Royal Lion Short Sword
Mind &Body In Harmony
One of the best reasons to study any tai chi sword form is to bring the mind and body into harmony. To correctly use the sword, the student must make it an extension of his body.
It is essential to extend the mind through the tip of the weapon. Energy travels from the ground to the feet, after which it's guided by the waist to the sword. There should be a smooth flow of power from the feet to the tip of the blade. The body—not the arm—moves the blade. Moving only the arm shows a lack of connection and understanding of tai chi principles.
The hand that holds the sword should remain relaxed. There should not be a death grip on the handle, but at the same time, firm contact should be maintained. Traditional martial artists frown at the many new "experts" who hold the sword gingerly with two or three fingers, thus allowing it to spin more easily in elaborate patterns. They say such practitioners look more like they are getting ready for a tea party than a sword fight. In sword sparring, merely tapping such a loosely held weapon would knock it out of their hand.
The swordless hand should be held with the first two fingers extended but relaxed. The ring and little fingers are flexed, with the thumb over the ring finger's second knuckle. This is called the secret sword, sword amulet, sword hand, sword fingers or sword-charm position. Some instructors teach that it can be used to poke specific pressure points or balance the energy of the sword.
Some tai chi teachers caution their students never to circle a sword over their head. They believe some swords have magical powers that can injure the spirit or soul of the holder. In the old school, there exists a belief that there are magical swords, which must be used correctly or they will injure the user.
The modern student has many reasons to learn the swords of' tai chi chuan. It is a developmental exercise teaching relaxation and extension of energy. The sword practice can be a tool for developing harmony in one's mind and body. It is a method for exercising the upper body. The form can be a way to improve empty-hand tai chi skills. And, perhaps most importantly, they can add a new dimension to one's tai chi training by linking the student with the history and culture of the art.
This Short Lion Tai Chi Sword Measures a total length of approximately 20 inches. It comes in a glossy black sheath with intricate carvings and real metal accents. This is a true bargain!
