Taiji Jian 32-Posture Sword Form

James Drewe

The Sword Form is an important aspect of the popular Chinese martial art, Tàijíquan. The 32-Posture Sword Form, from the point of view of the physical movements only, is not complex, but there is a significant amount of other information, relating to the applications, that is open to interpretation.

Written by an experienced teacher of Tàijíquan, this book provides a detailed description of the Jian (the sword), its parts and how it should be held. Using photographs and illustrations, the author gives step-by-step instructions for the main 13 applications including sword strokes, stances and footwork techniques.

This book contains a wealth of information on Sword Form technique and is an ideal resource for students of martial arts, experienced practitioners or anyone interested in learning about Tàijíquan.

Contents

Contents: Introduction. 1. Chinese Weapons. 2. The Jiàn. 3. A Brief History of the Jiàn 4. Blade Construction. 5. Parts of the Jiàn 6. The Balance of the Sword. 7. Holding the Sword. 8. Performing Taiji & Taiji Sword 9. Two-Person Sword Routines. 10. Traditional & Modern. 11. The Sword Metaphysically. 12. Intention. 13. Development of the 32-Posture Form. 14. The 13 Applications. 15. Sword Strokes. 16. Stances. 17. Footwork Techniques. 18. Leg Movements. 19. The 32-Posture Sword Form in Competition. 20. Music for the 32-Posture. 21. The Sword-Fingers. 22. Definitions of Terms Used. 23. The 32-Posture Taiji Sword Form. 24. Footprint Map of the Form. 25. Breakdown of the Form. 26. Beyond the Basics. Acknowledgements.

Reviews

'James Drewe is one of the most sucessful and well organised tai chi teachers I have ever met and this is reflected in the quality of the book.'

- Tai Chi Finder

Author information

James Drewe has been practising taiji and qi gong since 1975; he has studied taiji with Master Chu King Hung, Richard Watson, Prof. Li Deyin, Master Wang Yanji and Simon Watson. He currently teaches Yang, Chen, Sun, and Wudang styles of taiji, including various sword and fan forms. James is Vice-Chairman of the Longfei Taijiquan Association, a member of the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts (BCCMA) and is a registered instructor with the Tai Chi Union for Great Britain (TCUGB).