Jian Fa Sword Tournament 2012
Internal Kung Fu training in Boulder, Colorado, USA. Gao Bagua Zhang, Chen Pan Ling Tai Chi Chuan or Hebei Xingyi Quan; a method for building mindfulness, lasting health and personal transformation using unique movement and martial contact in a safe setting with an established long term group.
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Monday, June 19, 2017
Bagua's Greatest Masters, Beijing 1993
Bagua's Greatest Masters, Beijing 1993
"Video tape of some of the demonstrations of the 1st meeting of the Guójì Bāguà Zhǎng Liányì Huì (International Bagua Zhang Friendship Association). This meeting took place in Beijing on December 24-27 1993. "
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Taiji Sword (太極劍) by Wu Tunan Translation: Scott M. Rodell
From the introduction to Taiji Sword (太極劍) by Wu Tunan (吳圖南) -
夫劍法無運用不能因敵致勝，微變化焉能出入神奇。是以初學劍術者，或姿勢不正確，或動作不自然，或應用不純熟，或轉換不玲琍。是皆由於不知運用之變化使然也。蓋用劍之法，紐勁為上，靈捷為先。目宜速，身不可滯。手宜敏，步不可遲。 久之，自然動作儒雅，舉止大方。其形勢似飛鳳。其勁力透中鋒。使用腰力，運動全身。故發勁用勢，非僅徒用手指着力而已耳。
Those practicing sword who do not practice applications can not achieve victory over different types of enemies,*(*There are different types of swordsmen and one must practice applications to deal with them in different ways analysis each, then taking advantage of their weakness.) (without practicing applications) if the enemy makes little changes you can not move the sword in and out with miraculous skill. Therefore, when first studying the sword art, maybe the postures are not correct, maybe the movements are not natural, maybe the applications not skillful, maybe the changes are not nimble. This is all due to not knowing the changes in applications. Concerning the application of sword techniques, the higher skill is turning power, being spirited and quick is also a priority. The eyes must be fast, the body cannot be sluggish. The hands must be agile, the steps cannot be late. After a long time, your movements naturally become refined, with a graceful bearing. Your postures resemble a flying phoenix. Your power passes through your center. Use the power of the waist, move the entire body. Therefore, when releasing power in a movement, do not merely use the power of the hand.
Translation: Scott M. Rodell
From the introduction to Taiji Sword (太極劍) by Wu Tunan (吳圖南) -
It is not possible for the. to be defeated by the enemy. It is a beginner's sword, or a posture, or an act of nature, or an unnatural application, or a change of ling. It is because of the changes that have been made. With the sword of the sword, the new is the first. I will be able to do so. Hand, step by step. For a long time, natural action is elegant and generous. The situation is like flying Phoenix. It's hard-Core. Use your waist, sport. Therefore, it is hard to use a finger, not just a finger.
Those practicing sword who do not practice applications can not achieve victory over different types of enemies,*(*There are different types of swordsmen and one must practice applications to deal with them in different ways analysis each, then taking advantage of their weakness.) (without practicing applications) if the enemy makes little changes you can not move the sword in and out with miraculous skill. Therefore, when first studying the sword art, maybe the postures are not correct, maybe the movements are not natural, maybe the applications not skillful, maybe the changes are not nimble. This is all due to not knowing the changes in applications. Concerning the application of sword techniques, the higher skill is turning power, being spirited and quick is also a priority. The eyes must be fast, the body cannot be sluggish. The hands must be agile, the steps cannot be late. After a long time, your movements naturally become refined, with a graceful bearing. Your postures resemble a flying phoenix. Your power passes through your center. Use the power of the waist, move the entire body. Therefore, when releasing power in a movement, do not merely use the power of the hand.
Translation: Scott M. Rodell
It is not possible for the. to be defeated by the enemy. It is a beginner's sword, or a posture, or an act of nature, or an unnatural application, or a change of ling. It is because of the changes that have been made. With the sword of the sword, the new is the first. I will be able to do so. Hand, step by step. For a long time, natural action is elegant and generous. The situation is like flying Phoenix. It's hard-Core. Use your waist, sport. Therefore, it is hard to use a finger, not just a finger.
Those practicing sword who do not practice applications can not achieve victory over different types of enemies,*(*There are different types of swordsmen and one must practice applications to deal with them in different ways analysis each, then taking advantage of their weakness.) (without practicing applications) if the enemy makes little changes you can not move the sword in and out with miraculous skill. Therefore, when first studying the sword art, maybe the postures are not correct, maybe the movements are not natural, maybe the applications not skillful, maybe the changes are not nimble. This is all due to not knowing the changes in applications. Concerning the application of sword techniques, the higher skill is turning power, being spirited and quick is also a priority. The eyes must be fast, the body cannot be sluggish. The hands must be agile, the steps cannot be late. After a long time, your movements naturally become refined, with a graceful bearing. Your postures resemble a flying phoenix. Your power passes through your center. Use the power of the waist, move the entire body. Therefore, when releasing power in a movement, do not merely use the power of the hand.
Translation: Scott M. Rodell
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Hsing I /Xingyi Quan training with Master Liang Beijing 1993
Hsing I /Xingyi Quan training with Master Liang Beijing 1993
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Friday, June 9, 2017
The Major Methods of Wudang Sword by Huang Yuan Xiou - Book Review
“Shaolin shadow boxing and the Wu Tang sword style, do
you think your Wu Tang sword can defeat me?” Wu Tang Clan – Bring Da Ruckus -
Enter the 36 Chambers - movie sample from Shaolin & Wu Tang 1981 (dubbed).
The Wu Tang/ Wudang sword method is famous in America because
of the Hip-Hop group The Wu Tang Clan’s use of samples from, and love of,
Chinese kung Fu movies. The book The Major
Methods of Wudang Sword by Huang Yuan Xiou is a classic and a must have for
anyone interested in Chinese straight sword (Jian) methods, philosophy or
anyone interested in historical swordsmanship. This book translates the
original text with pictures. It outlines the basics of the Wudang sword method
but do not expect to learn something a complex as the Jian from a book. The
book is a wonderful reference tool, but it is not meant to learn the real
method from.
The Jian is called the “king of weapons” because of its
complexity and subtlety. It was traditionally thought it would take 10 years of
consistent training to begin mastery. Because of its difficulty it was also referred
to as a “scholar’s weapon” and traditionally depicted as the preferred weapon
of the aristocracy of ancient China.
The Major Methods
of Wudang Sword is an important work and even more important because it was
one of the few English translations (until recently) of a Chinese Jian manual
(check https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com
for others). I believe the thing that sets this translation apart from other
translations is the author and translator are both long time practitioners of
the Wudang Jian method. They lend their insights to the translations and they
help clarify some of the underlying principles of traditional Chinese
swordsmanship.
There are several chapters devoted to the basic theory of
the Jian. I think these chapters are some of the most insightful because they
outline different practice methodologies. With names like “yin – yang sword
circle method” and “triangular paired-practice method” there will need to be
some explanation, and for the advanced practitioner I found some of these
chapters to be most illuminating.
This is an excellent book and a must have for anyone interested
in Chinese straight sword (Jian) methods, philosophy or anyone interested in
historical swordsmanship. The biographies, history and discussion of the
methods are rare in Chinese and even rarer in English.
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Sword Method - Required Knowledge - translation by Scott M. Rodell
劍法須知
Sword Method Required Knowledge
Second of Six Points:
Sword Method Required Knowledge
Second of Six Points:
二、初習定式須穩，稍遲無礙。如習字然，間架不穩，書法絕不能工。練習純熟，疾徐自能適中。不可惑於人言。但以求快為能。
Èr, chū xí dìngshì xū wěn, shāo chí wú ài. Rú xízì rán, jiān jià bù wěn, shūfǎ jué bùnéng gōng. Liànxí chúnshú, jí xúzìnéng shìzhòng. Bùkě huò yú rén yán. Dàn yǐ qiú kuài wéi néng.
2, When beginning practice the fixed stance must be stable, (moving) slightly slow is not a hindrance. Like practicing calligraphy, if the structure (of the characters) is not stable, then your calligraphy definitely can not be refined. If you practice skillfully, then fast or slow you find the right balance. Do not be confused by what people say, that speed equals skill.
Quoted from
Kunwu Sword Manual by Li Lingxiao
trans.- Scott M. Rodell
Kunwu Sword Manual by Li Lingxiao
trans.- Scott M. Rodell
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Rare footage of Chinese martial arts
Rare footage of a Chinese martial arts demonstration by the 'Five tiger stick society" a martial arts group in the 1920's.
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Yang Tai Chi - Yang Chengfu’s Taijiquan Applications translation by Scott M. Rodell
太極指明法
用勁不對，不用力不對，綿而有剛對；
丟不對，頂不對，不丟不頂對；
沾不對，不沾不對，不即不離對；
浮不對，重不對，輕靈松沉對；
膽大不對，膽小不對，膽要壯而心要細對；
打人不對，不打人不對，將敵治心服對。
(太極拳使用法，楊澄甫)
Yòngjìng bùduì, bùyòng lì bùduì, mián ér yǒu gāng duì;
diū bùduì, dǐng bùduì, bù diū bù dǐng duì;
zhān bùduì, bù zhān bùduì, bù jí bù lí duì;
fú bùduì, zhòng bùduì, qīng líng sōng chén duì;
dǎn dà bùduì, dǎn xiǎo bùduì, dǎn yào zhuàng ér xīn yào xì duì;
dǎ rén bùduì, bù dǎ rén bùduì, jiāng dí zhì xīnfú duì.
Using internal power is not correct, not using muscle strength is not correct,
soft but with hardness is correct;
to lose (contact) is not correct, to resist the flow is not correct,
to not lose contact and not resist is correct;
to stick is not correct, to not stick is not correct,
not too close not too far is correct;
floating is not correct, sinking is not correct,
agile and spirited, loose and sunk is correct;
being bold is not correct, being timid is not correct,
being courageous with the mind finely focused is correct,
hitting people is not correct, not hitting people is not correct,
the rival controlled so that his heart submits is correct.
translated from Yang Chengfu’s Taijiquan Applications
by Scott M. Rodell