Quotes Tai Chi Sword
“The idea of ‘MUTO’ (which is) fighting an armed opponent when you are unarmed, which the Shinkage* School held as its ultimate goal, was largely the result of its rejection in principle of the destruction of the opponent. In that sense, the Shinkage School was pacifist.”
MITSUYOSHI
“The sword of the Shinkage School is not a Yang blade but a Yin (‘Kage’) blade. It does not employ any posture, its posture being posture-less. The position of the Shinkage School is to do things in response to the opponent’s moves. It is a school that aims not to take, not to win, and not to lose. In short, ‘Kage’ means rejection of offence in favour of defence, of outward manifestations in favour of inner workings, of the body in favour of the mind.”
MITSUYOSHI
“Men congratulate themselves upon familiarity with different styles of play, and do not think of that time as wasted when spent in the study of the bad as well as of the good.”
RICHARD BURTON
“I must again draw your attention to a golden rule in the study of the sword. The first preoccupation of the man who attacks, should be never so to commit himself, that if his attempt happens to miscarry, he cannot once more return to safety. In other words, never attack in such a way that you cannot defend yourself against the riposte.”
RICHARD BURTON
“Do not forget the beginning, in search of the end.”
SHISSAI
“He will be unhindered in his reactions in whom rigidity and suppleness flow into one another without force.”
SHISSAI
“A lesser Tengu asked the Master: ‘There is the hooked spear, the straight spear and the crossed spear, which one is the most advantageous?’ The Master replied: ‘That is a stupid question, it is the one that you use that is the most advantageous.’ “
SHISSAI
“If we subtract the Sword and subtract the Self, what we have left is the playing.”
BASIC TAOIST THOUGHT
“The Sword is the king of weapons.”
CHENG MAN CH’ING
*The Shinkage School was a Japanese School of Swordsmanship.
- RULES OF ENGAGEMENT – Tai Chi Sword 36
- CONSIDER – Tai Chi Sword 35
- INVITATIONS – Tai Chi Sword 34
- THE TASSEL – Tai Chi Sword 33
- THE SWORD FINGERS – Tai Chi Sword 32
- Cheng Man Ching Photographs
- THE JOINTS – Tai Chi Sword 31
- THE GRIP – Tai Chi Sword 30
- SWORD MOVEMENT – Tai Chi Sword 29
- ON ALIGNMENT – Tai Chi Sword 28
- CONCERNING THE CENTRE – Tai Chi Sword 27
- EQUATIONS – Tai Chi Sword 26
- HSIN AND CHI – Tai Chi Sword 25
- On studying – NINE QUOTES – Tai Chi Sword 24
- THE SWORD MAIDENS – Tai Chi Sword 23
- THE SWORD AND CALLIGRAPHY – Tai Chi Sword 22
- Returning – MORE THOUGHTS – Tai Chi Sword 21
- Levels of TAI CHI SWORD – Tai Chi Sword 20
- FENCING – Tai Chi Sword 19
- Transcendence – Tai Chi Sword 18
- TURNING TRICKS – Tai Chi Sword 17
- Names of CHENG MAN CH’ING’S TAI CHI SWORD – Tai Chi Sword 16
- FORCE – Tai Chi Sword 15
- DIFFERENCES – Tai Chi Sword 14
- BEGINNERS’ MISTAKES – Tai Chi Sword 13
- MIND SETS – Tai Chi Sword 12
- SENSITIVITY – Tai Chi Sword 11
- HARMONY – Tai Chi Sword 10
- TIME AND HUMOUR – Tai Chi Sword 9
- WHY AND HOW – Tai Chi Sword 8
- SWORD DIMENSIONS – Tai Chi Sword 7
- A ROYALTY OF ARMS – Tai Chi Sword 6
- KENNETH VAN SICKLE – Tai Chi Sword 4
- CHENG MAN CH’ING – Tai Chi Sword 5
- PREFACE – Tai Chi Sword 3
- Introductory Thoughts – Tai Chi Sword 2
- EDITOR’S PREFACE -Tai Chi Sword 1
- Tai Chi Sword by Kenneth van Sickle
Author and Images: Ken van Sickle
