PARALLELS – Tai Chi Sword
The sword may be moved
- Like a wave, undulating then breaking, as in the 3 jumps.
- Like an arrow, released with piercing energy, as in the 13 thrusts.
- Like a lever, using the blade’s centre or the O’s blade as the fulcrum.
- Like the snapping of the middle finger off the thumb, released with the added force of resistance, as in the “Block and Sweep” moves.
- Like a whip, as in “Dragonfly Strikes Water” and “Swallow Strikes Mud”.
- Like a whirlwind, as in “Wheels, Left and Right” and “Dragon Coils Round Pillar”.
- Like an axe when striking to bones, as in “Pegasus, The Waterfall”.
- Like a dog shakes off water, starting at centre, and spiralling out to the extremities.
Grip the sword lightly and firmly as with a fly rod.
Feel the energy as with a bow on violin strings.
Thrust on a line as with the stroke of a pool cue.
Author and Images: Ken van Sickle
German version on our sister site!
