Tweet
Where do you recommend to purchase training Daab, steel and wood? I cannot find anything on the internet. Thanks!
-
-
Good luck! You'll need it. I haven't been able to find anything I like for a price I like, and supposedly I have connections.
So, I use axe handles mostly. Once I trust someone we might go to steel, which for most people is just like starting over again but scary as hell and RIGHT NOW. Most people forget they are using a sword anyway, and think krabi-krabong is all about smashing, and I really do not wish to wear out the pair I have used since 1991. I purchased them in Ayuthaya at a market with Ajarns Inosanto and Sirisute for $6 apiece. I think paying $70-$80 for 1 training sword prohibitively expensive. So every time someone I know goes to Thailand I ask them to buy some for me. I will pay a good price, but %1000 profit doesn't sit well. I see aluminum swords for sale but I have only held one in my hand, and not actually trained with it. I am afraid it might not be blade-heavy enough, and too fast. Well, I probably already said too much and cost myself an endorsement deal 
Having said that, you might try to get in touch with T 'n T via Boxing Works in Hermosa Beach CA. If you have trained with aluminum and trust it, you might try STAB, located in Vancouver BC.
-
trainingblades.com
Hi Ajarn Steve,
Its Alvin Chan from Baltimore. Happy Thanksgiving btw.
Trainingblades sells some pretty nice aluminum ones. I've only purchased his daggers & Filipino swords though, but all Bob Burgee's blades are hi quality.
See you next year at camp.Comment
-
Ajarn Steve Wilson
First off, thanks for coming to Mount Vernon. It was great to meet and train with you. I hope that you enjoyed your stay.
I was looking for a pair of swords, and was wondering what you thought of these? Thank you.
Comment
-
I don't know about krabi-krabong, and have very little knowledge of Thai sword. Nevertheless, I have taken a few Thai sword lessons to learn the basic. Thais use rattan cane for practice. Unfortunately, rattan in the wild has been drastically depleted thru abusive harvest, and it is now protected by Thai law. The Phillipines still have lots of rattan cane. Perhaps you can get rattan cane from shops that supply equipment for Phillipines martial arts. Get a pair with thick body and well dried, about 36" long. The Phillipines fighting stick is more slender, I believe. Training with round rattan cane, you must bear in mind that a sword is flat with edge, so when you strike, try to imagine that your're striking with the sharp edge. Same when you block. Otherwise, when you train with training sword, you'll be sloppy with your strike and block.
Incidentally, there is no first class swordsmith left in Ayudhaya. There is an outstanding swordsmith in Lampang province, in the north, near ChiangMai. His sword cost about US$120 each, and the sword and scabbard are exquisitely crafted. These are real swords intended to be used as weapon.Comment
-
I've found that post hole digger handles work really well for training daabs. The handles are square to a point, then smooth out to be round the rest of the way to the top. I sanded the round ends to be blade shaped to give me blade orientation. Holding it at the point where it transitions from square to round (the point where blade meets hilt), I measure back and cut them so they protrude just past the tips of my elbows so that when the handle/hilt is pressed along my forearms, it covers nicely for those nice close quarter elbow/hilt blocks and strikes. They are a little on the heavy side, but I'm a big guy and they work well for me. I've handled and played around with the Eges2 aluminum KK swords, but they were a little short and too light for my tastes.
Now, don't even get me started on how to construct a pair of mai sawks.
WilliamComment
-
I also have found heavy wooden handles to be the best for me, personally, here in the United States. I use a pair of axe handles which originally had vinyl in the grip area. I reversed them and use the yellow vinyl as the blade part. However, this past weekend I made contact with someone in Los Angeles who is going to try to get us some authentic training swords from Ayuthaya. BTW, he also persuaded an old sword maker to come out of retirement to teach him the authentic way to smith Thai-style weapons. Don't plague me with emails, please, as this will probably take a year or so to make happen, but I hope to be able to endorse a product we can all use which will also be affordable. I have to thank Khru Bryan Dobler for the introduction, don't bother him either.
Comment
-
Ajarn Steve
My name is Anthony. I met you when you came to Mount Vernon, WA. I am one of Lou’s (Kalahi) friends/ students. I already have a pair of rattan sticks (for light sparing), and a set of axe handles. I used the rattan ones when you came up. I am very interested in getting a pair of real swords. I was wondering what you thought of the EBay ones? I think that Lou is going to order them. It will be nice if you could get a lead on some, but I won’t pester you.
I heard that you might be coming back up this way. I would love to do another seminar. The last one was great. Thanks again for coming up.Comment
-
Ajarn, put me down for a pair of extra large blades please.......when they can.Originally posted by chalambok View PostI also have found heavy wooden handles to be the best for me, personally, here in the United States. I use a pair of axe handles which originally had vinyl in the grip area. I reversed them and use the yellow vinyl as the blade part. However, this past weekend I made contact with someone in Los Angeles who is going to try to get us some authentic training swords from Ayuthaya. BTW, he also persuaded an old sword maker to come out of retirement to teach him the authentic way to smith Thai-style weapons. Don't plague me with emails, please, as this will probably take a year or so to make happen, but I hope to be able to endorse a product we can all use which will also be affordable. I have to thank Khru Bryan Dobler for the introduction, don't bother him either.
WilliamComment
Comment