James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Golden Lion Tai Chi Practice Sword | Chinese Martial Arts | Valiant Armoury
48 sec read
Good Tai Chi swords can be tough to find. Many manufacturers think they’re nothing but toys or lightweight replicas. Real Tai Chi swords are very refined weapons, and if you don’t have the real thing in hand, you have plenty of time to reflect on that as you learn the movements of the form. The Golden Lion Tai Chi sword from Valiant Armoury is a well-balanced Tai Chi sword of high carbon spring steel — not combat quality, but definitely a good practice sword that gives the feel and the movement of the real item. Silver-plated fittings and a rosewood handle and scabbard make it a fine display piece as well. The Golden Lion will challenge your weak points without forcing you into rapid movements that defeat the purpose of this ancient training.
Valiant Armoury, based in Grapevine, Texas, works with producers overseas to create their designs, and the results are impressive. Obviously they’re interested in quality workmanship and didn’t hook up with the lowest bidder — some of the world’s best swords still come from Chinese foundries, but the best work usually stays in China.
Thirty-eight-and-a-half inches long overall, with a 30-inch polished blade, the set includes a rosewood scabbard with matching fittings and a well-made storage box. With the Golden Lion in hand, you’ll feel like you’re learning swordplay instead of playing with a toy sword.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Good Tai Chi swords can be tough to find. Many manufacturers think they’re nothing but toys or lightweight replicas. Real Tai Chi swords are very refined weapons, and if you don’t have the real thing in hand, you have plenty of time to reflect on that as you learn the movements of the form. The Golden Lion Tai Chi sword from Valiant Armoury is a well-balanced Tai Chi sword of high carbon spring steel — not combat quality, but definitely a good practice sword that gives the feel and the movement of the real item. Silver-plated fittings and a rosewood handle and scabbard make it a fine display piece as well. The Golden Lion will challenge your weak points without forcing you into rapid movements that defeat the purpose of this ancient training.
