Shaolin Dao - Broadsword

Broadsword Drill

Stand in a right empty stance with left palm extended forward at shoulder height and sword tip by right knee. Use the willow leaf palm, not the Tai Chi palm. Pull the sword back past the knee with the shoulder muscles, keeping your right arm straight.

Guard the right axilla with the left palm as you shift to an inside empty and execute an inside wing with the sword. In other words, drop the sword tip by pronating the wrist. Circle it in front of the body in a counterclockwise arc until it passes the left shoulder. Check with the left hand as you build momentum with the sword for a horizontal slash from right to left and step out to a left bow and arrow stance. Sweep the left hand to a temple block.

Let your anatomy flip the sword edge when you reach the full limit of extension.

Keeping the sword hand and the empty hand at 180 degrees, backhand with the sword as you sweep with the empty hand to shoulder height. Again let your anatomy and sword momentum dictate the flip to the outside wing maneuver. In the outside wing, you drop the sword tip by supinating the wrist. The sword passes the right shoulder and circles behind the back in a clockwise arc.

Maintain your left bow and arrow stance as the sword sweeps behind the body, the left hand sweeps down to waist height and then up to guard the right axilla. Palm strike left while shifting back to a right empty stance as the sword is pulled back to its starting position by the right knee.

Simply stated:

Opening Stance, Opening Position in a right empty stance.

Inside Wing to a left bow and arrows

Outside Wing

Palm strike to a right empty stance.

Do 1000 iterations to own the move. Should take about an hour.

Broadsword Form (Shaolin Da Dao)

(Note: the form line is 2 steps forward of, and runs perpendicular to, the Opening Stance.)

Opening Stance, feet together, sword in left hand

Sweep right hand in a counter-clockwise arc to overhead position, eyes following the right hand.

Thrust the sword butt up to cross the left wrist over the right as the right hand supinates and continues it arc down to the right hip. The left hand sweeps to the left in a clockwise arc timed so that it reaches left shoulder height as the right hand reaches right shoulder height palm up.

Sink to a right inside empty, then temple toss to a right temple block and step to a right empty stance, eyes left. Step out to a left bow and arrow while supinating the right palm and sweeping it backwards behind the right hip, eyes following the right hand.

Step right, then left to standing position, sweeping both hands overhead, eyes following the right hand throughout its sweep overhead. Right hand takes over the sword.

Pronate the left wrist and sweep with the left palm heel at nipple height while stepping to a left bow stance onto the form line and cutting in a horizontal arc with the right wrist supinated from right to left at shoulder height. The right hand flips to the pronated position when it is fully extended under the left armpit.

Cutting in a backhanded arc to the right, pivot to a right bow stance. The left hand is extended behind at shoulder height, thumb down. When the backhand reaches its full extension, perform an outside wing by flipping the wrist to supinated position and continue the arc around the head in a clockwise circle as you pivot 180 degrees to a right empty stance, striking with a left willow leaf palm and pulling the sword tip back in line with the right knee.

You are now facing down the form line, 90 degrees to the left from the Opening Stance.

Out-step left while lifting the left hand straight overhead and pointing with the sword while stepping to a right bow stance. The left hand falls behind you to form a hook at shoulder height.

Note: Pointing is a stabbing technique in which the arm is kept straight and the sword tip is held by the knee with the wrist flexed. Keeping the arm straight, stab forward, maintaining alignment with the target by extending from the wrist. By contrast, a thrust is performed by starting with a flexed elbow and then extending into the stab by straightening the arm.

Lift the sword tip in a vertical arc until the right hand is vertical and the sword tip touches between your shoulder blades as you step back to standing position. The left hand forms a hook and extends straight out to the side from your left shoulder at shoulder height.

Chop with the sword to waist height, guarding the right wrist with the left hand as you shift to a left empty stance.

Note: Chop or Hack is a technique in which the sword cut is made by allowing the wrist to "break" and extend.

The momentum of the sword carries it past the left side as the left hand sweeps to a temple block and you step out to a left bow stance 45 degrees off the form line. As the left hand reaches temple- block position, the sword slashes to the center of the body perpendicular to the heel line.

Note: Slash is a technique in which the sword is held vertical to the forearm through out and the edge is drawn along the opponent's body at the point of contact.

Step to a right empty stance while bringing the sword tip in line with the right knee and the left hand in willow leaf palm to guard the right axilla. Supinating the left wrist, arc it in a clockwise direction across the body to a temple block. Cross step left and step to a right bow stance 45 degrees off the form line while dropping the sword tip and chopping to the center of the body perpendicular to the heel line.

Maintaining the temple block and leaving the sword tip in position, supinate the right wrist until the blade edge is in the vertical plane while shifting to a left rooster stance. The sword points down the form line with the edge up and the left hand guarding the right wrist.

Circle the blade edge in a counter clockwise arc while stepping down to a right bow stance. Supporting the spine of the sword with the left hand, continue the cut while stepping to a left bow stance. 

Temple block left while sinking to a left tiger stance and pronating the right wrist , cutting to shoulder height., reversing direction along the form line.

Continue the cut through the full range of motion, again executing an Outside Wing, flipping the wrist to supine position and arcing to the right behind the head. Step back right then left to a right bow stance while striking with a left willow leaf palm and drawing the sword tip back to the right knee.

Do an Inside Wing, drop the sword tip by pronating the right wrist and bring the left thumb to the right axilla. Arc the sword to the left with the edge out as you out-step left and drop to a left seated lotus as the sword reaches the left shoulder. Continuing the arc, shifting to a left rooster stance while cutting at waist height in a forehand sweep with the right wrist supinated and the left in a temple block. Cut to the full range of motion before flipping the right wrist to the pronated position under the left axilla.

Step out to a right bow stance and cut at shoulder height in a backhanded arc with the left hand sweeping out at 180 degrees and shoulder height. Flip the wrist in an outside wing, guard the right shoulder with the left palm and step behind left to a right high lotus stance. Cut with a backhand slash at shoulder height and temple block left.

Continue the cut to the full extension and then drop the tip by pronating the wrist. Guard the left shoulder with the Inside Wing, withdrawing the left palm to guard the right axilla. Pivot 180 degrees to the left and then bring the sword overhead and cut down along the left side of the body as you step forward into a right empty stance with the left hand guarding the wrist. Again continue the cut, this time arcing down to the right in a backhand slash as you step to a left empty. Perform an Outside Wing, dropping the sword tip by supinating the right wrist and arcing around the head clockwise to the left shoulder. Hooking step left and step behind right, sinking to a left seated lotus, pressing down with the sword edge with the left hand guarding the right wrist.

(reverse angle)

Pivot to the right while raising both hands overhead left crossed over right and weight on left foot. When hands are vertical, step out right and chop to a horse stance with left hand in temple block position.

Push down with the left palm heel in a clockwise arc and then lift overhead as you pivot to a left bow stance. Supinate the right wrist to bring the sword edge up as you step out to right bow stance and cut up from underneath. The left arm is stretched out behind you at shoulder height with wrist fully pronated and flexed so that the thumb is down.

Pivot 180 degrees to a left bow stance as you chop overhead to shoulder height, the left hand guarding the right wrist.

Cut behind you along the right side to shoulder height. Step the left foot behind to a right high lotus stance. Eyes follow the sword.

Stab forward in a large counterclockwise arc, maintaining the separation between the hands as you pivot 180 degrees to a left high lotus. Imagine that the left hand grabs the opponent’s arm at shoulder height and you pull him in as you stab. The left and right hands cross at the wrists when you are fully in position in the high lotus.

(reverse angle)

Leap to a right rooster stance while chopping to the midline of the body and temple blocking with the left hand.

Execute an Outside Wing by dropping the sword tip, supinating the right wrist and blocking around the head in a clockwise arc. The left hand guards the right axilla as you complete the block and drop into a left tiger stance. Temple block left.

Pronate the sword hand completely to present the edge of the sword. Keeping the edge parallel to the ground, pivot to the right in a right high lotus stance and slide your body under the sword to a right high tiger. Lift the sword, continue to pivot to the right, again to a right high lotus stance.

Arc the sword counterclockwise in the horizontal plane by supinating the wrist and drawing the grip to the right shoulder, guarded by the left hand.  Step and thrust to a right bow stance, thrusting the willow leaf palm out behind you.

Perform an Inside Wing by dropping the sword tip, pronating the wrist and arc it counterclockwise to the left shoulder. Bring the left palm to the waist, turn the right toes out and palm strike forward. Pronate the left wrist and block to the left as the right chops from behind the head and you shift to a right rooster stance.

Continue the arc of the sword until the left hand guards the wrist with the sword overhead. Hooking-step left and turn to face the opposite direction. Shift to a left rooster stance and chop along your right side.

Supinate the wrist and let the momentum carry the sword around the body to the right in an Outside Wing. Step behind with right foot to a right empty stance and thrust with the left willow leaf palm. The sword tip is drawn back to align with the right knee.

Out-step left, hooking step right to a horse stance while dropping the sword tip by pronating the right wrist and blocking in a counterclockwise arc to the left shoulder. Step behind left and drop to a right seated lotus as you continue the sword arc and cut from right to left at ankle height. Take out ankles all around by pivoting to the left with the left hand guarding the wrist until you are in a low squat with both feet on the form line. From this low horse stance, chop to the right as you step into a low right bow stance with the left hand guarding the wrist.

Blocking with the left palm heel, pivot to a left bow stance. Cutting up from underneath, leap to a right hooking step and pivot to a left tiger as you cut to the right with the edge vertical. Temple block left.

Pronate and drop the sword tip, blocking in an arc to the left shoulder as you shift to a right bow stance.. Bring the left hand in willow leaf palm to the hip and thrust behind the sword, then block the left with the palm heel and continue to a temple block. Knee with the left to a right rooster while slashing to the left with the sword. When the sword passes the left leg, stomp down left and heel kick right to a left rooster with kicking foot extended. At this point the sword is under the left axilla, edge facing out.

Sweep the sword down past the extended right leg, pivot 180 degrees to the right and leap onto the right leg as you drop to a right tiger stance with the left hand guarding the sword hand. This reverses direction on the form line. The sword is held parallel to the form line and near the ground.

(reverse angle)

Shift up to a right rooster, aligning the sword tip with the right knee. Circle-block strike with the left willow leaf palm.

(reverse angle)

Drop the sword tip by pronating the wrist and low block in a counterclockwise arc to the left shoulder. Continue the cut to the left as you step to a left bow stance and temple block.

With the sword hand under the left axilla, turn the left toes out and heel kick right.

Drop the right foot in an out-step and , pivoting to the right, leap into a left hooking step while cutting in a back handed arc to the right. Step behind with the right foot, ending in a left bow stance.

Continue the rightward arc of the sword, supinate the wrist, block behind the right shoulder and shift to a right empty stance while circle block striking with the left palm. Align the sword tip with the right knee.

Drop the sword tip by pronating the wrist and blocking in an arc to the left shoulder. The sword continues its arc while the left hand sweeps across the chest and into temple block position. Step out to a left bow stance and cut across from right to left by supinating the wrist. When the sword hand reaches the left axilla, flip the edge by pronating the wrist and cut back to the right while pivoting to a right bow stance, the left hand extended behind you.

Come up to standing position, bringing both hands overhead, taking over the sword in the left hand. Step back right to a left bow stance, eyes following the right hand as it leads the way. Step back left to a right bow stance as you temple toss with the right hand, eyes left, the sword hand held in the left hand, tip resting against the left axilla. Step back right to standing position, eyes front, close.