Tai Chi Sword

[AndrewAj]

Hi,

I have taught my self over the years how to learn a variety of weapons, and i only do two martial arts (TKD and Tai Chi). I can use sai, bo, jo, nunchuku, kitana, walking stick, tonfa. But i am having trouble working on specific techniques for straight sword (tai chi sword). Even though i practise tai chi i still need specifics and descriptions to add to it, plus i am still a little while away from learning my sword form. Does anyone have any good sites for straight sword/tai chi sword that gives out good techniques and descriptions?:D

[Cudgel]

I dont know of too many sites that actually have good descriptions you could try books.

I can recommend one on personaly experience, but it perains to sword and sheild and the single longsword in two handed grip probably not what your looking for. You could try Modern fencing, im sure a library near by has some books on fencing. its for fencing tools not swords but the same mechanics are there. Or you could try looking up a European reenactment group to learn singlesword from. Nothing quite beats hands on training.

And its katana not kitana.

[Stolenbjorn]

If you're willing to venture into the jungle of Western Martial Arts, and prepared to study on your own, you're sure to find manuals that cover straightsword teqnices. It's obviously not chineese, but I don't think the two traditions can be very difficult if it's the same kind of weapon they're using (ca 1kg, flexible blade of 80 - 105 cm length)

I know of a book by an american; Bob Sherone, about Fiore del Libere's manual from 1410 (if it is yet released; it's hard to translate and interpit medieval italian; even for italians!) Fiore have systems from wresteling up to pole axes and wresteling on horseback (The need to know for a medieval knight!) His manuals allso covers 1h.sword. Bob is not only a good scolar, I'd claim he's the leading authority in USA on Fiore; he travels all around USA and Europe to do courses.

A more easily accessible manual, and the one I'd recomend (the oldes remaining from medieval europe; it's from the 13'th century) -is the "I-33". It covers sword and bucklar, but many of the teqnices and principles can be used with sword only.

You could allso carefully aproach the Viking Reenactment comunity, but you should be careful, as many of those dudes are showfighters only, and have not a clue of what they're doing... It's a bit difficult to tip you of a reenactment comunity when I don't know whare you live. (Hardly any point in suggesting my own nomade-viking-teacher; Colin Richards that is extremely experienced with 1h.swords if it turns out that you live on the other side of the planet...)

If you live in England, Dave Rawlings should be someone to approach, he have held a cource for me on I-33 in Norway, and I'd say he's **** good!

If interested, try searching the net on words like

swordforum.com/
Fiore del Libere
I-33
Talhoffer
Ringek
de Silva
ARMA

[David]

Can't help with the Taichi sword, unfortunately.

There's an active historical fighting group who train near me that I've been meaning to go and see. They make their own weapons and train in their use. Sound geezers! (Americans say wtf?) :)

Rgds,
David

[RobP]

If you are in the UK there is a tai chi sword video on my site at

www.cuttingedgeshop.com

It's mostly teaching form, but there are a couple of drills and some applications too.

[alienlovechild]

I would recommend learning a sword form to get a sense of types of movement and then take up some push-hands/sticky hands drills with wooden swords. Of course you need two people for this, though it will give you the best sense of how to use the sword.

[Cudgel]

Note this thread is almost 2 years old.

[Anth]

Indeed, and the original poster hasnt been here for 6 months or so.

Dead thread.