Sabre/Broadsword (刀 dao)

There are 2 important short weapons in modern/sport wushu. They are the sabre/broadsword (刀 dao) and the sword （剑 jian ）.

The sabre or broadsword is a single-edged sword with a wide, curved blade. When the sabre is held upright at the side of the body, the tip of the blade should reach the practitioner’s ear.

The sabre is held with one hand with the free hand forming a palm （掌 zhang） to balance the quick, sharp movements of the arm holding the sabre. A silk cloth is attached to the hilt of the sabre for balance and make the speed of the movement more visible to the observer.

Sabre art (刀 术 dao shu) resembles a moving dragon （游龙). It is characterized by swift, explosive movements with important techniques like thrusting (扎 zha), hacking (劈 pi) and coiling around the head ( 缠头裹脑 chan tou guo nao).