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FENCING PROCESS – Tai Chi Sword 43

FENCING PROCESS
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FENCING PROCESS

Disengagements in order to cut are of two kinds, one with the O’s energy, and one against it.

In the first instance, if the O’s blade is pressing on ours, we should continue letting our blade move in that direction until, at the right time, we disengage, circle back and cut. This is usually a light to medium cut.

In the second case, if the O is pressing strongly on our blade we should use the O’s pressure to allow our blade to circumvent, or slip past their blade, in an action similar to snapping our fingers. This is a dramatic but risky move, since, for an instant, our sword position ‘matches’ the O’s. When our point is near their point and our pommel is near their pommel, there is an opportunity for the O to contact our pommel with his left hand. As we execute this move we must move past them to reconnect defensively with our left hand. There is a lot of energy generated when the O is pressing hard and we must be careful to make our sword hand extremely yin as we cut to avoid injury.

In the Shr Jung School Professor Cheng taught us to start off each fencing match with a wide swinging horizontal cut (like “Block and Sweep” in the form) in order to acquaint ourselves with the difficulty and necessity of joining and sticking with a fast incoming blade.

I am very often confronted with fencers who ignore or disrespect the O’s sharp edge and abandon their defensive contact by disengaging in order to cut. This action leaves them vulnerable, a mistake that often results in both parties getting cut (10,000 sword faeries will laugh at them).

FENCING PROCESS

It is the highest level to cut or thrust while maintaining defensive contact. It is always dangerous to disengage, but occasionally it is demanded, or at least strongly invited by the O.

Many will disengage and cut to the wrist or forearm with speed and strength in order to win. We may disengage and cut if we feel that the O is asleep or is entertaining a thought. If and when we do it, we must either re-establish defensive contact with our left hand as we cut, or move by backing away, or passing by the O. Either of these movements creates added benefit, providing us with a more effective cut, as the blade slices, when it moves along its length. We should only cut with speed if the O has given us the energy to do so. If we disengage without the O putting pressure on our blade, we are ‘doing something’. The O may then cut us in response, by filling the vacuum we have created. When we disengage as a result of the O’s pressure, he has done something and we are using his action. This is according to the principle of “Wu Wei” (non action).

There exists a conundrum while fencing, as in all aspects of Tai Chi, we must be relaxed “Yin”. In addition, as we make grand sweeping cuts we are told to completely relax our wrists, so as not to injure our partners. If we were in an actual duel we would, on the contrary, become extremely “Yang” at that moment of contact, in order for the cut to be effective. The answer is found in the Taoist axiom “Extreme Yin becomes Yang, and extreme Yang becomes Yin” . So if we needed to go from protecting our partners to cutting an attacker, it would be a small leap of energy differentiation.

It is of benefit from time to time to close the eyes, so as not to depend on them for energy interpretation. In the beginning practise it slowly, without moving the feet whilst trying to stay in defensive contact. Cut only while in contact, and without thrusting.

When we are fencing with the O’s blade on the right side of our blade our sword arm should have a rounded shape from the shoulder through the sword. If the right wrist is bent and our right elbow sticks out it will present an easy target. Beginners frequently make this mistake.

Author and Images: Ken van Sickle

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