SAFETY – Tai Chi Sword
At the beginning of each workshop that I conduct with new fencing students I usually make this statement: “I have witnessed one fencer get a small cut on his forehead. I saw another get his front tooth chipped and I have seen about a dozen nicks or abrasions on sword hand – and that’s all the injuries I’ve seen during 40 years of fencing.” I think this is a remarkably good safety record and I use the statistic to emphasise that caring for our fencing partner’s safety continues to be our first priority.
When we cut, and even more so when we thrust, we must do it softly, and never to the head. Be careful when hitting bones as the small bones on the back of the hand are very easily broken. If you feel that either your attack or neutralisation may result in injury, abort it, even if it causes you to lose the point. It is always dangerous and against the principles to build up pressure, blade on blade. Be aware, not only of your O, but also of your whole environment, and the people in it. Make sure that your wooden sword is splinter-free, sandpaper it when needed, and ensure that your sword always has a rounded point.
Some schools require the fencers to wear high-impact goggles, such as those worn for paddleball, and some require helmets. But the most important thing to wear at all times is your sincere regard for the O’s wellbeing.
When Professor Cheng saw fencers get cut he gave them a wave of his hand that expressed his contempt for their error, coupled with a facial expression which indicated that he wished he hadn’t seen it happen.
Both fencers can make mistakes. The initiator who has made a successful cut has simultaneously cut himself, having made the mistake of not respecting the O’s sword. He has made a cut without ensuring a safe withdrawal and ignored the presence of the O’s blade, being within striking distance. If they were using sharp steel blades this would not happen. The O has also made the mistake of cutting his attacker because he could, instead of defending himself, because he should.
Author and Images: Ken van Sickle
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- ON BEING A MASTER – Tai Chi Sword 53
- STRANGERS – Tai Chi Sword 52
- PADDED SWORDS – Tai Chi Sword 51
- SAFETY – Tai Chi Sword 50
- PARALLELS – Tai Chi Sword 49
- Swordsmanship – SEVEN QUOTES – Tai Chi Sword 48
- TI FENG & FA JING – Tai Chi Sword 47
- SUPPOSITIONS – Tai Chi Sword 46
- LAO TZU (Laozi) QUOTES – Tai Chi Sword 45
- ETIQUETTE – Tai Chi Sword 44
- FENCING PROCESS – Tai Chi Sword 43
- STRATEGIES – Tai Chi Sword 42
- TASSELS IN THE WIND – Tai Chi Sword 41
- SHOOT FLYING GOOSE – Tai Chi Sword 40
- RHINOCEROS GAZES AT MOON – Tai Chi Sword 39
- THE MASTER SITS BACK – Tai Chi Sword 38
- FIVE APPLICATIONS – 1. BLOCK AND SWEEP – Tai Chi Sword 37
- 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