Ya, let’s see some MetalMantis !!!
TM, did you video the busted nose I heard about???
Military culture…
Hi Kevin,
I don’t think it is just with the Taiwan military culture. Canadian soldiers seem to show similar traits to the point that they are attack friendly yet defense fiercely. I guess that has something to do with their mandate that is based in national security which is mainly defense mode. Interestingly, they have something called debrieving these days. They would have this after a mission. So, I guess you could have a debrieving session with your student before hand after his next service in the military which briefs him to fight in a civilian mode. I know it’s rather a weir concept talking and prepping someone, who serves in the military, to fight but it could happen.
Your explanation of no. 5 is excellent! (now I have to send my ninjas after you, the chosen one! lol…)
Warmest regards
Robert
NINJAS???
STICKY JIAN
A new clip has been posted called “sticky Jian”
This is the very beginning level of learning how to fight with the straight swords.
It is based on sticking(nian) to the opponent’s sword at all times.
Once the student masters this level she can move onto the next which is
-sticking-detaching-striking(though any aspect of the 3 is a strike)
-using the left hand.
-cleaving. This is the scarier part as the sword chops very quickly.
-bu zhao bu jia. Which means no blocking.
It is the hardest aspect to master as the block is to “not be there”
(BTW, there is a body of old PM material under this title listing specific methods and techniques)
Some people think bu zhao bu jia is the epitome of the straight sword.
Against the straight sword it is, but not against other weapons.
Eg it is almost impossible if your opponent uses a spear to dodge his stab, move in and slice him.
So for this reason there is emphasis needed for touching the opponent’s weapons in combat.
Those who learn the sword method “san tsai jian” get a good grasp of bu zhao bu jia earlier in their training as it is taught in the beginning of that method.
THE SWORDS
They are steel swords with a pingpong ball taped to the end.
This is so that we don’t actually poke out eyes or the throat.
When my shrfu trained us he didn’t have the pingpong balls and we sometimes got bloody.
(Once John had to be taken to the clinic for stitches)
(Once I was stabbed in the cheek, luckily that was wooden sword day)
(etc)
Although this method seeems dangerous, I think it is important to have respect for the fact that you are close to death when you take up a sword in combat.
So I ridicule those soft and painless, insurance friendly, methods that allow you to play with weapons of death in a “fear free invironment”
EG, my friend learned knife fighting in the Phillipines. They only practice at his school with heavy steel blades(non bending) and that is the way he taught me.
In the clip…
Though it looks like I don’t have to worry as the girl only gets hit by me in these clips(2 months ago), but she is already better and able to hit me if I am not extremely careful.
I try to hit her every chance I get, but it is now very difficult.
You will notice that most every strike is to the knee, except the initial high stab.
Later the opening strike is usually cleaving.
(An article about Wang Lang and this sword strike is upcoming in MQ!)
Interesting experience:
Some years ago I was performing my sword at the Confucious temple.
I was challenged to a duel by a lady who was in her 50’s.
It was done thru an intermediary, another lady who taught Taiji.
We used the steel practice swords and she tapped me several times(no blood).
So I lost.
One thing I have noticed is that some old masters in Taiwan have passed on their 2 person sword fighting to ladies, not men, or at least not many of them.
When shrfu taught us straight sword I was the only man, so even he continued that tradition.
Tainan Mantis,
I watched the tina and kevin_spar clip. I noticed in these clips the actions are alway initiated with the hands. But, when the square off began the gap between the participant seem to be kicking range. Why is the hand technique favored to open the action. The weapon seems too short for the gap and the initial action is basically a wate of motion.
Hi WM,
I am not sure which clips you mention go to which questions.
I personally favor my punches over my kicks, especially as I get older.
For example, 10 years ago I felt it was easy to do a right bimen kick(like a round kick) to my opponents head.
Now I feel a bit crickety, and it won’t be easy to do without warmup.
Besides that I only have my groin kick.
The other kick I use is knee, which isn’t really a kick since I am hitting with my knee.
For me, the groin kick is 2 kinds.
Moving forward to initiate the attack, otherwise, at the end of the attack as a departing gift.
Tina usually favors the opening groin kick to start the action, but it wasn’t filmed here.
Also, if the students haven’t trained the drills extensively, then I won’t use the techniques on them, unless they can beat me, or almost beat me with the techniques they already know.
Or if none of my techniques can hit them anymore, I will consider that student to be ready for the next level, and then use the next technique( in the progression of teachng)to attack.
When you mention weapons, I assume it is “sticky jian” clip.
The stab you see as the opening move, I don’t think is a waste of motion.
But it seems that way, because the defender moves out of the way while simultaneusly rerouting my sword.
But, please keep in mind that we are doing nothing but the first level of drills only.
So other techniques that are common in jian are not yet drilled.
I think you know the san tsai jian set?
In that partner version I would attack similar to what is shown here, but the defensive by the opponent is to slice my wrist.
That is actaully a better move usually, but much more difficult.
TM,
Sorry, when I wrote “weapon” I was just referring the mantis style punches your student was using. I thought it was supposed to be free sparring clip, so I thought the initial attack should be disguised.
In the kevin spar clip, you closed the gap pretty fast, but your student helped by meeting you half way.
In the tina clip, she jumped toward her opponent to cover the gap. No disguise of initial intention and over committing. The guy is also bigger than her. She is showing her aggressiveness but if the opponent wasn’t so timid, she might be in trouble.
I even attached visual aid.