Weapons – Page 2

Small Space Tai Chi

Yesterday it was raining and muddy outside so I couldn’t go into the garden to practice my Tai Chi weapon’s forms as usual.

So the options were either miss training or improvise and train inside my house. Well, I wasn’t going to miss training so I decided to practice these forms in my hallway. I cleared the furniture and created some space.

In a narrow space I had to shuffle my feet back to the centre of the room several times as I did the form. The difficulty was to stay focused and keep the correct shape of each posture.

And also not to take out the overhead light with my Tai Chi weapon!

Although this is not the ideal way of training it does keep me to my schedule.

Winter has come early here with many wet days and training inside the house is the only option for me.

It really is a simple choice.

Practice or don’t practice.

Weapons Training Without Weapons

By Chris Leave a Comment

I’ve been practicing my double fan form and the other day I was at a picnic in a park and forgot to bring my fans along.

So I searched around for a couple of sticks about the same size of the fans in length, and practised the form.

I try and practice on a regular basis and if do not have my Tai Chi weapons I improvise and practice a weapon form without the weapon.

It certainly makes you concentrate on other parts of the body when you do this. Sometimes when you practice a weapons’ form you can focus too much on the weapon itself and not enough on your body balance or movement.

Eventually you just ‘do’ and not focus on your weapon. But every now and then it’s good to focus on other aspects of your weapon form.

So when you ‘do’ it all comes together.

Besides using sticks you can also imagine you are holding a weapon and practice a weapon form either mentally or physically.

So the next time you forget or can’t use a weapon in a particular space – why not practice your weapons training without weapons.

Spear Form – Strength Training Tip

By Chris Leave a Comment

Just had a work out with my Tai Chi spear form practicing strength drills.

As I was training I noticed I was occasionally off balance, particularly when I was using fajing.

The spear is about 8 feet in length, made of bamboo and a weighty beast.

I need to make sure I stay in control of the weapon which is easier when I practice my sword, sabre, and fan forms because they are lighter in comparison.

Next time I go into the garden and practice I need to remind myself to – relax and stay in control of the weapon.

Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan & Me

By Chris Leave a Comment

Two of my favourite martial artists are the late Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.

I never met them but they do inspire me when I’m training.

When I’m jumping up and down with my sabre I visualise I’m Bruce Lee defending myself against numerous attackers.

I may look like a constipated Ninja Turtle but that doesn’t matter. I’m enjoying myself letting out the occasional Bruce Lee growl.

And when I get too carried away I bring myself back to earth with a dull thud by visualising the Jackie Chan movie out-takes. The ones where the stunts go wrong.

Yes, it’s important to remember that when you have your head up in the clouds – keep both feet on the ground.

Lunatic In A Park

By Chris Leave a Comment

Practicing weapons’ forms in a park can can attract the wrong attention. Especially if you are using metal weapons.

Once when I was practicing my sabre and sword forms in a park I had one spectator which did distract me. It was a policeman driving his van slowly through the park.

From the corner of my eye I noticed the driver stare at me.

He was probably wondering whether I was a lunatic or just a crazy ninja turtle that should be locked up.

Fortunately for me he kept driving and I avoided being disturbed.

Since then I now only use my wooden sword and sabre when I practice in a park.

I still practice with my metal weapons at home or use them at official demonstrations.