It is said in western sport fencing that “It’s all in the wrist”. With Tai Chi sword work “It’s all in the centre”.
Ken van Sickle
71 posts
Using a sword in the Tai Chi way will enhance your relationship with any instrument, be it a shovel, a brush, or a violin.
In fencing if the O pushes our blade in a circle we take that energy, continuing the O’s circle, adding a little speed and spiral toward the target – the O’s limb or body.
In their wisdom the ancient masters evolved the forms and passed them down. The forms are of a nature that when they are practised they inform us as…
Do we use force? – We do.
What force? – Mostly Yin, some Yang.
Tai Chi approaches fencing pragmatically. Its function is martial; its purpose is therapeutic and philosophical.
Blocking or pushing an attacking blade aside instead of moving the body out of the way.
Move slowly ‘ as if ’ moving fast. Move in air ‘ as if ’ moving in water. Move ‘ as if ’ still. Be still ‘ as if ’ moving. If one practises with a feather, respecting it ‘ as if ’ it were steel, ultimately steel may be […]
We are sending each other particular intelligence on our intentions, skill level and vulnerability.
In the beginning you will find fencing with various people as a ‘difference’ experience. The sooner you are able to harmonise with the O the sooner it will become a ‘self similar’ experience.
If you observe Tai Chi people fencing you will hear more laughter than in any other Tai Chi action, and you may have noticed if you have seen the films of Professor Cheng fencing, that he was definitely ‘amused ’ .
Since Cheng Man Ching‘s birthday is the 29th of July I decided to start with this one.
We also use our internal energy systems, circulatory (hydraulic), respiratory (pneumatic), and nervous (electromagnetic).
A general way of measuring sword length is with the pommel on the floor, the point reaching near but not higher than your navel. However since the length of the blade is the most important element, and …
In all of these works the swords were shown to require great skill in their use, as well as noble and spiritual qualities,…
Then a friend told me that there was an old Chinese doctor who taught Tai Chi on Canal Street, his name was Professor Cheng Man Ch’ing.
This sometimes happens while doing forms, in dreams, while reading the Classics or viewing films of the master…
All serious students of Tai Chi read this material repeatedly; as they progress they become more able to grasp formerly obscure concepts.
Tai Chi Sword – An Instrument of the TAO
Kenneth Van Sickle leads the reader through the various attributes of this, the most gentlemanly of weapons, with the eye of an artist and the soul of a poet.