Swordsmanship Tips
Entering the Fight 2

The Chinese swordsmanship tips on this page can be adapted for many styles. As my teacher often says, there are only so many ways you can use a sword. For this reason, many techniques found in one style might also be found in another that had no historical interaction.

Pipa Step.

The primary difference in Chinese swordsmanship is the use of taiji principles. Where a European style might rely on stepping for most changes of position, we use the stepping combined with turning the waist.

Another example is the hard blocks found in many styles. In Chinese swordsmanship we avoid these in favour of deflections on the way to the next strike.

In the first of this series, Crossing Swords, we looked at:

• Winning on the first strike (thrust at opposition)
• How to step into swordfight position
• Passing Strike on the off side
• Reverse lunge

This page continues with:

• Pipa lunge (enquartata)
• Striking from deceptive reach
• Gua from reverse stance

The first two swordsmanship moves are for opponents entering the fight from a distance, such as you would expect at the Traditional Chinese Sword League Tournament. The third of the sword techniques is for a tip to tip starting distance.

Pipa Lunge (enquartata)

Pipa Lunge.

Here's a good swordsmanship tip when you are up against a duifang who charges in hoping to overwhelm you with power. He hopes to finish it in one massive strike before you have time to respond. The best answer to a power player is avoidance and counter cutting.

As your duifang charges in, wait calmly in basic mid guard stance. One of the key elements in Chinese swordsmanship is to "let the thief in the door". Wait until he thinks he has two more steps to reach you. Then turn your waist, swivelling on the ball of your rear foot and stepping what was your forward foot behind. See the picture labelled Pipa Step. As you do so, extend your sword arm into a forward thrust, aimed at the duifang's throat. He will usually run straight into it.

The interesting thing about this sword technique is that the step behind can actually take you closer to the duifang. With the combination of that and the arm extension, he has one less step than he thought and you get him before he has a chance to use his power. This is an example of fulfilling a statement from the taiji classics translating closely to "he moves first and you arrive first".

If you are practising with a partner, make sure he is very well padded if you are going to make surprise moves to the throat.

Striking from deceptive reach

This time, you are the one charging in. You might choose to do it with speed while using a stable foot position such as the one on this page labelled "How to step into swordfight position."

As you step in, extend your sword so that your reach is at its greatest length, pointing the sword towards your duifang. Three steps before strike range, subtly bend your elbow, not changing the position of the sword tip, but reducing your apparent reach. Then, one step before your duifang thinks you are within strike range, extend again and hit him before he has time to realise the deception. Swordfight over! This will only work if you have a duifang who is concentrating on letting the thief in the door and if your timing and movements are smooth enough to pull off a deception. Start practising now and you may have this one down in time for an important sword fighting match.

Gua from reverse stance

This technique is for breaking out of the tip to tip stalemate. Don't just stand there - move. Move your feet, staying at the same range but changing direction. It will seem as though you are shuffling direction for more favourable environmental position, In fact, if you can distract your duifang by mentioning getting the sun out of your eyes, he might not notice what you are doing with your feet.

In the midst of the shuffling around, make sure you reverse your feet so you are standing with the opposite foot to your sword arm in the forward position. Now you have the advantage of a big step forward. Use Gua to beat your duifang's sword high and to the outside. Do this while you are stepping in further than he expected you to, and immediately turn your wrist to a cut. I would favour a palm down Hua to the neck on his right side, a Zha to the sword shoulder, or a Pi to the upper arm, as the fastest returns, but there are many choices.

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