Tai Chi Sword, A Journey

I feel lucky to have had the joy of experiencingwant to hurt you."
quite a range of Martial Arts having started at theEven at a very young age and only 2 years into
age of 6 and having parents blessed with theMartial Art Training I guess with the help of my
moving house bug, allowed me this rareDad I noticed that this was a very skilled man
opportunity. Some would say jack of all tradesshowing a very skilled art. This was something I
and Master of None, if it was not my life longwanted to learn.
fascination for the Tai Chi Sword I would totallyI believe that it is quite usual for the Tai Chi
agree.Sword to be the 3rd or 4th form taught in many
Those of us that can be considered veterans inclasses, in fact I have heard some masters have
the Martial Arts no matter what style you train,stopped to teach it altogether. It is known by the
you will know of the benefits of the Conditioningmasters to train in Tai Chi and receive the true
one receives, and is quite evident when you havetreasure this art bestows even before bringing in
met a retired Elder after dedicating their life tothe sword element to the training, it takes
training is still pulling the odd kick and punch ordedication individually and from the whole group.
two, just to show they have still got it. And theySerious Masters, as in dedicated to their art, when
certainly have.they have people come and go as they please
The first time I ever saw the Tai Chi Sword was(other commitments or not) I am sure some
in a Chinese theatre, I was there with my DadMaster may think they are not truly ready for
when he was on a business trip. There werethe sword form. (Why would the Master waste
many scenes of fighting and some big heftytheir time?)
weapons, it seemed like the characters in the playOn my journey travelling and to and from various
were being slaughtered left right and centre. ItMartial Arts Classes I had some times stumbled
was not until a scene right near the end that Ipassed the window of Tai Chi Classes and
noticed this swift and rather elegant weapon.wondered what it was all about, I would only see
I think the fascination I drew from my firsta large majority of retired people practising. I said
encounter of the Tai Chi Sword, was that when itto my self perhaps ill try that when I am retired
was drawn and used in battle no one on thewith a chuckle.
stage actually died. The obviously veryStill today I am on a Journey some where, for
professional Martial Artist kept his would bewhich I can only hope one day I end up learning
assailant at bay with very short sharpthe Tai Chi Sword Form. I would like to leave a
movements and taps on, what I came to knownote to all those serious Martial Artists that come
as vital points, as if to say to the attacker, "look Ito pass this article and think as I did about this
got Ya, you should be dead please give up, I don'tart.