Over the years, I've had many swords I've trained on, light and heavy, good quality and poor, well balanced and poorly balanced, steel of different tempers, and wood. I never felt a decently weighted Chinese sword for the first several years, using only wood practice swords, steel pipes, and a medieval European replica, serviceable, but not ideal, for Chinese styles. (Swordsmiths have to forge for specific purpose.¹) For a couple of years I was even using a rod I cut from a sapling to try a little Japanese two handed cutting. Even now, when you can get great steel from China, heavy and light, I wouldn't say any of my blades is exactly perfect, balance wise, just better then most, and well good enough.
Now that I have better swords of all weights, I rarely practice with rods or poorly weighted weapons. I don't typically use my decent wooden jian trainer, as an example, even though the action that used to feel non-existent when the wood felt heavy, now feels better than some steel I've worked with, and better than a rod, if less significantly durable.
- Is it important to practice with poorly weighted blades and sword analogs?
Answers from any perspective and dimension of the question are welcome.
[1] Sprague, M., Longsword and Saber, 2013. "A skilled swordsmith was therefore familiar with the particular fighting techniques the swordsman could expect to encounter."