
author: Richard Pegg
description: Stephan Berwick, M.A., has a Chinese martial arts background spanning over thirty years. Bow Sim Mark was his early mentor. He went on to work for martial arts Hong Kong film director Yuen Wo Ping (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix). Upon returning to the US, Mr. Berwick began intensive Chen taiji training under the celebrated Chen stylist Ren Guangyi, and also closely mentored by top members of taijis founding family, the Chens of Chenjiagou. Mr. Berwick holds an M.A. in international law from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University in cooperation with Harvard University. http://truetaichi.com Robert A. Figler, Ph.D., is an associate professor of management at the University of Akron and teaches courses in human resource management and international business. His area of international specialty is China and he has been involved in Chinese martial arts for over twenty-five years. He is a disciple of Tony Yang and trains primarily in baguazhang, bajiquan/piguazhang, and Chen-style taijiquan. Andy Lianto is a commercial photographer, filmmaker, and martial arts instructor. He has taken classes in filmmaking at New York University. He has competed nationally and won gold medals in bajiquan, piguazhang, and Praying Mantis, and is a disciple of Tony Yang. Richard A. Pegg, Ph.D., has a Ph.D. in East Asian art history from Columbia University. During his more than thirty years of martial arts study he has focused on Shotokan karate, aikido, and taijiquan, with an emphasis on swords. He has been studying with Harvey Sober since 1978. Dr. Pegg is currently curator of Asian art for the MacLean Collection in Illinois. His recent publication is The MacLean Collection: Chinese Ritual Bronzes. Tony Yang is the instructor and owner of the Wu Tang Center for Martial Arts in Akron, Ohio. He began his training in traditional Praying Mantis at age six under his Uncle, Wang Shujin, and later became a disciple of Su Yuchang. Su then introduced Tony to Liu Yunqiao and Yang became a disciple, following him on a daily basis for eight years. Tonys primary training is in bajiquan/piguazhang, bagua, Six Harmony Praying Mantis, mizongyi, xingyi, longfist, Yang and Chen taijiquan styles, and numerous weapons.
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  The Dragon’s Custodian
  
  
  
  
  
  Paul C Rogers
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  1
  
  
  The quartermaster had said it numerous times before distributing the swords,
  adding an extra emphatic repetition when handing each individual blade to the
  gathered throng. His words, that the weapon was just that, a weapon and not a
  toy nor a tool were sentiments mostly lost on the huddle. For any thoughts
  that were categorised as practical, were that of self-preservation. Others,
  those not in the midst of a mortal pondering, were eager to lay claim to the
  instrument that would win them their fame from battle, or at the least
  momentarily quench their blood-lust.
  
  
  It was a memory that seemed etched in the annals of a forgotten year, but for
  Geron, the recollections were less than a week old. And as he violated the
  quartermaster's rule, tapping the blade's edge to detach the clumps of mud
  that engulfed his boots, he spat on the already moistened ground. The dulling
  of the weapons after the in