PA KUA JIAN

Turn to the left. Swing both arms up to shoulder height. Turn to the right until shoulders are perpendicular to the origin and weight the left foot as the right hand takes over the sword in palm down grip.

Draw, Stab

2. Chop Sword with Bow Stance

Step out right to a right bow and arrow stance, drop the sword tip while changing to a thumb down orientation and clean the elbow. Chop downward with sword while left hand swings to temple block.

Hit

3. Circle Sword with Right Knee Up

Turn the sword palm up and shift back to a left flat footed empty stance while withdrawing the sword. Guard the right wrist as you drop the sword tip to blocking position in front of the right knee and shift to a left rooster stance.

Block with cheek

4. Chop Sword with Left Knee Up

Step out right to a right bow and arrow stance. Slide the left hand under the right and guard the left side of the body with the sword. Chop in a clockwise arc and thrust the left fingers out behind and paralell to the sword arm.

Hit

5. Dredge Up Moon from Sea Bottom

Drop the sword tip and turn to thumb down position. Circle the sword in a clockwise arc with the sword fingers following the sword tip. Drop to a right tiger and block with the left fingers at ankle height. Follow with the sword, palm up. Shift to a low left bow and arrow stance as the left hand sweeps to temple block position. Follow with the sword and step out right to a left tai chi stance. The body twists right so that the eyes look at the sword tip which is in the center of the circle. The right hand holds the sword above the head with the palm facing in and the left fingers guard the wrist.

Draw or lash

6. Push Sword Up as you Walk Around Circle

Holding the sword with the lower edge up and sword fingers guarding the wrist, walk the clockwise circle in 8 steps. Remember that Pa Kua walking is unique. It is not the heel-toe of Shaolin. Pa Kua trains the feet, remember?! Slide the right foot along the circle leading with the little toe. Slide the left foot along the circle on the big toe. Empty the inquingal fold and keep the spine erect and you'll see how low and smooth your movement can be. But you have to work on your internals to do this. Of course, you have to know the 8 points that comprise 'Sink the chest and raise the back.'

Bearing

7. Turn Body and Block With Sword

On the 9^th step, hooking step down onto the right toes for an outside change. Kick the right heel out and push out of the left toes to turn to the outside 180 degrees. Keep the sword in the same position so that you turn underneath it. Temple block left and push the sword down with the right

keeping the blade horizontal and grip thumb up. Shift to a right rooster stance.

Press

8. Chop Sword with Lower Stance

Circle the sword towards the left shoulder while dropping the tip. Set the left foot down in a right bow and arrow stance and slash overhead, sword tip in front of the right knee. Left sword fingers point behind.

Hit

9. Pull Sword Back

Turn the left toes out and supinate the right wrist to draw the sword back in a counterclockwise arc while sinking to a left tiger stance. Sword fingers guard the wrist.

Draw

10. Dredge Up Moon from Sea Bottom

Continue the arc of the sword and then cut with a backhand at ankle height. Cut all the way around until the shoulders are perpendicular to the form line while shifting to a low right bow and arrow stance. Step forward to a right tai chi stance and stab in a roundhouse fashion to the left. The sword and the sword fingers meet in front of the face.

Draw, Explode

11. Push Sword Up as you Walk Around the Circle

Shift the weight onto the left foot and walk the circle in a counterclockwise direction with the sword in guard position above the head. The eyes follow the tip of the sword which points to the center of the circle. Walk the circle for 8 steps.

Carry

12. Thrust Sword to Center

Step left to the center of the circle and circle the sword to the waist. Step out right and thrust with the sword to a right bow and arrow stance with sword fingers guarding the right wrist.

Thrust

13. Protect Shoulders Left and Right

Out step left and twist to a left high lotus while circling the sword in a counterclockwise arc past the left side. Outstep right and twist to a right high lotus while circling the sword in a clockwise arc along the right side. Step out left to a left bow and arrow while completing the right side circle.

Draw, Intercept

14. Turn Body and Thrust Overhead

Step out right and turn the toes in while pulling the sword handle down to waist height, tip pointing up. Reverse direction by pushing out of the left toes and step in to standing position while arcing the sword point around to stab along the form line at head height.

Explode

15. Step Forward and Circle Sword

Outstep left, twist to a left high lotus and stab downward along the left side in a clockwise arc with the sword fingers guarding the right wrist. Out step right, twist to a right high lotus and stab downward in a counterclockwise arc around the right side of the body. The left sword fingers separate and scribe a clockwise arc.

Wash

16. Thrust Sword Under Shoulder

Step out left to a left bow and arrow stance and continue the stabbing motion so that the sword fingers meet the right wrist at shoulder height. Let the sword tip continue its downward arc past the right side. Turn the left toes in and drop to a left tiger stance. The anatomy of the wrist, elbow and shoulder reach their limits and cause the sword arc to straighten out into a stab over the right leg, thumb up on the grip and with the left fingers guarding the right wrist.

Thrust

17. Rhinoceros Looks at Moon

Step back with the right foot into a left seated lotus stance and slash behind at a 45 degree angle with the sword. Arms are crossed right over left so that the handle of the sword is at the left shoulder and the left sword fingers are under the right shoulder.

Thrust

18. Step Forward and Snap Sword

In this internal move, the power comes from channeling the energy from the front foot to the sword tip. Begin to uncross the arms as you step forward with the right foot to a left empty stance. When the shoulders are perpendicular to the form line, shake the sword such that the arms are fully extended at shoulder height.

This application is very cool. Use the sword to stop the opponents attack and press him to walk the circle. Grab his sword hand with his left as you execute a spinning hooking step on the left toes, Unfold to a left empty stance and allow the sword to whip around to the right, catching the opponent on the opposite side of his body.

Raise, Hit

19. Walk in Circle

Walk the circle with the sword tip in the center. Gaze at the sword tip as you walk.

20. Gold Silk Wrapping Wrist

Continue to walk the circle, but drop the sword tip and guard the wrist with sword fingers. Circle the tip of the sword in a clockwise circle using the Wrapping or Stirring technique. Imagine the opponent's sword thrusting towards you and you attack the wrist in small, clockwise slashes, yet keep your own wrist from harm by making wide circles around his sword tip.

Wrap, Stir

21. Twist Body

Inside change with a hooking step left to a left flat footed empty stance. Circle the sword, tip down, around the left shoulder. When the sword passes the left shoulder, finger strike with the left hand to shoulder height.

Block with cheek

22. Guard Body

Continue the momentum of the sword, slashing in full circle around the body, ending with the outside cheek against the left arm, holding the sword lower edge up, with the guard at shoulder height and the tip angling down at fortyfive degrees. Walk the circle.

Block with cheek

23. Single Swallow Flies Out of Group

Step right to a right rooster stance and thrust up with the sword. The left sword fingers go to temple block position.

Thrust

24. Wind Swirls Lotus Flowers

Step down left to a left bow and arrow, sword fingers guard the wrist and the sword tip moves down to guard the body. Cross step right to a right high lotus, step left to a left bow and arrow. Move the sword to the left, lifting the guard as you shift to a left inside empty. Slash back to the right as you step out to a right bow and arrow. Cross step left to a left high lotus stance, step right to a right bow and arrow stance, again circling the sword as you shift to a right inside empty stance. Step out left to a left bow and arrow stance, guarding your righr flank with the sword. Cross step right to a right high lotus, step out left to a left bow and arrow. Again, circle the sword to the left.

Take Back

25. Move Grass to Seek Snakes

Continue the momentum of the sword, cutting down and to the right across the body while shifting back to a right empty stance. The sword is at waist height on the right with the tip down and the cheek out, the left sword fingers mirror the action of the sword.

Block with cheek

26. Advance Skiff Along the Flow

Drop the sword tip and lift the sword handle to your center at waist so that the bottom edge is up and the sword is angled forward at 45 degrees. Step left, then right, then left to a left bow and arrow, lifting the sword hand, with fingers guarding the wrist, to shoulder height.

Block with cheek

27. Cold Wind Sweeps Down On the Ground

Thrust the sword fingers under the right arm and wrap the sword around the left shoulder. Step back left to a right seated lotus stance and cut behind with the sword. Sword fingers are in a straight line with the sword in the opposite direction.

Hit

28. Phoenix Nods Her Head Three Times

Twist to the left and shift the weight onto the left foot, standing to a left empty stance. While standing, sweep the sword to the left and then flick the tip upward so that the sword is extended at waist height with the tip vertical. Now drop the tip and guard with the cheek, so that the tip points to the ground and the top edge faces the body. Sword fingers guard the wrist. Remain in the left empty stance. Circle the sword to the left shoulder and lunge to a right bow and arrow while slashing overhead. Sword fingers guard the wrist and the sword is fully extended, lower edge down, at shoulder height.

Raise, Lash, Hit

29. Whip Horse

Step backwards right to a right high lotus and circle the sword clockwise with the focus at the guard. At the end of the circle, point downwards. Point in this case is a technical term for an attack done with the tip, the cheek up, and the hand palm down with the wrist fully flexed. Step left to a left bow and arrow and repeat the circle and point. Repeat again while stepping right to a right high lotus.

Point

30. Turn Over Rivers and Sea

Step left to a left bow and arrow. Turn the wrist over , carrying the sword with the tip dragging behind the right shoulder. Hooking step right to a right rooster stance and slash down with the sword, top edge up. Left sword fingers are extended behind.

Hit

31. Cut Wrist

Side step left, then shift to a left empty stance while sweeping the sword to the left and then flipping it back to the right so that the tip is vertical and the handle is at waist height, sword fingers guarding the wrist. Step diagonally back to the right into a right empty stance and slash downward with the sword, handle at waist height, upper edge up and sword fingers guarding the wrist.

Raise, Hit

32. Golden Needle Enters Ground

Turn the sword so that the top edge faces you and the sword is vertical and point downward. Step left, right, left.

Block with Cheek

33. Sweep Sword Like Clouds

Continue the stepping and turn the sword to the horizontal, pointing to the left and top edge towards the body. Step right and cloudsword, step left to a left bow and arrow stance. The sword is held parallel to the ground at shoulder height, arms fully extended.

Wash

34. Big Roc Stretches Its Wings

Step diagonally with the right foot to a left empty stance and use internal power to shake the sword out to the right. Walk the circle in a clockwise direction.

Hit, Shake

35. Jade Belt Around the Wrist

After one loop around the circle, push the sword finders under the right arm and swing the sword around to the left to guard the left shoulder. Continue to walk the circle.

Block with cheek

36. Thrust Sword Under Shoulder

Sweep the sword out behind you. When stepping into a left equatorial stance,arc the sword overhead to stab downward with the tip. Allow the tip to continue behind you and then pull the sword handle to the waist so that the sword lay flat across the back with the tip at the left shoulder and the handle at the right waist. Turning to the right, shift the weight onto the rightt foot and hooking step left. Turn 360 degrees and continue to walk the circle.

Thrust

37. Closing Position

Lift the sword hand and take over the sword with the left hand. Leave both arms extended as you continue to walk the circle. Hooking step left, step right and shift to a right empty stance, striking forward with the right palm and bringing the sword to opening position. Step back to opening stance and drop the right fingers to your side.