Picture of the Day: the art of flying daggers

Monday 15 November 2010 01:00 GMT

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Lee Wen Jung of Chinese Taipei shows off her formidable skills during the Women's Jianshu event at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou this weekend.

Nando, or nandao, is a wushu, or Chinese martial art, involving a heavy, straight sword with a large metal cross guard. This has two purposes: to deflect blows as well as to hook the enemy's weapon.

It is not thought to be a traditional weapon, but was invented by the People's Republic of China in 1950. Modern wushu competitions involving swords are usually solo performances rather than combat. Jumps and somersaults are used for visual effect, rather than aiding the effectiveness of attack.

Some traditionalists frown on this, regarding the competitive forms as too commercialised.

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Picture of the Day: the art of flying daggers