In Wudang Tai Chi Chuan – PTCC DK we practise the 3 most common Chinese Tai Chi Weapons.

Sabre – Dao

The Sabre (Dao) in Wudang Tai Chi Chuan is identified with the tiger, which makes the stances of the Sabre Form long and low and there are many crouching stances leading to jumps. The special Dao form that we practise is called Xuan Xuan Dao. Xuan meaning dark, mysterious and profound. Xuan Xuan was the Daoist name of Chang San-feng, who is recognized as the founder of Tai Chi Chuan.

The 8 forces of the Sabre (Dao)

There are 8 basic uses of the Dao.

1. Pi – to chop/split from various angles.
2. Ci – to stab/pierce
3. Tan – to search out –slashing upwards to the groin.
4. Tuo – to push up –left hand supporting the blade.
5. Ti – to lift – an upward diversion.
6. Liao – to stir –diversion and slash in one continuous movement.
7. Chen – to sink –diverting an attack by pressing downwards.
8. Lu – to divert an attack to the side.

Sword – Jian

The Sword (Jian) in Wudang Tai Chi Chuan is identified with the dragon, which makes the spirit/state of mind in Jian that of the dragon, being mysterious and surprising, able to twist and coil, unroll, float and dive. Actually this is the essence the Tai Chi Sword Form, combining the slow and the fast, the hard and the soft, extension and contraction, floating and diving.

Wudang Tai Chi Chuan Sword Form consists of 91 techniques.

We have made an instructional DVD with the Sword Form. The techniques are shown slowly from 4 angles, enabling you to see every detail.

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The 8 forces of the Tai chi Sword (Jian)

There are 8 basic uses of the Sword (Jian):

1. Kan – to chop.
2. Liao – to stir –to divert and slash in one continuous movement.
3. Mo – to stroke –subtle circular diversion.
4. Ci – to stab/pierce.
5. Chou – to draw forth –diverting upwards with a whipping action.
6. Ti – to lift –an upward diversion.
7. Heng – to sweep across –horizontal diversion followed by a thrust.
8. Dao – to invert –diverting to the side, sword pointed down

3 good reasons for practising the Tai Chi Sword:

1. By practising the Tai Chi Sword Form we have techniques that are somewhere between the soft Hand Form and the more direct Sabre Form. They can stretch and strengthen muscle, sinew and bones, improve your condition and make your respiration deeper and easier. By focusing on the changes in the deep and beautiful stances of the Sword Form, both body and weapon will be in harmony.
2. The Sword can be used for Self Defence. If faced by violent thugs who, armed with some sort of weapon, are trying to mug or rob you, you can utilize any object close at hand – such as an umbrella, cane or other ordinary object – and use the Sword techniques to protect yourself from potential attacks.
3. The most important reason. Practising with the Sword will improve your self-confidence, enabling you to react swiftly and with precision in the face of a problem/challenge that would normally have left you in panic, make you lose your calm or freeze up in fear. In our everyday lives, this improved self-confidence can enable us to keep the larger view of the situation and make deliberate decisions.

Spear – Qiang

The Spear (Qiang) in Wudang Tai Chi Chuan is identified with the dragon, so the spirit/state of mind when using the Spear is that of the dragon; an unpredictable and mysterious nature with much floating and diving, twirling and stabbing.

It is an excellent weapon to develop focus and for learning to use “Total Body Force”.

The 8 forces of Tai Chi Spear (Qiang)

There are 8 basic ways of using the Qiang. These are:

1. Peng – a force directed upwards.
2. Lu – diversion to the side.
3. Ji – a force directed forwards.
4. An – a force directed downwards.
5. Tiao – to lift or stir, normally exposing the opponent’s body, head or limbs to attacks by coming up under his weapon.
6. Tan – to glance off, i.e. from the opponent’s weapon directly into a stab or slash while making him lose grip of or control of his weapon.
7. Qian – literally meaning to pull/tear, here to twist or envelope the spear making the opponent loose his balance or control of his weapon.
8. Dian – to dot or stab, focusing all force to one spot.

3 good reasons for practising the Tai Chi Spear:

1. By practising the Tai Chi Spear Form we have techniques that differs greatly from what we know from the Sabre and Sword. Because of the techniques, Spear Form will especially improve your focus. They can stretch and strengthen muscle, sinew and bones, improve your condition and make your respiration deeper and easier. By focusing on the changes in the deep and beautiful stances of the Spear Form, both body and weapon will be in harmony, like the dragon moving in nature.
2. The Spear can be used for Self Defence. If faced by violent thugs who, armed with some sort of weapon, are trying to mug or rob you, you can utilize any object close at hand – such as an umbrella, cane or other ordinary object – and use the Spear techniques to protect yourself from potential attacks.
3. The most important reason. Practising with the Spear will improve your self-confidence, enabling you to react swiftly and with precision in the face of a problem/challenge that would normally have left you in panic, make you lose your calm or freeze up in fear. In our everyday lives, this improved self-confidence can enable us to keep the larger view of the situation and make deliberate decisions.

The Sabre, Sword and Spear share certain characteristics and the techniques of all 3 weapons can be adapted to everyday objects such as canes, umbrellas or even (in the case of Dao and Jian) a rolled-up newspaper. In many styles of Chinese Martial Arts, there are names that often literally refers to every technique (a technique can be either one move, such as a stab, or a complex series of movements), which acts as a sort of short hand writing for the initiated, as well as an interesting and entertaining way (if you get the pun) to remember the techniques.

The techniques and the stances in the 3 weapon forms can be tall, low, long, wide, athletic, slow, fast and aesthetic.

About the level of difficulty of the 3 Tai Chi Weapons, there is a Chinese saying that dictates: Qiang (Spear) – 100 days, Dao (sabre) – 1.000 days and Jian (Sword) – 10.000 days. The Spear Form is not as long in relation to the Sword Form, but technically it is more demanding than this Chinese saying dictates. But practically there is no hindrance for anyone to learn the weapons techniques – It takes the time it takes.

It is said that the Tai Chi Expert practises the Hand Form to cultivate the mind, He practises the Sword to nourish his Chi, He practises the Sabre to strengthen his character and decisiveness, He practises the Spear to increase his wisdom and focus, He practises Inner Strength to develop Jing (focused power). The Hand Form is the foundation for the effective use of weapons. If the Hand Form is all right, nothing will go wrong.