Tag Archives: weapons form

Chen Style Tai Chi Weapons – The Qiang

Chen Style Tai Chi Weapons – The Qiang or Spear

by Max Yan and James Cravens

Chen Style Tai Chi has many weapons that are a part of its curriculum. In the old large frame the weapons are practiced today because they play a role in focusing on part of the goal to create a Tai Chi Body.

The Chen Style Tai Chi Spear is also known as “Pear Flower Spear and White-Ape Staff”. This form is a mixture of applications of the spear and staff.

The early version of the Chen Style Tai Chi Spear form is called “Yang Family 24 Spear Form” or “Pear Flower Spear”. This Yang style is not the Yang Tai Chi Family, rather a woman who lived about 900 years ago who was famous for this 24 movement spear form. The name “pear flower” comes from the idea that the pear flower is many flowers and the braid on the spear when it is used well, will give the opponent an overwhelming feeling that the spear is coming from many places and directions and is difficult to defend against.

In the Ming Dynasty, General Qi Ji Guang gave highest credit to this spear technique system and wrote it down in his book “Ji Xiao Xin Shu” which was famous as a military training program. Chen Wang Ting, the founder of Chen Style Tai Chi was a General during the Ming Dynasty. He used the basic pattern of the 24 spear form, but applied the theory of Tai Chi to the spear movement. Therefore the Chen Style Tai Chi 24 Spear Form has the exact sequence and name to this form.

Today the Chen family has put the 24 spear movements with the staff movements to create the 72 movements of “Pear Flower Spear and White Ape Staff”.

The Spear is used to thrust straight ahead and the Staff is used more in hitting side to side or up and down. Just like other weapons in Chen Style Tai Chi, the spear contains sticky technique.

The Thirteen Techniques of the Spear are:

1. Thrusting (downward)

2. Parry left to right

3. Parry right to left

4. Upward parry

5. Striking side to side

6. Pointing downward strike

7. Pointing upward Strike

8. Striking downward

9. Push away

10. Blocking upward

11. Coiling (sticking) clockwise

12. Coiling (sticking) counter clockwise

13. Thrusting (forward)

Another action or technique that is constantly present in the spear movements is Circling.

This weapon is powerful, deceptive, and unpredictable like thunder, lightening and the Dragon. It is known as the “King of Weapons”.

It is hard to practice this weapon. In China they say, “100 days to practice Broadsword but 1000 days to practice the Spear”. One must be careful of the movement of the hand, eye sight, body movement, stance and step. With a Tai Chi body, one can move so that spear and staff technique can be applied in one weapon. The application of spear and staff can alternate instantly because of the Tai Chi body movement. This ability makes the Chen style Tai Chi Spear form unique form other spear forms.

Chen Style Tai Chi Weapons – The Dao

Chen Style Tai Chi Weapons – The Dao or Single Edged Broad Sword

by Max Yan and James Cravens

Chen Style Tai Chi has many weapons that are a part of its curriculum. In the old large frame the weapons are practiced today because they play a role in focusing on part of the goal to create a Tai Chi Body.

Chen Style Tai Chi Single Broad Sword (Dan Dao) is one type of short weapon form among the routines of Chen Style Tai Chi. There are only 13 movements in the old form which indicates the reason the form is named “13 Broad Sword Movements”. In 1930-1938, a famous 18th generation Chen Style master, Chen Zhao Pi, taught in Nan Jing (the southern capital of China). At this time he added nine more movements to the form which is now the way the people in Chen village practice the Broad Sword.

Chen Style Tai Chi Single Broad Sword Form is very short and efficient. The application of every movement is very realistic. Truly the Broad Sword form demonstrates how Chen Style Tai Chi uses a combination of soft and hard, slow and fast, jumping, leaping, relaxing, active, shaking, stickiness, following, silk reeling, and making the opponent empty his force. The form looks like a fierce tiger. The force looks powerful and is described “like splitting a mountain”. This short weapon can also reach a deceptively long distance.

The Thirteen Techniques of Broadsword:

1. Gun – deflect by turning left

2. Bi – deflect by turning right

3. Zha – thrust

4. Lan – parrying with back side of Broadsword

5. Pi – cleave – vertical plan

6. Kan – cutting – horizontal plane

7. Liao – circular deflection with point upward

8. Jie – block (using edge)

9. Chan – circular twisting

10. Dou – shaking (Fa Jing)

11. Jia – lift up opponents weapon overhead

12. Mo – level or oblique upward slicing cut

13. Tiao – upward flicking with top two inches

When you practice the Single Broadsword, it is important that you coordinate well the hand, eye sight, the body and the footwork. When one part moves every part moves. In every movement one should make sure that the waist is the axis. As you practice, the force should move continuously without a hesitation or break. The technique should be clean and the design and applications should be obvious or clear. The body and movement should fulfill the basic requirements of Chen Style Tai Chi. When practicing one should learn to coil the Broadsword very close around the head, back and waist. The cutting movement should be big and strong (different from jian).

An old saying in Chinese Martial Art was that “Single Broadsword depends on the other hand, and Double Broadsword depends on footwork”. One should pay much attention to the empty hand or minor hand and how it should coordinate with the sword movement. Sometimes the left hand palm will support (on back of the Broadsword) and follow the technique and movement of the sword when it moves upward (jia) or side to side (gun). Sometimes the left hand is used for clearing, blocking etc. Thirdly, the left or empty hand is used for counterbalancing. The palm should harmonize with the body movement.

This entire exercise must be based on the empty hand form. When moving, the power should be able to be sent to the end of our body. When coming down or moving back, the energy will go back to the Dantian or the center of the body. When you are familiar with the form, the body can push the Broadsword or the Broadsword can lead the body.

Dan Dao – Single Edged Broadsword Form

1. Beginning

2. Protect Heart

3. Green Dragon From Water

4. Wind Whips The Flower

5. White Clouds Above Our Head

6. Black Tiger Searching the Mountain

7. Shu Qin Carrying a Sword on His Back

8. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg

9. Rolling Away from the Wind

10. Cut White Snake Body

11. Three Rings Around the Sun

12. Move the Clouds and See the Sun

13. Beat Grass to Find Snake Left

14. Beat Grass to Find Snake Right

15. Green Dragon From Water

16. Wind Whips The Flower

17. Wild Goose Opens Wings

18. Ye Cha Searching the Ocean

19. Left Turning the Body To Cut

20. Right Turning the Body to Cut

21. White Snake Sticks Out Tongue

22. Holding the Moon

23. Finishing

View a Printable Version of the Form Here

Chen Style Tai Chi Weapons – The Jian

Chen Style Tai Chi Weapons – The Jian or Double Edged Sword

by Max Yan and James Cravens

Chen Style Tai Chi has many weapons that are a part of its curriculum. In the old large frame the weapons are practiced today because they play a role in focusing on part of the goal to create a Tai Chi Body. For example, the Two Edged Sword, although a difficult weapon to master, is placed early in the curriculum to help in the development of loosening the shoulders and hips.

The single straight two edged sword (dan jian), of Chen style Tai Chi, is one type of short weapon from among the routines of Tai Chi. Over the past few hundred years, it has been widely disseminated among the villagers of Chenjiagou and is one of the oldest weapons sets of Chen Style Tai Chi. There are altogether 49 movements in the single straight double edged sword routine. The set of movements is logically arranged, tightly knit, and makes clear use of the different sword techniques such as: ci (level or upward thrust), pi (cleave), liao (circular deflection with point upward), gua (hang up), dian (flick the wrist to strike downward with the tip), mo (level or oblique upward slicing cut), tuo (push up), jia (lift up opponent’s weapon overhead), sao (horizontal circular slicing), jie (block), zha (downward thrust), tui (push), and hua (circular neutralizing striking patterns).

The Tai Chi sword also combines the natural and poised body dynamics of Chen style bare-handed boxing and its nimble yet stable footwork. Suddenly hard then suddenly soft, its technique hidden and then suddenly manifest. The sword makes use of “zhan nian lian sui” or sticking to the opponent like a shadow. The posture changes according to the sudden and changeable positioning methods of “teng shan zhe kong” which include leaping ahead, suddenly shifting aside, countering swiftly, and leaving the opponent striking at nothing.

The sword truly embodies Chen style Tai Chi principles of using the movements of the body to move the sword. Movements flow continuously one into the other without stopping, using circular and enveloping tactics, storing and releasing energy in turn, blending both the hard and the supple, with fast movements alternating with slow movements. The Chen style sword practitioner sticks with the opponent without losing contact, never failing to take advantage of an opening, and uses deceptive actions to lure the opponent. The changes are unpredictable, contracting and stretching, coming and going, with a method of energetically striking with hard energy.

When practicing the Chen style sword, it is necessary that you do so on the basis of practicing the bare-handed forms well; then you will be able to proceed with using your thoughts to guide your internal energy (yi yi dao qi), using your internal energy to drive the movements of your body (yi qi cui shen), sending our energy to the tip of the sword (jing guan jiqn xiao), with your whole body acting together in unison (zhou shen yi zhi), and your movements naturally turning like a rolling ball (yuan zhuan zi ran).

There is a saying in martial arts: “the broadsword is like a fierce tiger, the straight-edged sword is like a swimming dragon”. Therefore, when you practice with the sword it is the same as practicing bare-handed boxing; your movements are like moving clouds or a flowing stream – continuous without stopping, turning freely in a bold and vigorous way , issuing energy like a lion tossing his mane, with a myriad of rapid changes. When you practice the sword really well, not only can you bring about the result of strengthening your body, but you can bring about a completely relaxed and happy state of mind, and realize the benefits of achieving beauty in this art. The famous Taiji master, Chen Zhao-Pi (18th generation) composed the following verse to express this:

“Zha (downward or sideways thrust), dian (point with a downward flick), mo (oblique upward cut), pi (cleave), ci (level or upward forward thrust), draw into spirals and lead the attacker’s energy harmlessly (uses a spiralling action to disarm the opponent).”

“Tiao (split from bottom to top) and li (split from top to bottom) is the proper way; tui tuo (push away and lift up) is the orthodox method.”

“There are ways to advance while leading the attacker in; the horizontal and vertical movements of the sword a flash of steel.”

“Contracting like a hedgehog; releasing energy as if reaching to the end of a rainbow.”

“A myriad sun rays radiate brilliantly; the glorious radiance is marvelously boundless.”

“After long practice with the Tai Chi sword; when your skill is perfected, you will achieve an enlightenment of your own.”

The Jian – Double Edged Straight Sword

Original Chen Family Tai Chi

The Jian – Double Edged Tai Chi Sword Form

1. Tai Chi Sword Beginning Posture

2. Face the Sun

3. Immortal Pointing the Way

4. Green Dragon Flies Out of Water

5. Protecting the Knee

6. Closing the Gate

7. Green Dragon Flies Out of Water

8. Turn Body and Chop with Sword

9. Green Dragon Turns Its Body

10. Diagonal Flying

11. Open Wings and Bow Head

12. Beat Grass to Find Snake

13. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg

14. Immortal Pointing the Way

15. Cover and Pull Back

16. Twisted Roots of Ancient Tree

17. Hungry Tiger Pounces on Prey

18. Green Dragon Swings Its Tail

19. Backward Arm Circling

20. Wild Horse Leaping Ravine

21. White Snake Spits Out

22. Black Dragon Swings Tail

23. Zhong Kui Holds the Sword

24. Luohan Subduing Dragon

25. Black Bear Turns Backward

26. Swallow Pecks the Mud

27. White Snake Spits Out

28. Diagonal Flying

29. Hawk and Bear Compete with Intelligence

30. Swallow Pecks the Mud

31. Pluck Star and Return It

32. Scoop Moon from Under Sea

33. Immortal Pointing the Way

34. Phoenix Dips Its Head

35. Swallow Pecks the Mud

36. White Snake Spits Out

37. Diagonal Flying

38. Push Away 1000 lbs Left

39. Push Away 1000 lbs Right

40. Swallow Pecks the Mud

41. White Ape Offering Fruit

42. Falling Flowers

43. Jab Upward then Downward

44. Diagonal Flying

45. Nezha Searching the Sea

46. Boa Turns Itself Around

47. Weituo Presents a Pounder

48. Millstone Turning Sword

49. Tai Chi Sword Returning to Origin

View a printable version here.