Tai chi is great if you're a lifelong learner: There is always more to know about this gentle Chinese art. Performed with a straight, two-edged sword, the tai chi sword form or set of movements can help you deepen the spinal stretch and mental focus you learn in regular, empty-handed tai chi practice. Seek out sword tai chi instruction through a Yang style tai chi class, or any instructor knowledgeable in traditional Taoist martial arts.
Learning Sword Tai Chi
Step 1
Follow the step-by-step instruction offered by your sword tai chi teacher. Pay particular attention to how he grips the sword. Squeezing the blade too tightly will result in a sore hand and limit your practice time.
Step 2
Move through the steps of the sword set using the foundational techniques you learned while practicing empty-handed tai chi. Although the sword adds a new dimension to your practice, the stepping and spinal movement of sword tai chi are the same.
Step 3
Cut with the blade of the sword, or stab with the tip, at all times as you practice. All sword tai chi movements must --- theoretically, at least --- be useful for slicing or stabbing an opponent.
Step 4
Point with the index and middle fingers of your empty left hand, allowing your extended fingertips to follow the handle of the sword as you move. Putting equal effort into the empty hand and the sword will help keep your energy balanced.
Step 5
Coordinate the action of your legs, waist and spine with each thrust and cut of the sword. Your entire body should drive each movement and put power behind the sword.
Step 6
Ask your instructor to clarify the martial arts application of any movements that confuse you. If you don't understand a movement, you won't be able to focus your mind on it correctly.
Step 7
Extend your mental focus out through the blade and to the tip of the sword as you do the movements, until you feel that the sword is part of your body. When you go back to empty-handed tai chi practice, this ability to focus your mind beyond your body will help you project your energy more effectively.
Step 8
Practice sword tai chi in class, and on your own, as often as you can until you are familiar with the entire set. Once you've absorbed the basic movements, ask your instructor to help you refine them.
Tips and Warnings
- The straight sword is a part of traditional Taoist ceremonies to banish evil spirits, according to Green Way Research, the online home of tai chi and yoga instructor Michael P. Garofalo. As you work on the sword set, remembering this can help you feel more in touch with the origins of tai chi. Doing tai chi sword can help accelerate your training progress, according to the Taoist Tai Chi Society. Just remember to take the extra stretch and mental focus you learn in the sword set back to your regular tai chi practice.
Things You'll Need
- Tai chi practice sword
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