Gilman Studio
On-Line Lessons
Yang Style
Tai Chi
Dao/Saber/Broadsword
[Home] [Return
to Lesson Index]
Lesson 35:
This Lesson Contains:
Movement # 36 – Spinning Horizontal Press
This is one of the fun, spinning movements of the saber form. The opponent pokes towards the center. I neutralize to the right, spin in and around her, and cut across her mid section. The pictures do not do justice to the action, yet I hope they help you to figure out how to perform this movement. Keep in mind that this is a fluid spin.
|
|
The
opponent pokes towards my center. |
|
|
1) I sit
back and join with her thrust. 2) Sticking,
I start to spin in and to her right. |
|
|
1) Still
sticking, I continue to spin. 2) Having
gotten inside her defenses, I cut across her waist. |
|
|
Sitting back and joining. Shift
the weight back onto the right foot and pull in the left foot into empty
stance on toe. The torso starts to turn to the right, but still faces halfway
between north and east. The
saber changes angle as it withdraws slightly and joins. This happens by the
right hand pivoting counterclockwise and the left hand lowering. Focus on
the joining with the side of the blade. |
|
|
Still sticking, I start to spin. The body
is going to spin around to the right, slightly in and around the opponent.
For the first part of the spin, lift up the left foot and swing or step it
around to the right, ending in, or close to, a T step. The right toe faces
west. The torso is not leading this turn. It has to stay back a bit in order
to allow the saber to stick with the opponent. At this point it faces about
south. If you loose contact, the opponent is free to cut you fairly easily.
You need to pass her defenses before you break contact. The
hands remain in the same relationship and move slightly to the right, but don’t
let the hands lead the body. They must stay a bit behind for sticking. Focus on
sticking and starting the spin. |
|
|
Continuing the spin and getting ready for the cut. The body
now turns more to the right as the right foot is released to get ready to
step. The torso faces slightly more
to the right of south. The two
hands remain in the same position for pressing, but now the blade is starting
to move to a more parallel to the ground level. The saber hand is in front of
the upper center. Focus on
the opponent behind the body. |
|
|
Stepping out for the cut.
Continuing to turn the body right, step out with the right foot to the
right. The right toe faces north, This position looks a bit off balance, but
when done in a smooth, spinning motion, it works. The right foot is going to
be the brake for the strong twisting cut to the right. Also, when done more
quickly, the left foot would pivot toe in as one moves right. The two
hands follow the body and are slightly behind the body so the torque released
by the final part of the movement can be transmitted into the saber. Focus on
the target. |
|
|
The slashing cut is complete. The weight
is shifted onto the right foot and the left toe is pivoted in to face north.
The torso has turned to face almost to east. Sink deeply into the right Kua
to stop the torque from throwing you off balance. The two
hands have cut around on a horizontal plane to have the saber blade end up
facing east. The cut was mostly accomplished by the torso pulling the two hands
to the right. This is a very strong movement. Focus on
the cutting edge. |
