Dark Stream School

Sticks

Drills

There are 9 stick drills to be learned in conjunction with the Tai Chi Broadsword form.

All martial systems are based on the double tap method, ba ba bam! The double tap is composed of a deflection, a check, and a strike. The deflection diverts the incoming blow from its target, the check freezes the incoming attack in a position that compromises the attacker. The strike counterattacks in conjunction with the check.

A weapon is an extension of the arm. Remember, it is basic fighting theory to take what is given by the opponent. This is almost always the hand that grip the sticks. Practice aiming so that you can disarm the opponent by striking the styloid process of the ulna from above and the thumb from below. With blunt force weapons like the stick, aim so that you hit a bony target, the olecranon process, the medial epicondile or one of the knuckles of the hand. If you keep your gaze on the center of the body, you will naturally be able to target better. This is a very strange result, but numerous demonstrations and practice confirm this.

The Power Curve is bell shaped and it is at zero closest to the body. The power increases to its maximum when the fist is over the front foot and then returns to zero as the strike circles back to the body. This is why there is a step to readjust body alignment when doing the double tap stick exercises.

Alleys

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An alley is the angle in which an attack is delivered to the body.

Alley 1 - Diagonal from left shoulder to right hip.

Figure 1: Alley 1

Attacker steps out right, guards the right shoulder with the left hand and attacks with right forehand blow to the collar bone, ending in a right bow and arrow stance

Alley 2 - Diagonal from right hip to left shoulder

Figure 2: Alley 2

Attacker steps out right, guarding the right shoulder with the left hand. Attack with right backhand blow to the lateral maleolus or patella ending in a right bow and arrow stance.

Alley 3 - Diagonal from right shoulder to left hip

Figure 3: Alley 3

Attacker steps out left, guarding the right shoulder with the left hand. Attack with a right backhand blow to the collar bone ending in a left bow and arrow stance.

Alley 4 - Diagonal from left hip to right shoulder

Figure 4: Alley 4

Attacker steps out right, guarding the right shoulder with the left hand. Attack the lateral maleolus or the knee with a right forehand blow on the upward diagonal. End in a right bow and arrow stance.

Alley 5 - Horizontal from left side to right side

Figure 5: Alley 5

Attacker steps out left and guards the right shoulder with the left hand. Attack the angle of the ribs with a right forehand blow in the horizontal plane ending in a left bow and arrow. Attacker may also step out right to deliver the blow.

Alley 6 - Horizontal from left side to right side

Figure 6: Alley 6

Attacker steps out right while guarding the right shoulder with the left hand. With a right backhand blow, attack the angle of the ribs ending in a right bow and arrow stance. Attacker may also step out to a left bow and arrow stance.

Alley 7 - Vertical downward from head to toe

Figure 7: Alley 7

Attacker steps out right and delivers a right hand blow to the head in the vertical plane, landing in a right bow and arrow stance while guarding the right shoulder with the left hand.

Alley 8 - Vertical upward strike from groin to head

Figure 8: Alley 8

Attacker steps out left to a left bow and arrow stance while swinging the stick upward in the vertical plane while guarding the right shoulder with the left hand.

Alley 9 - Thrust into the center of the body

Figure 9: Alley 9

Attacker steps out to a right bow and arrow stance while thrusting the stick to the xyphoid process or pubic bone. Guard the right shoulder with the left hand.

Any alley which traverses the body is difficult to defend against. These attacks cannot be avoided by moving the body. These attacks are in alleys 1,2,3,4,5, and 6. Attacks to alleys 7, 8, and 9 can be negated by moving out of the way.

Alley Defenses

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Opening position: Stand with feet shoulder width apart facing your partner. The stick is held in the right hand with the wrist everted to keep the stick parallel to the ground. The left hand is held palm down with wrist flexed. The defending partner signals for the desired alley attack by tapping the body at the correct point.

Figure 10: Opening Position

Inside Sweep: Defends against an attack in Alley 1. The main target is the wrist. 2 taps can disarm the opponent. Step to right Bow and Arrow stance. Right hand sweeps to deflect the incoming blow and the left goes to the chest to keep it out of the way. Step left foot back to a left Bow and Arrow stance. Left hand over right to check the opponents arm. Right hand delivers a relaxed backhand strike to the opponents flank. Attack is to the angle of the ribs in the area of liver or spleen.

Figure 11: Inside Sweep deflects a 1

Figure 12: Inside Sweep check and counter-strike

Drop stick: Defends an attack in alley 2. Step back right and slightly behind the left foot to a Bow and Arrow stance. Pivot slightly to the right to maintain proper body alignment. Deflect the attack downward with a downward sweep of the stick. Check with the back of the left hand, keeping the empty hand is parallel to the stick hand. Turn the left toes out 45 degrees and step forward to a right bow and arrrow stance as you thrust to the xyphoid process, counterattacking in alley 9.

Figure 13: Drop Stick deflect and check

Figure 14: Drop Stick counter-strike

Outside Sweep defends against a 3 alley attack.

Step left to a left Bow and Arrow. Bring left hand to chest, right hand blocks with a backhand motion. Step right foot behind the left, check with left hand at elbow, withdraw left hand and overhand strike with the right.

Figure 15: Outside Sweep deflects in alley 3

Figure 16: Outside Sweep check and setup

Figure 17: Outside Sweep counter-strike

Low Block: This technique is the defense for an attack in alley 4 or 8. It can be done in either unicorn stance or seated lotus. The stick (right) hand blocks low and the empty hand supports the tip. For the lotus stance, out step left, twist and sink to the lotus stance with the right knee tucked in behind the left ankle. The unicorn stance is done by stepping out straight with the left foot. Sink and bring the right knee into position beside the left ankle. The right knee does not touch the ground. The follow through can either be a puno strike to the hyoid bone or a back hand with the body of the stick to the head.

Figure 18: Low Block to a seated lotus

Figure 19: Low Block check and counter-strike

Inside Wing: Guards against an attack to Alley 5. Step right and drop the right wrist. The upper arm is parallel to the floor and the forearm is perpendicular to the upper arm. Check with the left hand, step the left foot behind and attack the sinus curve of the clavicle with a back hand. Just drop the right elbow to put the attack right on target. This is an Under Elbow Strike as in the Tai Chi Chiang Chuan (long form).

Figure 20: Inside Wing deflects an attack in Alley 5

Figure 21: Inside Wing check and counter-strike

Outside Wing: Guards against a 6. Lift the right wrist by supinating it extremely. Step left, check with the left hand, step right and strike the posterior cervical triangle in a circular attack. In this move, bring the left hand to the center of the chest, check the opponent's elbow and withdraw the hand to the chest to keep it out of harm's way.

Figure 22: Outside Wing deflects an attack in Alley 6

Figure 22: Outside Wing check and setup

Figure 23: Outside Wing counterstrike to the neck

Roof top: Defends against an attack in Alley 7. Step 45 degrees to the right while pronating the right wrist and lifting the right elbow. This angles the stick down so that the attack is deflected. The left hand checks the attackers right wrist as the defender steps behind left to align the feet in a bow and arrow stance while delivering a counterattack in Alley 1. Targets could be the mastoid process, the neck, the TMJ, the clavicle, or the temple.

Figure 24: Rooftop deflects an attack in Alley 7

Figure 25: Rooftop check and counter

Pass: Defense for a 9: Deflect with the left hand and attack opponent's right wrist with a slash on the horizontal plane above opponent's weapon.

Figure 26: Forehand pass to defend against an attack in Alley 9

Figure 27: End position of forehand pass

Figure 28: Backhand pass to defend against an attack in Alley 9

Figure 29: Backhand pass ends in the Opening Position.

Pass and Bounce: Defend against an attack in alley 9

Figure 30: Forehand Pass and Bounce - Pass

Figure 31: Forehand Pass and Bounce - Bounce.

Figure 32: Backhand Pass and Bounce - Pass.

Figure 29: Backhand Pass and Bounce - Bounce.

Shields defend against heavy blows in alley 1 or 3 and have to end in the meaty part of the shoulder. If they don't, it will hurt.

Inside Shield defends against a heavy blow in alley 1

Figure 33: Inside Shield defends against a heavier weapon attacking in Alley 1.

Figure 34: Inside Shield checks the weapon and counterattacks in Alley 1

Outside Shield defends against a heavy blow in alley 3. Avoid resting the stick or sword on the scapular spine. Place the stick in the muscle mass closer to the shoulder.

Figure 35: Outside Shield defends against a heavier weapon attacking in Alley 3.

Figure 36: Outside Shield counterattacks in Alley 3.

Checks: Do not withdraw checking hand on inside defenses. This is true for all inside defenses, Inside Sweep, Inside Wing, Inside Shield. Withdraw the hand on the Outside defenses to clear the way for your strike and to avoid counterattack.

Cloud sword deflection is also very powerful against a 9. A twig can deflect the sword becauce the force vector is perpendicular to the thrust. Sifu told a story about using a slender stick as a pointer and having a student thrust at him unexpectedly with a sword. Sifu did a cloud sword with the twig, deflected the thrust and broke off the twig on the attacker's sternum.

Figure 37: Cloudsword A.

Figure 38: Cloudsword B.

Figure 39: Cloudsword C.

Figure 40: Cloudsword D

5 count - Stick continuous combat form

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Left

Initiates with an attack to alley 7

Right

Defends with a rooftop

Figure 41: Attack to 7 and Rooftop

Left

Counterattacks in alley 1

Figure 42: Attack to Alley 1

Right

Defends with an Inside Sweep

Figure 43: Inside Sweep

Left

Counters with an attack in Alley 6

Right

Defends with a low Outside Wing

Figure 44: Attack to Alley 6 and low Outside Wing

Left

Counters with a high 6 (or 3)

Right

Defends with a high Outside Wing

Figure 45: Attack to high 6, Defense with high Outside Wing

Left

Counters with an attack in Alley 3

Right

Defends with Outside Sweep

Figure 46: Attack in Alley 3, Defense with Outside Sweep

Left

Counters with attack in Alley 7

Right

Defends with a Rooftop

Figure 47: Attack in Alley 7, Defense with Rooftop

Left

Defends with an Inside Sweep

Figure 48: Attack in Alley 1, Defense with Inside Sweep

Left

Counters with an attack to Alley 6

Right

Defends with a low Outside Wing

Figure 49: Attack in Alley 6, Defense with low Outside Wing

Left

Counters with a high 6

Right

Defends with a high Outside Wing

Figure 50: Attack in high 6, Defense with high Outside Wing

Left

Counters with an attack in Alley 3

Right

Defends with an Outside Sweep

Figure 51: Attack in Alley 3, Defense with Outside Sweep

Left

Counters with an attack in Alley 7

Right

Defends with a Rooftop

Figure 52: Attack in Alley 7, Defense with Rooftop

Repeat the cycle.

6 Count Drill

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This drill links two Inside Sweeps together. The technique is Pass, Pass, Bounce, Pass, Pass, Bounce. A pass takes the stick into contact with your partners stick and then continues to the opposite side of the body. A bounce, on the other hand, makes contact with your partner's stick and then returns to the ready position. The rhythm should be smooth and continuous with the movement originating in the waist, not in the arms.

Figure 53: Ready Position

Stand with both sticks on the right side of the body, the right hand near the ear and the left hand near the hip.

Figure 54: Pass 1A

Swing with a right forehand and meet your partner's stick in your center.

Figure 55: Pass 1B

Follow through, passing your partners stick, holding the stick in your right hand above your left shoulder.

Figure 56: Pass 2A

Backhand with the left, meeting your partner's stick in your center.

Figure 57: Pass 2B

Pass the left backhand, carrying the stick so the left hand rests at shoulder height with the elbow bent

Figure 58: Bounce 3A

Backhand with the right, meeting your partners stick in your center.

Figure 59: Bounce 3B

Bounce the right hand to the left hip, in ready position on the left side. This completes the inside sweep originating on the right side.

Figure 60: Pass 4A

Repeat the drill, starting with the left hand leading. Forehand strike with the left hand meeting your partner's stick in your center.

Figure 60: Pass 4B

Follow through, passing your partners stick, carrying the stick in your left hand above your right shoulder.

Figure 61: Pass 5A

Backhand with the right, meeting your partner's stick in your center.

Figure 62: Pass 5B

Pass the right backhand, carrying the stick so the right hand rests at shoulder height with the elbow bent.

Figure 63: Bounce 6A

Backhand with the left, meeting your partners stick in your center.

Figure 64: Bounce 6B

Bounce the left hand to the right hip, in ready position on the right side. This completes the inside sweep originating on the left side. Continue the drill. To count this out, it's Pass, Pass, Bounce; Pass, Pass, Bounce

8 Count Drill

The 8 count drill provides yet another rhythm to practice. The basic pattern is Bounce, Pass, Pass, Bounce, Bounce, Pass, Pass, Bounce. Similar to the 6 count except for the first bounce, again strive for a smooth and continuous exchange originating in the tan tien.

Figure 65: 8 Count Ready Position

Stand with both sticks on the right side of the body, the right hand near the ear and the left hand near the hip.

Figure 66: Bounce 1A

Swing with a right forehand and meet your partner's stick in your center.