Tai Chi Sword

There are numerous weapons used in Tai Chi Chuan. Students may use a Chang, or spear; sometimes, staffs are chosen instead. Another choice is the Tao, which is a large one edged broad sword, much like a cutlass or a Saracen scimitar.

And there is the Chien, a straight, double edged sword. Of the three, many Tai Chi practitioners consider the Tai Chi Sword as the deadliest weapon. It’s lightweight enough to afford speed and quick flourishes.

The long blade gives the user maximum reach without sacrificing its lethality and the flexibility of its blade can be very deceptive to an opponent.

Tai Chi Sword Art / Wushu

Tai Chi Sword Art, or the Wushu, is often enviously guarded in Tai Chi history. Masters may teach students the Tao or the Chang, but hardly ever would they teach Chien. It is because the strongest combat element of the Tai Chi art lies in this sword-art form.

Today however, most teachers allow students to start learning the Tai Chi Sword after learning the fundamental Tai Chi forms. It is because the decreasing efficiency of this art.

But, as the masters tend to argue, there are times when the need to defend arises, and there’s nothing aside from things usually available in any circumstances such as umbrellas and walking sticks.

They point that should that time comes, knowledge in Tai Chi Sword forms could be an enormous help. The conception of Tai Chi Sword Art is the study of the forms and its application, and not of the weapon itself. The Tai Chi Sword Art’s prominent use is now through sport competition, much to the concern of traditionalists.

They have complained the fact that the Tai Chi Sword Art has become more flamboyant than being functional, the graceful and flowing manner had instead degraded into more like a dance than a maneuver, highlighting more on gracefulness than of martial energy.

The Tai Chi Sword form has many subtle methods that aren’t employed in tournaments since pretty wrist movement scores higher with the judges than the subtle flicks of the wrist.

This effect, different sword-using sects have formed:

• Those who do Tai Chi Sword Art as both
• Those who do Tai Chi Sword Art as martial arts and
• Those who do it as a dance