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There is a lot of people out there that think chinese swords bend alot it is not true. All the weapons used in Wushu and in most kung fu films are light weight training weapons these weapons flop around. Because of this people are starting to believe this is how the weapons are movies like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon have created a fals understanding of chinese weapons.

All swords can and should bend some more than others Katana's are not ment to but most strait bladed swords should bend some and go back strait again. This takes some work but its made to do that forcing a sword to bend is not good for the blade it will cause stress in the blade. A viking sword is said to bend 6 inches and go back to being strait the flex gives it strength if something cant bend it can break. Single edged blades normal have more flex than others.

I would also like to say the Blood Groove on a weapon has nothing to do with blood it is a way to make a weapon lighter less metal means it don't weigh as much also a curved indention can add strength to the blade.

Here is some more on that.
http://www.agrussell.com/knife_information/knife_encyclopedia/articles/blood_groove.html

Is the katana chinese? Maybe I sound like an idiot asking..but I thought it was Japanese. What sword did the samurai use then?

The Katana is Japanese there are similar swords in other asian places but they do look diferent the Ainu although native to Japan decorate the sword there way the handels and things are carved in the style of there people.

Ainu
Ainu man and sword

The chinese used Nunchakus and a staff called a Lashing Staffx I don't know if the Nunchaku was a native weapon of China. It may have been it was a tool for farming so I would say its very posible that they have always had them. They also had Tonfa and Sai the Sai may have came to Japan from China there is a lot of confusion what the Sai was realy for was it a weapon or farm tool no one realy knows.

Antique Chinese Weapons cool site.
http://www.chinesearms.com/

That three section staff vs normal staff was very kick a**. Cheers to another very sweet video. (Five stars)

its funny how many different things you can hear from different "experts". im sure wolf has done far more research than i have but ive heard that the nunchucu was a flaill used for threshing grain, then ive heard other people say it was invented by holly wood.
as for the blood groove and the wavy patterns found on some katanas, asside from making the weapon stronger and lighter, it also prevents the flesh from sealing around the blade making it easier to pull out of an apponent. a lot of people say thats just bs, but i dont know. ive never had a good enough excuse to test it. sounds like fun though twisted

is the nunchucks kung-fu or karate ?