As the student reaches certain milestones, the instructor may choose to offer additional training and forms to enhance your Tai Chi experience. The broadsword will be automatically offered and available once you complete part 1 of the Long Form. Please inquire directly if you wish to learn one of the other forms/systems listed below.
Yang Tai Chi Broadsword/Dao
This is generally the first weapon taught in traditional Tai Chi practice. It is alternately referred to as the saber, and the moves are designed to be executed in a large and sweeping fashion. These moves combined with the weight of the broadsword help condition flexibility, add focus to extension and attention, and allow the practitioner to experience Tai Chi with added weight.
Yang Tai Chi Straight Sword/Jian
This is generally the last weapon taught in any system of Tai Chi. In traditional teaching a student will never pick up the Jian until at least 7 years of practice. This is because the straight sword is referred to as the “Soul of Tai Chi,” requiring all skills from all previous forms learned in order to perform adequately. The form can be practiced with or without the traditional tassel.
Moving Push Hands
I do not teach competition fixed-step Push Hands, but I do teach freestyle moving Push Hands. This is an extension of Tai Chi Ball and Push Hands practice and requires both skills to perform well.
2 Person Fighting Set
This is a choreographed sequence of attacks and blocks between two people which takes between 90 to 180 seconds to perform. One side begins with an attack and the other with a block and are learned independently from each other. A variety of punches, elbows, pulls, pushes, knees, and kicks are attempted to be performed but countered.
This is a very focused exercise and is the closest to free fighting that I teach. Both parties can easily be injured if one or both participants is not paying complete attention. While this is meant to teach real-world skills, it is also cooperative in nature and adheres to the same rules as Push Hands.
2 Person Sword Matching
The YMAA 2 person sword matching set and the associated sensitivity/sticky training for weapons are a very late-stage set of techniques taught with weapons. Both require proficiency with the Jian and Moving Push Hands.
Stretching
I have a variety of experience in stretching, from Yoga to seminars from Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, to maintain or increase your overall flexibility in a healthy manner. I incorporate some of these techniques into warmups and exercises taught in class.