| Chinese Butterfly Swords were primarily used in | | | | non lethal blows to their opponent. The other reason is |
| Southern China, although you'll see them used in | | | | to block other objects without damaging the blade. |
| Northern China occasionally. To give you an idea of | | | | Typically the blade is 11 1/2 Inches in Length and the |
| the blade length of this weapon, they are about the | | | | Handle is 5 Inches in Length. Another common name |
| length of a forearm. This makes it easy for someone | | | | for Chinese Butterfly Swords is Butterfly Knives. This |
| to hide these weapons inside their sleeves or boots. | | | | is used mostly in the English translation. It is |
| Also during close quarter combat it makes it easy to | | | | understandable that this term would be easily |
| when rotating and spinning these. These weapons | | | | confused with the Butterfly Knive, which is a single |
| most often come in pairs of two. | | | | knivethat is only about 4 inches long. |
| Chinese Butterfly Swords have a small crossguard | | | | The term Dao in Chinese is a very general term that is |
| attached to them. The reason for this is that they tend | | | | used to describe any blade that is used for the |
| to protect the hands of the owner. These crossguards | | | | purpose of slashing, no matter what length the Sword |
| are also great at blocking an opponents weapon and | | | | Blade is. Chinese Butterfly Swords are presently being |
| can be used as hooks. The blades on these weapons | | | | used in a variety of Martial Arts, not only in China but all |
| are usually very short, heavy and thick and are great | | | | over the world. However in China, some of the main |
| for slicing. What most people don't know unless they | | | | styles consider this weapon as their base weapon |
| own one is that usually only 1/2 of the blade is | | | | over all other weapons. A Wing Chun practitioner will |
| sharpened, which is the upper half that extends out to | | | | use the same movements as they weild with the |
| the tip of the blade. | | | | Butterfly Sword to just about any other two handed |
| The reason the bottom half of these blades aren't | | | | weapon that they come in contact with. |
| sharp, is to allow the user of these swords to inflict | | | | |