Review - Yaoyao Invicta Sparring Jian

The Specs

Overall length: 100cm
Blade Length: 82cm (From rear of guard)
PoB: 13.5cm (From rear of guard)
Weight: 800g
Flex weight: 9.5kg
Tipping: Rolled

Tl;dr Currently the best sparring jian available

Rating: 4/5 (4.5/5 if it came with the modified grip, see below)

Update, November 2025: Rating 4.5/5, you can order the 3d printed grip directly from Yaoyao

Balance and Handling:

First, this feels like a jian, which is a major problem with many of the other steel options we’ve seen over the years. Overall it feels agile in the hand, but still with enough presence that cuts work properly, thrusts and tip control are fast and precise.

Yaoyao Invicta Sparring Jian Point of Balance

It weighs 800g and the PoB is at a close 13.5cm, but that also accounts for the longer than typical blade in comparison to most sparring jian, especially wood. At 82cm it falls at the longer end of historical blade lengths, but common enough in late Qing/Republican era examples. For more Ming/Qing era historical fighting, a slightly shorter blade length would be nice, but comparing the handling to my antiques, it moves correctly.

In sparring, it feels quick and that your deflections and parries will stand up to strikes if the blades clash, but isn’t overbuilt at the expense of handling.

B&H: 4.75/5

Construction:

The blade is spring steel, with a rolled tip for safety. It has a standard flat blade profile with a gradual blade taper. It falls within the dimensions of jian, but obviously doesn’t have the diamond cross section of a real jian. The edge is 2.5mm at the narrowest point, and 3mm at the guard.

The tang goes directly through to the pommel, and is a solid piece of construction.

The guard is made of a machined mild steel, with an upturned design. It’s fastened to the blade with a thick brass pin. The edges on the guard can roll over through use, but it holds up under hard impacts. A harder steel would be a nice improvement, but unlikely at this price point.

The pommel is made from the same steel and pinned to the blade. It can work loose and rattle slightly through extended use, but shims will hold it in place if needed.

The grip it comes with is made with wood glued together, then wrapped with leather. The shape is a fairly flat V shape, rather than the historical lozenge shape typical of jian. With this grip, some techniques, especially Beng, and other false-edge flicking movements don’t work the greatest.

Yaoyao Invicta Sparring Jian Close up of the Grip

Here in Sydney we 3D printed a replacement grip, that has the lozenge shape and wrapped it, following Peter Dekker’s grip wrapping tutorial. Which improves the handling.

Flex, the blade flexes pretty well, with the majority of the flex in the last half of the blade, and 9.5kg of flex makes receiving thrusts through a gambeson not too uncomfortable, while still maintaining enough rigidity near the guard to parry with the flat and not have the blade wobble around everywhere.

With Replacement Grip: 4.5/5

Without: 4/5

Aesthetics:

Generally, it’s a pretty decent looking sparring jian, but the looks can be devisive. Pros, it looks like a sword, its steel, and overall looks pretty good (especially with a traditional wrap). Cons, the upturned guard isn’t the most historical design, or the most common. The pommel is a fairly standard design.

Sparring Performance:

They have held up to extensive sparring, drills and training for over 6 months, in full gear, at full speed and force. The difference between steel and wood in blade on blade contact is fairly noticeable. Steel slides in parries, beats, and deflections different to wood and takes a little to get used to. Overall, a general improvement in comparison to sparring with wood.

The upturned guard does have a noticeable advantage, it is possible to catch the other person’s jian, and “grab” it with the ears of the guard against the blade. This isn’t usually done with slashing cuts, but is certainly possible when deflecting or using a thrust.

Sparring Rating: 4.75/5

Price:

The easiest way to get your hands on it is via Taobao, where it costs ~650 RMB, roughly $140 AUD or $90 USD. Plus shipping. You will need to organise a shipping service, and imports.

At this price point, it’s incredible value imo.

Price: 5/5

Overall Thoughts:

In general, this is probably a game-changer for Jianfa sparring and training, being competitively priced, on par with wooden options, with a greater compatibility with sparring against other weapons, and clubs. And in general better performance overall than wooden sparring jian. It could have a slightly better guard, it’s within range of historical designs but fairly niche. And multiple designs, such as an ace of spades option would be nice, to see how they handle in comparison.

Even if more premium options arrive on the market, I doubt I’ll be removing these from my regular use at training, and at this price point, will probably remain as the choice for entry level/budget jian.

I am in contact with the manufacturer and trying to get the upgraded handles as an option. But even if they’re not consistently available, the 3D printing option is a relatively cheap and easy upgrade, and worth printing off locally and fixing yourself (roughly 2 hours work including wrapping the hilt) for the improved handling.