I remember tonight why I picked the double Chinese broadswords as my fire tools of choice in the first place. They are things of beauty.



Just yesterday, for the first time in a long time, I picked up a pair of Wushu steel (very thin and flexible) broadswords, and started using them. Wushu steel is something I generally avoid like the plague, since it's not strong enough to withstand either the added weight of kevlar+fuel nor the rigors of being set ablaze (repeatedly!) without deforming.



But over the past day, something has clicked in my mind. I really like Wushu steel. It's not just the ease of sword manipulation that comes from a lighter sword, but the flow that I can achieve with them. With them vibrating, sword work becomes something to be heard, not just seen (or felt).



The sound is that of a quickly vibrating sheet of thin metal, in a distinctly metal (or spring sound). Those people who ever owned a Zube Tube will know the sound exactly. Ah, the sound, when it strikes, is like the crack of a whip, or the sound of a lightning strike. Now, who doesn't like to fight to sounds like that?



In any case, I need to devote more of my exercise regimen to sword work. It resonates with my soul. For others, group sports are the way to go, but for me, sword work is the winner every time.