Gilman Studio
On-Line Lessons
Yang Style
Tai Chi
Dao/Saber/Broadsword
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Lesson 17:
This Lesson Contains:
Movement # 17 – Turn Around And Chop Downward
The opponent attempts to cut
my leg with a large swinging, horizontal cut. I withdraw my leg, allowing the
momentum of her cut to carry her saber pass me. As she tries to withdraw, I follow
with a chop to her saber arm.
Note: The first group of pictures
below is of sabers I am using for the lessons. In the first picture on the left,
you will see three sabers. The one on the right is the one I have been using
for the solo movements. It is quite large, heavy, and is available for sale in
many good martial arts catalogues. It is combat steel. The middle one is made
of aluminum, is fairly light, and inexpensive. This is the weapon I use for the
applications. The one on the left is quite old, probably 100 years or more. It
is shorter then the two others and has a different handle, guard, and pommel. I
have started to collect old weapons so my students can experience the feel of
real weapons, which is quite different then the cheaper ones sold on the
current market. I am using this saber in the next series of pictures as I am
going to be doing close in defense movements, and a shorter weapon is more
appropriate.
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1) Stephie would cut my leg if I didn’t move it. 2) As
she cuts towards my leg, I pull my leg up and back to get it out of the way. |
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1) Having failed in her attempted cut, Stephie withdraws back into her center. 2) I
follow and use a large downward chopping motion to her wrist. |
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I get my leg out of the way. Turn the
torso to the right until it faces halfway between north and east. As you do
this, sink the weight deeper into the left leg and pull the right leg up
until the foot is near the left knee. The
saber stays about the same place. The left hand moves with the body as it
turns, and ends up on the left center side of the chest, protecting the upper
body. The saber is now hidden from the opponent. Focus on
getting the right leg out of harm’s way.
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I start my downward cut. Step down
with the right heel. Don’t add weight yet. The toe faces slightly to the
right of north. Sink deeper into the left Kua. The
right arm starts to chop out and down. Lead with the pommel end of the saber.
The left hand remains in the same relative position. Focus on
the area you want to cut on the opponent. |
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The chop downward is complete. Shift
the weight onto the right leg. Be careful not to let the knee extend past the
toe. As you do this, the torso turns to end facing the same direction the toe
is headed. At the end, pivot in the rear toe to end halfway between north and
east. The body can incline forward as
far as is comfortable without over extending and causing imbalance. The
right arm finishes its downward chop. The tip is about your knee level. There
is a strong, straight line from the tip of the saber, up the arm to the
shoulder. The left
arm opens in the opposite direction to counterbalance the strong downward
chop. The palm faces backward. Focus on
the cutting edge. |
