Returning Tai Chi Sword
- What we learn in Tai Chi has universal validity, that which comes at us, should be returned.
- The cliché, “What goes around, comes around” is in perfect tune with Tai Chi.
- Allow the O to be the victim of his own device.
- Be willing to lose in order to gain.
- Start left to go right, start up to go down, train slowly to acquire speed, etc.
- We practise with our blade on the right side of the O’s blade as much as on the left.
- Apparently Professor Cheng was amused by his American students. Master Ben Lo and several others told me that he didn’t laugh so much in Taiwan.
- If we let our sword hand get within reach of the O we have invited him to contact it and for our sake, he must. We need the lesson.
- Professor Cheng said: “We fence with our right hands, our hearts are too available when our left side is presented.” I submit that if you are left-handed, using the sword right-handed will help your ambidexterity. However, if you do want to fence left-handed then you can practise the form on both sides as well.
Author and Images: Ken van Sickle
- 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
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