Equipment Introduction - A Series of Books on Youth Martial Arts Introduction

Author: Su Yun
Editor-in-Chief: Tong Hui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-09-06
Features: Excerpt: Chapter 1 Swordsmanship I. Basic Knowledge of Swordsmanship (I) Basic Requirements of Swordsmanship
Sword, a type of short weapon in martial arts, has evolved from ancient weapons. The striking techniques of the sword include: chops, thrusts, points, sweeps, breaks, cuts, wipes, thrusts, lifts, twists, sweeps, etc. Swordsmanship is further divided into styles such as traveling sword, posture sword, double-hand sword, long-tassel sword, double sword, reverse-hand sword, etc. Common swordsmanship routines include self-selected sword, Qingping Sword, Wudang Sword, Sancai Sword, Sanhe Sword, Yunlong Sword, Bagua Sword, Taiji Sword, Hualang Sword, Drunken Sword, Dragon-shaped Sword, Chunyang Sword, Qixing Sword, etc.
Basic Requirements of Swordsmanship:
1. Clear Sword Techniques
Although swordsmanship has different schools, due to the structure of the sword determining its use, the techniques generally include thrusts, points, breaks, chops, thrusts, clouds, hooks, sweeps, cuts, lifts, blocks, twists, etc. However, different techniques have different application parts, directions, and points of force. Some involve parallel sword bodies, some involve straight thrusts forward, or points; some focus on the tip, while others focus on the front or back of the blade. Different swordsmanship styles have different techniques.
2. Sword Moves with the Body
The application of sword techniques must be coordinated with body movements, combining posture, footwork, and hand techniques to achieve the realm of "unity between body and sword." The sword is a short weapon, differing from other weapons. It is light and slender, making it unsuitable for direct blocking or framing, and must rely on skill to win. Therefore, traveling swordsmanship must be used in coordination with body movements, using shortness to avoid length.
3. Combining Hardness and Softness
The characteristics of swordsmanship are light, agile, elegant, and graceful, with the sayings "sword moves like a beauty" and "sword moves like a flying phoenix." The sword is a soft weapon, capable of using softness to overcome hardness. In lightness, it always contains unpredictable combat techniques.
(II) Names, Specifications, and Grip Methods of Each Part of the Sword
1. Names of Each Part of the Sword
The structure of the sword is generally divided into two parts: the blade and the handle. The blade consists of the edge, tip, and back, while the handle includes the guard (pommel), grip, and scabbard. Additionally, there are accessories such as the sheath and tassel (Figure 1).
(1) Blade: The collective term for the tip, edge, face, and back of the blade.
(2) Edge: The sharp part on both sides of the blade.