Take Your Place
in the Revival of
Chinese Swordsmanship
Learn Chinese swordsmanship online, with or without a local teacher.
Start with the fundamentals or build on your existing training, with live instruction and a worldwide community to train alongside.
Train with Us.
Find Your Path.
memberships
Follow a Study Path
Follow a proven curriculum in Jian, Dao, or Miaodao, from the fundamentals through to advanced techniques and tactics. Train with live instruction and a community of fellow practitioners.
Try a Study Path free for 7 days.
STANDALONE COURSES
Choose a Course
Have a particular weapon, form, or method in mind? Choose a course like the Practical Dadao or Four Roads Miaodao and work through the recorded lessons at your own pace.
No membership required.
Want to see how we teach?
Explore the weapons we study in our free 12-day course.
JOIN 100's OF PRACTITIONERS AND TEACHERS AROUND THE WORLD.
JOIN 100's OF PRACTITIONERS AND TEACHERS AROUND THE WORLD.
Explore the Academy
Online Study Paths
Study Jianfa, Daofa, or two-handed longsaber through a complete curriculum, from the first cuts to advanced swordplay. Explore civilian and battlefield traditions with live instruction to guide your progress.
Standalone Courses
Study a specific weapon, form or subject at your own pace with focused, structured lessons. No membership required.
Train In Person
Train with Academy instructors and fellow students at seminars and retreats, or find an affiliated school near you. Explore in-person training around the world.
Join The Community
Meet fellow swordsmanship practitioners, ask questions and share what you’re working on. It’s free to join.
Chinese Swordsmanship Journal
Read about historical Chinese weapons, the traditions behind them and how practitioners train today.
Watch the Art in Action
Watch demonstrations and sparring, take a closer look at historical swords, and see how different blades compare in cutting tests.
Our Mission
Our goal is to build not just a school, but a movement.
To foster a worldwide revival of Chinese swordsmanship, with vibrant study groups, world-class tournaments, and practitioners committed to mastering and preserving the art.
✅ You don’t need a local teacher.
✅ You don’t need to figure it out alone.
✅ You just need to start.
Online Chinese Swordsmanship Courses
[FREE] 12-Day Sword Course
Get to know the jian, dao and miaodao through 12 short video lessons you can follow at home. No sword, prior experience or payment card required.
[FREE] Yang Taiji Spear Course
Learn the complete Yang Taiji spear form with Scott M. Rodell in five short video lessons you can follow at home. Start with the foundational movements and build up to the full form at your own pace. No payment card required.
Four Roads Miaodao Course
Explore the history of China’s two-handed long sabre and learn Han Jingtan’s complete Four Roads form at your own pace. The course includes 44 on-demand lessons with lifetime access for a one-time payment.
Practical Dadao Course
Explore the history of the dadao, China’s two-handed battlefield sabre, and study Jin Enzhong’s complete 1933 form at your own pace. The course includes 30 on-demand lessons with lifetime access for a one-time payment.
Shuangshou Dao Course
Study a reconstruction of Ming general Qi Jiguang’s two-handed sabre form, based on historical Chinese and Korean manuals. Follow the complete form at your own pace in 14 lessons, with lifetime access for a one-time payment.
Yang Taiji Dao Course
Discover the earlier Yang family sabre form, preserved in a 1920s manual and taught by Scott M. Rodell. Explore all 13 lessons at your own pace, with lifetime access and no membership required.
Yangjia Michuan Taiji Jian Course
Study all eight sections of the Yang family’s lesser-known straight sword form with Scott M. Rodell, who learned it directly from Master Wang Yen-nien. Work through 60+ on-demand lessons at your own pace, with lifetime access and no membership required.
Shuangshou Jian Course
Discover the Chinese two-handed straight sword through the Chaoxian Shifa, a set of 24 postures preserved in a 1621 Ming dynasty encyclopaedia. Explore the original illustrations and Scott M. Rodell’s interpretation at your own pace, with lifetime access and no membership required.
TESTIMONIALS
What Our Members Are Saying
"Without the Academy, I’d still be mindlessly swinging my Jian. Now, I have structure, proper technique, and the confidence to spar."
- BOB S
"Being able to watch the lessons as many times as I wanted made learning the basics empowering. My forms are now far more practical."
- NEIL W.
"After years of learning forms, I finally understand how to use these weapons for their intended purpose."
- NICOLA B
"This system has streamlined everything we do at our school. The shared blueprint across Academy groups keeps training focused and effective."
- DAVID M
"Studying at the Academy changed how I think about weapons — from flow to countering, it’s completely reshaped my approach."
- LAURA M.
"Joining the Academy helped me re-contextualize everything I thought I knew about the sword, and even inspired me to start my own study group."
- JOHN P
"Laoshi’s focus on practical application and willingness to spar at full speed pushed my skills to a new level. Having the lessons on hand is a huge bonus."
- KYLE F
"It’s having expert teaching in your home on demand. The study paths give students like me a structure to build on."
- TOM D.
Latest from the
Chinese Swordsmanship Journal
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After nearly 40 years in martial arts, Gavin King reflects on full-contact training, getting older, and how swordsmanship and push hands are helping him keep the part he still loves without wrecking h... ...more
Articles
September 26, 2026•7 min read
Can You Learn Chinese Swordsmanship Without a Training Partner?
Learn how solo drills, accuracy training, pell work and test cutting can build Chinese sword skills before you begin partner training. ...more
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August 31, 2026•12 min read
NERVOUS SYSTEM CONTROL FOR MARTIAL ARTISTS - FROM PREPARATION TO CONTACT (PART 3)
How nervous system control determines performance under pressure. Part 3 explores perception, organisation, and full-contact training, showing how intensity can be applied without collapse. ...more
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February 04, 2026•12 min read
About The Academy
Real Chinese swordsmanship — revived, tested, and made accessible.
For too long, Chinese swordsmanship has been treated as a performance art — elegant forms with no fighting context.
We’re here to change that.
Whether you're a lifelong practitioner who's never sparred, a modern swordsman curious about Chinese weapons, or a teacher looking for structure — you're not alone anymore.
Led by Scott M. Rodell, a pioneer with 30+ years of experience, our academy blends historical accuracy with full-contact application.
Through structured weapon paths, live coaching, in-person seminars/retreats, and a global community, we’re building something bigger than a course — we're restoring a living martial art.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start as a complete beginner?
Yes. The Beginners Jianfa Blueprint is designed for people who are new to Chinese swordsmanship. It gives you a clear sequence of lessons so you know what to practise first and what comes next.
Can I learn online without a local teacher or training partner?
Yes. You can begin on your own with guided online lessons and build a regular practice. Live instruction gives you a chance to ask questions, and you can look for an affiliated school or study group when you’re ready to train with others.
What equipment do I need to get started?
You can start with comfortable clothes and enough clear space to practise. Ask the Academy before buying equipment so you can choose a suitable practice sword for your study path.
How does the 7-day trial work, and how do I cancel?
Choose a Study Path and start your free trial. Your membership continues at the listed monthly price after 7 days. You can cancel at any time. Cancel before the trial ends to avoid the first charge. Contact the Academy if you need help cancelling.
Link
CONTACT US
(703) 846-8222
Academy of Chinese Swordsmanship, 3543 Marvin Street
Annandale, VA 22003
Copyright 2026. The Academy of Chinese Swordsmanship. All Rights Reserved.