The tip can be used to thrust, a straight in stab using the elbow and shoulder or it can be used to point, keeping the elbow straight and driving from the shoulder, stabbing by inverting the wrist.

The buttt can be used to bludgeon the opponent.

The tasssel can be used to distract or to slap the opponent. Tales are told of famous swordsmen who showed disdain for their opponent’s skills by flogging them into submission with the sword tassel alone.

Parts of the Swordsman

Double Edge has upper edge, lower edge, cheek, tip, hilt or guard, handle, butt and grip. The grip is part of the weapon since the weapon is an extension of the hand. When you attack the opponent, attack the weapon by attacking the grip.

Practice Notes

Unicorn Watches the Moon, Left/Right Crossing Block, Black Dragon Surrounds the Pole - The block is always above the head.>

Swallow Drops the Mud or Cat Catches the Mouse - bring the sword fingers to the waist as the sword butt sweeps past the waist. The fingers guard the wrist in the following point.

Maintainn Peng Ching with a straight back and wider stances. Keep the tongue to the roof of the mouth and breathe rythmically at all times. Only break the bridge to eat, drink or speak.

Practicee targeting drills to increase accuracy. Hang a ping pong ball up as a target. Practice points, thrusts, slashes, and cloud swords.

Tai Chi Jian

1. Opening

Stand with feet together, sword in left hand, cheek along the back of the arm. Right hand held in sword finger formation.

Pointing the way

Circle the sword to shoulder height, fold the left elbow, continue the circle until the sword is in the center of the chest. Lift the right arm to shoulder height and shift to a right inside empty stance. Bring the right fingers to the ear, extend the left arm, block to the left ‘L’ stance, finger poke to the left bow and arrow.

Three rings choking the moon

Step to a right tai chi stanceand place the sword butt in the right anticubital fossa while supinating the right wrist. Twist to a right high lotus stance and thrust with sword butt. Drop right hand to waist, keep the elbow at the waist and turn the fingers to face behind, heart up. Thrust behind with the sword fingers.

This is done with sword finger, not open hand.

2. Right hand takes over the sword

Step to a left Tai Chi stance. Sweep the right fingers in sword hand overhead and step in to a left inside empty stance. Chop overhead with the sword to shoulder height, taking over the sword with the right hand. Right fingers stay in sword finger until they actually take over sword.

3. Big Star

Leap back to a right empty stance with left sword fingers guarding the right wrist until it passes the right knee. Sword point is drawn back level with right knee. From the inside empty stance, flip the sword horizontally not vertically, by supinating the wrist and sweep the left fingers to the right axilla. Thrust overhead with a straight right arm, and sweep to the rooster stance, thrusting forward with the left fingers at shoulder height.

4. Swallow Skims the Water

Draw the fingers to the shoulder as you drop to an empty stance and circle the sword back to shoulder height with tip vertical. Sink to a high tiger and guard the right wrist with the left sword fingers with the sword extended behind you. The left fingers lead the right wrist as you slash through the left ‘L’ stance to a left bow and arrow and separate to a temple block as you complete the slash at shoulder height.

5. Right Blocking Sweep

Turn the left toes out and step to a left inside empty, bringing the sword fingers down to guard the wrist. Step out diagonally to a right bow and arrow while slashing to the right.

There are only 3 repetitions, not five.

6. Left Blocking Sweep

Shift to a right inside empty and bring the sword fingers to guard the right axilla. Supinate the right wrist, sweep the left to a temple block, step out on the diagonal to a left bow and arrow and slash to the left.

7. Little Star

Drop the sword tip, lift the handle and guard the wrist with the fingers while shifting to a left inside empty stance. Shoulders are parallel to the form line and sword angles down from the grip at 45 degrees.

Turn the right toes out and step to a right empty stance while sweeping in a clockwise vertical arc with the wrist at eye level and sword fingers

guarding the wrist throughout the move.

8. Swallow Returns To Its Nest

Hooking step left, step back to a right empty stance, sweeping the sword cheek, sword fingers to waist height flexing the wrists and pronating out to 45 degrees.

9. Dragonfly Touches The Water

Sweep to a rooster stance, holding the sword with both hands so that it angles up from the waist at 45 degrees. Step down to a left bow and arrow while thrusting towards the floor at 45 degrees.

10. Sly, Cunning, Intelligent Cat Catches The Mouse

Shift to a left inside empty and vertical cloud sword to the left side while leaping onto the right foot. The left fingers guard the right wrist throughout. Step to a left bow and arrow stance. When they reach the body step out to left bow and arrow, thrust low with the sword and sweep the left hand to a temple block.

11. Phoenix lifts its head

Lift the sword tip so that the sword and forearm form a right angle.

12. Honey Bee Returns To The Hive

Turn the right toes in 45 degrees and shift to a right inside empty stance, extending the right arm and dropping the sword tip to shoulder height parallel to the ground. The left fingers guard the right wrist. Step out to a left bow and arrow stance, sweeping the left fingers to temple block and thrusting down with the sword.

13. Phoenix Spreads Its Wings

Turn the left toes out and step in to a left inside empty stance while bringing the sword into your center and guarding the wrist with the fingers. Step out diagonally to the form line in a right bow and arrow stance. Supinate the wrist and slash cheek up wrist at eye level, sweeping the sword fingers behind, thumb up.

Tai Chi Jian Postures

Components of the sword