Blocking or pushing an attacking blade aside instead of moving the body out of the way.
sword
61 posts
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 ’ .
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.
You always wanted to try sword fencing, but the time was never right? To learn an elegant sword form has been on your bucker list for a long time, but you always hesitated? This autumn, there is an opportunity right for you! Sword form and fencing in the Cheng Man […]
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.
Next week, Taiji Forum will start publishing Ken van Sickle’s book Tai Chi Sword as a weekly series in our section #PhilosophicalFriday!
Today’s calligraphy 劍 shows a sword – or, as you may detect in the details, a two-edged, pointed blade. The sword is commonly seen as the queen of weapons. Furthermore, it also has a symbolic meaning. Like in Europe, swords as insignia of power (sometimes lended by the ruler to […]
Have you ever tried sword duelling with lightsabers?For some years now, we were dreaming about doing a Star Wars fan art film.Since we got our hands on two light sabers only a few months ago, we really wanted to do it. But: The light never seemed to be right. […]
Ken van Sickle on Cheng Man Ching Part V – The future of Tai Chi The future of Tai Chi, the styles, Tai Chi sword and the Dao Asked about his vision for the development of Tai Chi and about the developments he would like to be continued in the future, Ken […]
Ken Van Sickle on Tai Chi Sword Fingers During the practice of the Tai Chi Sword Forms the empty hand is held in a particular way for particular reasons. Here long-term sword practitioner Ken Van Sickle illustrates the key reasons for holding the sword fingers in the correct way. Video […]
Ken Van Sickle on Tai Chi Sword Handling The Tai Chi Sword or ‘Jian’ is often considered to be the weapon of a gentleman. It requires the user to exercise focus, delicacy and dexterity as the weapon is gently held, rather than gripped, allowng the connection through the body to […]