To begin with, this practice sword, or at least the one I received, was not made of walnut, but red oak. Furthermore, when I received it, the handguard was cracked down the center, and broke off in two pieces. Not exactly a $25, quality piece of material. However, I find that that's the issue with these dao wooden swords. They are susceptible to coming apart. I have owned two other practice swords, like this, and they were heavier, more sturdy, and solid. Most likely made of a different wood. This version is too light, too fragile, and apparently, comes in pieces.  

My girlfriend and I both use this to practice. It is balanced and has a good weight feel for both of us. However, there is no real grip, so we started getting callouses because we practiced a lot. I recommend applying a grip wrap (the same kind used on tennis rackets). It helped a lot.  

I am a beginner with the broadsword and I have enjoyed practicing with this weapon. The sword has good weight and is well balanced. I was glad to see the guard was a good size: big enough to protect the hand, but not so large I have trouble getting a grip on it when I want to. I have small hands so it was nice to get something I can grip.