Sharp Edge of the Sword – Grandmaster Fu Shu Yun
Today we have two excellent videos by ancient lineage arts grandmaster Fu Shu Yun. The first video shows Fu performing the classic Yang Style Tai Chi Sword. The Second video shows Fu performing two different sword sparring forms solo. Fu Shu Yun represented China by performing at the 1936 Olympics read more of her amazing story in our last blog post and the attached interview piece.
Tai Chi Sword is a favorite of many of our students. We also have a great time with our Women’s Tai Chi Sword Team who won the gold medal for group performances at the prestigious Chinese Martial Arts Championship at University of California in Berkeley. In this video Fu performs the Yang Family Sword Form. This is the sword form taught by Yang Cheng Fu and is based on the Taoist sword skills taught by General Li Jin Ling. The form she demonstrates is the most commonly practiced Tai Chi sword form. At the 10,000 Victories School we primarily practice the 46 Style tai Chi Sword from the lineage of Chen Yun Ching and his father, Chen Pan Ling, from the Central Guoshu Institute. Many people who practice “Tai Chi Sword” or “Yang Style Tai Chi Sword” might not recognize this form at first. The reason some people might not recognize it is because Fu performs it rock bottom low scraping the ground. Most people simply are not athletically capable of this regardless of their age, so most people practice this form at a much higher stance elevation. Yet this low depth of stance and low targeting of sword cuts is completely normal for other classical sword forms from other contemporary styles. This is especially true of the other sword systems practiced by Taoists. Grandmaster Liu Wan Fu my Lan Shou Quan (Intercepting Hands Boxing) teacher also inherited Tai Chi Chuan including Tai Chi Sword from Yang Cheng Fu during the same period as Fu and he also performed it just as low! While you are busy pondering the lowness and awesomeness of these postures I encourage you to get down there yourself and see if you like too!
Tai Chi Sword
Sword sparring forms are some of the rarest types of forms in classical combat oriented martial arts. Seems like most people in the last 100 years focused on the empty hand and solo forms more. In truth you have to be little advanced to practice many of these skills. Yet, learning them sooner rather later helps you to level up the skills you need much sooner. My teacher Grandmaster Wong Jackman of Northern shaolin also taught Wudang Sword. The three forms included in the Wudang Sword curriculum were the Tai Chi Sword close to that performed by Fu above, the profoundly beautiful and difficult paired sword form Double Dragons Plum Blossom Paired Swords, and a rare sword sparring form called Three Combinations Sword. In sparring forms, you and your partner have a small choregraphed battle. Both partners know exactly what the other partner is about to do and how to counter their partners technique. Sparring or partner forms are a wonderful way to safely practice lots of techniques and gain excellent skills without too many injuries. I have only seen two sword sparring forms the one we practice Three Combinations Sword and the second from known as Three Skills Sword. I think Three Skills Sword From is more common than Three Combinations Sword. Perhaps we will be able to teach this form more in the future!
Extremely Rare Sword Sparring Forms
Tai Chi
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