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.
- Tai Chi Sword by Kenneth van Sickle
- EDITOR’S PREFACE -Tai Chi Sword 1
- Introductory Thoughts – Tai Chi Sword 2
- PREFACE – Tai Chi Sword 3
- KENNETH VAN SICKLE – Tai Chi Sword 4
- CHENG MAN CH’ING – Tai Chi Sword 5
- A ROYALTY OF ARMS – Tai Chi Sword 6
- SWORD DIMENSIONS – Tai Chi Sword 7
- WHY AND HOW – Tai Chi Sword 8
- TIME AND HUMOUR – Tai Chi Sword 9
- HARMONY – Tai Chi Sword 10
- SENSITIVITY – Tai Chi Sword 11
- MIND SETS – Tai Chi Sword 12
- BEGINNERS’ MISTAKES – Tai Chi Sword 13
- DIFFERENCES – Tai Chi Sword 14
- FORCE – Tai Chi Sword 15
- Names of CHENG MAN CH’ING’S TAI CHI SWORD – Tai Chi Sword 16
- TURNING TRICKS – Tai Chi Sword 17
- Transcendence – Tai Chi Sword 18
- FENCING – Tai Chi Sword 19
- Levels of TAI CHI SWORD – Tai Chi Sword 20
- Returning – MORE THOUGHTS – Tai Chi Sword 21
- THE SWORD AND CALLIGRAPHY – Tai Chi Sword 22
- …
Author and Images: Ken van Sickle
