Over 10 years ago I bumped into Mark. That encounter caused me to resume my practice of tai chi, but this time with an instructor of real quality. At first the focus was the White Crane open hands form. When I was coming towards the end of learning the form, Mark spoke about what was next.
I had already learnt the cane form – a short sequence of graceful moves. You’d be surprised at what can be done with a walking stick!
The options were the sword or the fan. I chose the sword. Starting this form was another challenge- not only all the hand, foot and body movements of the open hand form, but now controlling a weapon as well.
The sword form displays all the smoothness and flow of the open hand form, but also reminds that these movements passed down from centuries ago, have a practical self-defence aspect to them. It’s full of wonderful body movements while the sword “swishes”, cuts and slashes, slowly of course in keeping with tai chi ethos, through the air.
But that’s not all!
Sometime into the sword form, Mark introduced me to the fan – somewhat larger than those you would normally come across. This form is something special. A series of twirls, twists and turns by both fan and body, requiring the fan to be frequently opened and closed during the sequence. With a flick of the wrists, the fan cracks in the air as you open and close it.
In addition to those I’ve already mentioned, there are a range of other weapons, some you may not be familiar with, that Mark teaches – truly something for everyone at any age or level of experience at WCA.
Having added weapons to my training, I feel I’ve really progressed in my appreciation of tai chi and the benefits it provides to mind and body, to the spirit too, if you are that way inclined.
I would recommend weapons training to anyone as a way to add to their experience of tai chi. Under Mark’s patient, skilful and highly knowledgeable tutelage, you are sure to improve in whatever area that drew you to tai chi initially, by adding weapons to your training.
