A Brief introduction to Wu’s Thirteen Tai Ji Falchion

A Brief introduction to Wu’s Thirteen Tai Ji Falchion
    Tai Ji Quan was called thirteen styles before. The thirteen styles are Peng (Ward off), Lv (Roll back), Ji (Press), An (Push), Cai (Pluck), Lie (Split), Zhou (Elbow strike), Kao (Body strike), Jin (Step forward), Tui (Step backward), Gu (Step right), Pan (Step Left) and Ding (Central Equillibrium). Peng (Ward off), Lv (Roll back), Ji (Press) and An (Push), the four are for four square end points of Kan, Li, Zhen and Dui ("Kan", "Li", "Zhen" and "Dui" are four elements among the Eight Diagrams; their positions in the Eight Diagram can just form a square). Cai (Pluck), Lie (Split), Zhou (Elbow strike) and Kao (Body strike) are the four bevels of Qian, Kun, Gen and Xun ("Qian", "Kun", "Gen" and "Xun" are also our elements among the Eight Dia-grams; their positions in the Eight Diagrams can just form bevels). These eight elements compose the Eight Diagrams, in Chinese, means Ba Gua. Jin (Step forward), Tui (Step backward), Gu (Step left), Pan (Step fight), and Ding (stand in the middle) compose the Five Elements, in Chinese, means Wu Xing. Ba Gua (Eight Diagrams) and Wu Xing (Five Elements) compose the thirteen styles.
     The routine of Wu Style Tai Ji Falchion still follows the locating routine of traditional Quan (Boxing) called Thirteen Falchion as well.
     There are four moving directions in Wu's Thirteen Tai Ji Falchion. The up one is to cut your opponent's head named cutting head. The middle one is to thrust at his breast called piercing heart. Another one is to cleave his rib named piercing back. The down one is to cut his legs called cutting leg. However the routine of Wu's Tai Ji Falchion changing more, its punching bag just contains these six points: head, breast, left, right, back fibs, two legs.
     Shadowboxing advocates "Kung-fu should be practiced like the way you read books and write essays", it also means that we can compare notes and interchange through fighting without any weapon. There have been no authentic records of any fighting with weapons in shadowboxing. So the routine of Tai Ji Falchion (includes sword, crutch) is the extension and complementarity of shadowboxing and it's also a part of shadowboxing exercise. The falchions were tempered wrought iron ("Hun Tie" in Chinese). Their weights may be several kilograms to tens of kilograms according to the usages and the holders'preferences and abilities. In regular training, athletes attach sandbags to their legs in order to strengthen their legs. When they are competing without the sandbags, they'll be spry and light like a swallow. Just like sandbags and athletes, the falchion is the extension of one of your own arms. During practice, combine the falchion with your arms, and further more combine your body with the falchion so that you'll be deft. When you take exercise, you should spread your power to the falchion head in order to practice your arm's power and your whole piercing strength. Under the condition of extending and burdening your right arm, finish Tai Ji styles such as Peng (Ward off), Lv (Roll back), Ji (Press) and An (Push) and take vast exercise, you'll be more skillful when you are boxing and fighting.
    Wu Style Thirteen Tai Ji Falchion is feature by defense and counterattack, its basic principle is to neutralize your opponent's attack by a soft touch ("Yi Rou Ke Gang" in Chinese, directly translated into English is "Softness overcomes Stiffness"). It focuses on your body's softness and its moving styles. The thirteen moving styles in Shadowboxing are fit for the routine of Falchion in principle too. You should step on along the shape of a triangle. Your strength must be full and your vigor must be round and plump. The styles of Falchion are conjoint and moving upon your steps. There are no any break within all your movements. Practice simply and don't focus on a sleight of hand. Blanks and neutralize to defend; make with artfulness and defend with attack. Avoid stiff fight by all means and attack with your opponent unconscious. Energize instantly and attack with defense. During the falchion routine, doughty is shown in the pliancy, smartness is shown in elegancy and abundant verve is shown in calmness.
    The Names of Thirteen Falchions
     1, Qi Shi An Dao (holding the falchion and starting the motion)
    2, Qing Long Chu Shui   (blue dragon moving out from the water)
3, Feng Bai He Hua (water lily waving with wind blowing)
4, Bai Yun Gai Ding (white cloud covering all the heads)
5, Bei Dao (backing the falchion)
     6, Ying Fen Gui Mi (meeting the grave and being captivated by ghosts)
     7, Zhen Jiao Ti Dao (shocking the feet and lifting the falchion)
     8, Buo Yun Wang Ri (moving the cloud by hands and looking at the sun)
     9, Bi Dao (shunning the falchion)
     10, Ba Wang Ju Ding (the overlord cooking vessel)
     11, Chao Tiao Yi Zhu Xiang (a burning incense pointing to the sky)
     12, Tuo Dao Bai Shi (pulling the falchion and pretending to be failed)
     13, Ling Mao Bu Shu (a dexterous cat catching a rat)
     14, Shou Shi (ending)
     Explanation:
     1, Mr. Hao Pingshun is the great grandson of Mr. Hao Weizhen who was one of the third generation of great master of the school of shadowboxing of Wu. He learned the falchion Kung-fu from his uncle, Mr. Hao Xiangrong.
     2, Any Kung-fu weapon is an extension of one's arm or arms. The falchion should be combined with your arm. All one's spirit, energy and body should be associated with the falchion as a whole to make him much more deft. The falchion Kung-fu is also a boxing routine. All the requirements for the boxing routine are fit for the falchion Kung-fu as well. Thus the falchion Kung-fu must be under the guidance of the rules set up in the field of Wu style Tai Ji Quan.
     3, All the routines of thirteen Tai Ji Falchions are coherent as a whole. Your strength must be full and your vigor must be round and plump. One should Learn hard and not focus on some sleights of hands merely. Defending at first, then attacking and focusing on utility would be much more practical to show abundant verve of the falchion routine in the pliancy and elegancy.