Weapons | ||
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Syllabus
Weapons training in our
tai chi chuan (dynamic balancing boxing)
syllabus includes:
• Knife drills (13)
• Stick drills (20)
• 2-person cane drill
• 2-person short stick drills (5)
• Walking stick form
• Chin na against a knife
• Countering a knife
• Disarming
• Escape from a knife hold
• Improvised weapons
• Shuai jiao against a knife
• Walking stick form applications
• Sword drills (15)
•
Sabre form
• Sabre form applications
• Jian form
• Jian form applications
Skills
Using a weapon teaches you the strategies, distance and timing associated
with weapons use.
This, in turn helps you to be more capable of defending yourself against
one, and far less naive about the dangers involved.
Weapons training is about precision, better peng, increased strength,
amplified striking power, better muscle tone in the arms, back and torso,
agile footwork.
Knife
The knife is a very popular and dangerous weapon. We learn how to defend
against it. We do not learn how to fight with knives.
Stick
The first weapon ever used by humans was probably a blunt instrument such as
a short stick or a bone. It would have been something that was to hand.
We adopt the same approach and train with sticks because they can be
replaced by any suitable object you might find.
Taoist
A simple stick is the preferred Taoist weapon. It is defensive rather than
offensive.
Improvised weaponry
Improvised weaponry is practical. You reach out your hand and defend
yourself with whatever you can find.
If a burglar pulls a knife on you, you may well find yourself armed with a
frying pan or a TV guide.
Sword training?
The advent of guns meant the end of the sword. In the UK nobody carries a
sword. You are unlikely to be attacked by a sword and you are unlikely to be
carrying a sword yourself.
The police are not happy with members of the public owning or using swords.
Metal weapons?
Wooden weapons are perfectly adequate for tai chi form practice and the sword
drills. We do not encourage students to purchase
metal swords.
The spirit of the art
Yang Lu-chan taught tai chi for martial purposes. Exponents had little
time or interest in heritage and tradition. They wanted serious, pragmatic,
powerful combat skills. They sought rapid victory.
Sword training was developed to address the needs of the 16th Century not
the 21st. Your modern urban opponent carries a baseball bat, knife,
screwdriver or gun. Not a sword.
You will not be carrying a sword either.
Tai chi fighting
method
Historically it may have been is important to be familiar with a variety of
weapons and be adept at handling them, it was also necessary to specialise.
You cannot be master-of-all-trades.
Tai chi exponents needed to pick a weapon of choice.
Sticks are defensive, not offensive
Sifu Waller puts his attention on sticks: short stick, cane or walking
stick. Different weapons, but still variations on a theme. The navel-height
stick/cane/walking stick looks like its an extension of his arm.
Work with your preferred weapon until it feels like it is part of your body
and can move freely, without self-consciousness.
2-person cane form/drill
This is a short 2-person set of high intensity. The furious vigour of the
drill will tax the nervous system. It requires a significant degree of
composure and a sharp, clear mind; focussed on the here and now.
The cane must be navel height. The drill must be trained A and B side, and
mirrored.
Small stick drills
Simple, fast and technically demanding, this set is an exercise is economy
of movement, presence and focus. It continues on where the knife drills.
The drill must be trained A and B side, and mirrored. This set trains the
student how to use improvised weapons with skill and power.
Walking stick form
The walking stick form is ideally performed with a curved-handled walking
stick. This set is quite long and technical, featuring many movements
adapted from the Long Yang form.
Although not necessarily traditional, this set is immensely functional and
fun.
Sword drills
Our students practice sword drills, the sabre form and the jian form. A
heavy weapon offers a notable workout. It develops upper body strength,
whole body movement and wrist flexibility.
Students learn how to extend their power through the blade. We do not teach
the sword as a self defence tool.
Sabre form
The old Yang style sabre is a very heavy weapon. It requires a firm platform of
strength and smooth transitions between different angles. Comfortable, easy
footwork is essential.
Jian form
The jian form teaches agile footwork. The range of a weapon is greater and
you need to avoid being hit. In order to utilise the weapon fully, a student
needs to move freely and comfortably.
Lumbering footwork is not adequate. Fast, responsive footwork and rapid
direction changes are necessary.
Page created 2 March 1995
Last updated
10 November 2023