I’m going to talk more about weapons. instead of meandering as I normally do, I’m going to try to be more methodical about it. We’ll see how long that lasts as I am tend to wander down several side roads at one time.
I did a bit more clean up on the Cane Form. There was one spot in the fourth row that continued to escape me, no matter how much I tweaked it. I watched my teacher do it several times and thought I got it, but didn’t quite get it. I watched Sifu (her teacher) do it a few times as well. I continued to think I had it, but I did not. I slowed the video down to half-speed before watching it yet again. And again. And yet again. And on the fourth or fifth time at half-speed, it finally clicked. That’s not to say I won’t need to watch it again in the near future, but I think I figured out what I was doing wrong.
Today, I did the fourth row with the cane on both sides. That’s when I did some tweaking. Then I did the Cane Form on both sides with the saber, and that’s when I really had to tweak even more (fourth row).
I love this form so much. I think it’s rocketed up to the top of my list as of favorite forms. Before this, I would have said that the Double Saber Form was my favorite, but now, I think that will have to slide down a spot.
Once I start doing the Cane Form with the saber, I never wanted to stop doing it. I taught it to myself in something like three days, and I have never had an easier time learning a weapon form. Granted, I already knew the Cane Form, but still.
I whipped through it like it was no big thing.I can safely put it in the done column and check it off my list. How many weapon forms is that now? Let’s count. Sword Form, right and left side. Saber Form, right and left side. Cane Form, right and left side. Fan Form, Double Saber Form, and Dancing Sword Form. I know the Solo (Long) Form, the first section of the Fast Form (though I don’t do it any longer), and most of the Swimming Dragon Form. Three movements left, and then I’m done. And then it’s on to the DeerHorn Knives.
I am so stoked for this. I’m trying to keep my expectations down because what if they don’t live up to the hype? I think they will, though, beacuse I’ve enjoyed walking the circle with them. I have included a video of a Bagua Double Deerhorn Knives Form. I don’t know whey it’s called double–well, there are two of them, but I just assumed you always did it with two. Huh. Don’t know why I assumed that was the default for this form when it’s not for any other form. Anyway, it’s really cool, and it shows what the deerhorn knives can really do.
I am going to start the Deerhorn Knives as soon as I finish teaching myself the Swimming Dragon Form. That should be next week, by the way. Maybe two weeks if I’m going to give myself a decent cushion.
I also want to teach myself the rest of the Karambit Form. I used to think that I only had one row left to go, but I’ve only learned about half the form. It’s so different than all the other forms, which is one reason I really like it.
I love Taiji with a deep and abiding passion. I am grateful for what it’s done for me, and if I had to choose one martial art to practice for the rest of my life, it would be that one. However. I really like d oing other martial arts, too. Bagua is such a good complementary martial art for Taiji. And what I’ve done from other martial arts has been really great, too.
I’ve asked my teacher if she has any issue with doing other martial arts alongside Taiji. She said no, and now I see why. Yes, Taiji has a philosophy that is definitive, but the others complement that philosophy quite nicely. They are all internal martial arts, the same as Taiji. The karambit is its own thing, but I can adapt it to being more internal than not.
I also want to start learning the acttual Double Fan Form instead of just fucking around with two fans. I had bought a nice metal fan, but it really does not lend itself to the Fan Form. It’s too stiff and does not open and shut very easily. Oh well. This is one weapon that the basic cheapo weapon is about as good as you get.
I’ve watched about a half-dozen Fan Forms, and I have come to the conclusion that there is actually a…not legitimate…what’s the word, oh, official–yes, that’s the word. There is an official Double Fan Form in our lineage. That’s the one i’m going to learn, and it’s a relief that there’s an actual form.
This is something that is mildly frustrating–it’s hard to find certain weapon forms. And when I do, they are usually Chen-style Taiji. That is not my lineage, and it’s bad for your knees. My teacher has told me (us, her students) that Chen village in China has the most knee problems in China. And it’s because you have to bend your knees so deeply. It’s shown often in movies, and it looks so painful.
I am so happy with my practice now. When I think about where I was when I first started my study, I was struggling so hard and fighting against the martial art itself. Now, it’s a part of my life and so endemic, I can’t imagine not practicing it. It has enriched my life in so many ways, I can’t say them all off the top of my head. That’s all for today. More tomorrow.