I'm a little confused by the video title. The sword made was a Katana and the process was Japanese which has nothing to do with a Shaolin sword (Chinese) a Dao or Gin is the only Shaolin swords that are standard sword size..lol. Unless this is a Chinese sword maker making Japanese Katanas... Cool Video just confusing title...
There were quite a few variations since it was used f0r 6 centuries and evolved over time, but generally the first 2/3 of the blade is straight with a gentle curve from there to the tip. The grip is usually one handed (as is the one in the video) The Chinese were not dogmatic about style the way the Japanese were. It fell out of favor around the end of the 18th century.
I have a very nicely made example somewhat similar to the third one in the picture. I have no idea when or where it was made as there are no manufacturing stamps of any kind. My son, who is a sword collector, gave it to me.
I know those swords Doc. Look at the end of the video, It's clearly a two handed katana. Look at 3:18 it's a katana, now the sword they show at the very end could be something else but, that wasn't the sword being worked on...
You're right, I was looking at the sword at the end. I couldn't really get a good look at the one they were making, at least not good enough to see the details. I'll go back and try to look again.
I still can't get a good look at the overall blade, it appears that there is more than one sword shown with different blade shapes, some straighter than others, and with two different point designs (one rounded and one squared) The grip wrap is not a Chinese style, but the Chinese aren't bashful about copying things. It could be a 苗刀 Miaodao ("Sprout Sabre") with a Katana style grip wrap. (if you need a justification for calling it a "Chinese Sword" )
The Miaodao is very similar to the Katana. A much more modern design used during the Republican era.
Here are a couple of pictures of actual antique Shaolin Miaodaos:
And a closeup of authentic Chinese style grip wrap (same as my Yanmaodao) compared to Katana style wrap:
I saw that they folded the steel ,that is a process for making Damascus steel this makes the steel stronger and improves the ability to hold an edge......................
With as few people there are experienced at fencing, I don't think any kind of elaborate sword will be necessary. Just a good machete. Or maybe a big Bowie knife. Full length swords are pretty unwieldy for most purposes.
The espada encha was an interesting short sword used in the Spanish colonial territories in the New World. Many were simply broken full length swords that were reshaped, some with superb quality Toledo steel blades. They evolved into a sort of machete with a guard, and many had a langet that allowed them to be carried on a belt without a scabbard. (the original purpose of the langet was to help secure the sword in the scabbard) They were utilitarian blades that could be used as machetes, for dispatching game, and as weapons.
The "Confederate D-Guard Bowie" short sword popular with Confederate troops was heavily influenced by the espada ancha. There are a number of replicas.
The Cold Steel Cutlass Machete is essentially a modern incarnation of the espada ancha.