Tai Chi Thirteen Sword

The grip is wherever the hand takes hold of the sword. Traditionally, the sword is taught right handed, so the typical grip is with the right hand, thumb and index finger near the guard. To allow flexible maneuver, the main grip is with the middle and ring fingers with the thumb and index finger acting as guides. To give power to the cut or thrust, all fingers close at the moment of impact.

Sword finger

Sword finger is made by pointing the index and middle finger and closing thumb over the ring and small finger. Sword finger is used to add contralateral force to the actions of the sword, to guard vulnerable points on the body, to deflect the opponent's weapon, or to attack soft tissue targets.

Sword hands

1. Thumb up (Chung Yin)

2. Thumb up, diagonal pronated (Shao Yin)

3. Palm down (Tai Yin)

4. Thumb down, diagonal, pronated (Lao Yin)

5. Thumb down, pronated (Chung Yang)

6. Thumb up, diagonal supinated (LaoYang)

7. Palm up (Tai Yang)

8. Thumb down, diagonal supinated (Shao Yang)

Note that these align with the gua of the same name.

Tai Chi Sword Methods

There are 13 Tai Chi sword methods. They are better thought of as sword energies. They correspond to the 8 gates and 5 steps of Tai Chi. The actual correspondence will be forthcoming, but let’s start looking at the Fa or Method.

1. Tzu, Ji - Hit with the tip of the sword.

· This is a slashing attack where the wrist and arm travel through the full range of motion.

· Attack can be done vertically, horizontally or diagonally with the forehand or backhand.

2. Chi, Ci - Stab or Pierce

· This is a thrusting attack where the sword starts near the center of the body with elbows bent and then the arms are fully extended.

· Stab with edge up, thumb up to bow and arrow stance, forward

· Stab with edge up, thumb down to a bow and arrow stance, forward

· Stab with edge up, thumb up to bow and arrow stance, reverse

· Stab with edge up, thumb down to a bow and arrow stance, reverse

· Stab with cheek up, palm down to a unicorn stance

· Stab with cheek up, palm up to a unicorn stance

3. Pi - Chop or Split. Cut with the middle part of the sword

· This attack is similar to the hit, except that the wrist is held flexed so that the sword and the forearm form a 90 degree angle.

· Chop vertically, forehand or backhand

· Chop diagonally, forehand or backhand

4. Chou - Lash or draw

· Put the sword on the opponent and flick the wrist to cut the opponent. This method is done by extending the wrist. It can be done vertically or horizontally. Essentially, it entails opening the wrist joint.

5. Xi, Hsi - Wash horizontally or vertically.

· Horizontally, meet at attack with the sword held forward at shoulder height. Rotate the tip towards the face in a clockwise circle, leaning the head back to clear the attack with the sword beneath the opponent's. As the circle continues, the sword switches to be above the opponents so that an attack is possible.

· Meet a thrust with the inside cheek of the sword, go over the top of the sword and thrust behind while pivoting to a high lotus, continuing the momentum of the opponent’s attack while deflecting it. Bring the sword around to stab over the opponent's sword

6. Ke, Ge - Block with the cheek, spine of the sword

Meet a thrust with the inside or outside cheek of the sword. Deflect a chop or hit. Cover from above and raise up from below.

7. Chie, Jie - Intercept

· Meet the opponent's attack with your own attack .This consists largely of moving into the opponent's motion as is comes to you. So you could file the wrist from underneath while moving into an empty stance. You could also push into the wrist with the lower edge of the sword as you shift back into an empty stance.

8. Peng, Beng - Burst, Explode

· Flex the wrist up and draw the sword back, keeping the elbow straight. Explode forward, keeping the elbow straight and extending the wrist.

· This is like drawing an arrow in a bow and releasing it.

9. Tien, Dian - Point

· Stab downward by extending the wrist. Extend the wrist powerfully in Tai Yin grip.

10. Tai, Dai - Draw Back

· This method is performed by lifting with the lower edge of the sword from the shoulder. The tip points down and in as you catch the opponent's wrist and lift with the sword edge.

· Follow the direction of the opponent's sword attack.

11. Press

· Push the opponent's sword . Make contact and then move it out of the way with the sword cheek.

12. Ti - Raise or Carry,

· This method is performed by flexing the wrist. As with Chou Fa, it can be done vertically or horizontally. It's essential motion is to flex or close the wrist joint. It's a plucking method done with the sword tip.

13. Chiao, Jiao - Stir or wrap

· Slice the opponent's wrist by placing the sword tip on the wrist and rotating the blade in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

· If the opponent is trying to gain advantage by leveraging your sword, stir in the direction of his energy, this neutralizes his attack and presses your own. For example, suppose you use a straight stab at the opponent and he counters using the Lift technique. In this technique, he uses block, wrap and raise methods. Counter his wrap with a wrap of your own and the raise is neutralized.

Summary of Sword Energies

1. Summary Table

Element	Energy	Hand Position	Method (Fa)	Name	Description
Tai Yang	Ward Off	Palm Up	Chou	Lash / Draw	Nick by drawing the blade across opponent
Lao Yin	Pull Down	Palm Down, Thumb Down	Chi,Ci	Pierce / Thrust	Stab with tip by straightening bent elbows
Chung Yin	Press	Thumb Up	Ti	Raise	Pluck with the sword tip, striking the opponent from underneath
Shao Yin	Shoulder Strike	Palm Down, Thumb Up	Peng	Felling, Bursting	Point. Stab, keeping arm straight and flexing wrist
Tai Yin	Roll Back	Palm Down	Tai, Dai	Carry, Take Back	Move sword edge in the same direction as opponent's attack
Lao Yang	Split	Palm Up, Thumb Up	Tzu, Ji	Hit	Strike with the sword tip.
Chung Yang	Push	Thumb Down	Ke, Ge	Blocking	Block with the cheek of the sword
Shao Yang	Elbow	Palm Up, Thumb Down	Tien, Dian	Pointing	With palm down, extend the wrist to attack with the tip
Metal	Advance		Chiao, Jiao	Stirring	Wrap the sword tip around the opponent's wrist
Water	Beware Left		Pi	Splitting, Chopping	Cut forcefully with the middle part of the sword
Wood	Withdraw		Ya	Press	Push with sword edge or spine
Fire	Look Right		Chieh, Jie	Intercept	Meet the attack with an attack
Earth	Central Equilibrium		Hsi, Xi	Clearing, Washing	Vertically, Push the boat down stream. Horizontally, Cloud Sword

2. Practice guidelines

Practice these methods in conjunction with stance work. Form a basic appreciation of how the sword handles in attack and defense. These energies and applications are expanded upon and combined in the Shaolin Sword Methods. For a meditation on dissolution, identify the energies when doing form work, tracing form postures back to stance and energy. For a meditation on generation, free spar and observe the energies emerging from your training into you combat.