Tai Chi Sword Form and Qigong with Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming -YMAA

2 hours

Learn Tai Chi Sword step- by- step with Master Yang. Beautiful footage and incredible in-depth teaching, filmed recently in the redwood forest of Northern California.

Tai chi chuan is a kind of moving meditation with ancient roots in Chinese martial arts. Beyond the bare-hand tai chi form awaits the elegant and highly effective tai chi sword, which has long been considered the highest achievement in tai chi training. The flowing and powerful tai chi sword form will strengthen your body, sharpen your mind, and raise your spirit.

This Yang-style tai chi sword is taught step by step by Master Yang, Jwing-Ming, and shown with front and rear views. The exact technique and true purpose of each movement is taught with clarity and precision. Your development of Qi (energy) will increase, improving your health and immunity and sharpening your mind.

You will learn:

• the complete 54-posture tai chi sword form

• tai chi sword qigong

• seldom-taught sword applications

• 15 video lessons / 120 minutes / 2 hours 2 minutes

  “The ultimate or final goal of tai chi sword training is to gain a deep understanding of yourself in order to lead a more enlightened life.”

  —Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming

Features YMAA President Nicholas Yang. Dr. Yang's tai chi can be traced back to the Yang family through Grandmaster Kao, Tao (高濤) and his teacher Yue, Huanzhi (樂奐之), an indoor disciple of Yang, Chengfu (楊澄甫).

There are no references to sword in the Taijiquan Classics or Yang Ban-hou’s family documents, the two most important manuscripts in the Yang-style tradition. The Daoist priests and monks of Wudang mountain specialized in the art of swordsmanship, and this is considered the root of Tai Chi Sword. Daoism is a philosophy of peace and following the way of nature. In the violent early days of Chinese history, the Daoists came to rely on straight sword for self-defence. Eventually, sword was considered the Daoists’ weapon, as staff is considered to be the weapon of Shaolin (Buddhist) monks. The ancient Chinese internal martial arts date back to 550AD and focus on first developing the practitioner's internal Qi and then circulating abundant energy to enliven every movement, with the ultimate goal of leading the Qi beyond the tip of the sword.

It is recommended that a practitioner have some experience with a Tai Chi barehand form before exploring the art of the sword, which is considered the highest achievement in Chinese martial arts. It is said "100 days of barehand, 1,000 days of staff, 10,000 days of sword."