What’s a Tai Chi sword?

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Tai chi sword is a lightweight, partially sharpened blade used for balance and grace in tai chi exercises. It comes in two main styles, taiji jian and tai dao, and a third type for martial arts competition. The blade is made of steel, with a length of 29-41 inches and a weight of 1-2 pounds. The handle has a hole for a tassel, which is used to guide proper balance. The point of balance is important for stability and maneuverability.

A tai chi sword is a long, partially sharpened blade used to promote balance and grace when performing the slow-moving stances of tai chi exercises. Originally a weapon when created in ancient times, the tai chi sword has primarily become a contemporary accessory as modern tai chi emphasizes harmony over warfare. In order to be able to move it quickly, a tai chi sword is usually light, weighing between 1 and 2 pounds. (0.45 to 0.91 kg).

These Chinese swords exist in two main styles, both named for two popular forms of tai chi: the taiji jian sword and the tai dao sword. The taiji jian sword is a completely straight blade with cutting edges on both sides; This is the most common sword style and is used in multiple forms of tai chi. In contrast, the tai dao sword is slightly curved and flared. The former is made for stabbing and hacking, while the latter, curved blade was designed for fast slicing. A third type of tai chi sword is used primarily for martial arts competition. The wushu sword is much lighter and moves faster than the other two varieties because it is made of chrome.

While chrome comprises wushu, most tai chi swords are made of steel. Stainless steel is the most typical material, although high carbon steel is preferred due to its flexibility. Some tai chi swords are made of aluminum. Training swords are made of hardwood or dull blunt steel to protect beginners from dropping the instrument and cutting themselves.

The blade of a tai chi sword spans between 29 and 41 inches in length (73.7 cm to 78.7 cm), creating a sword with an overall length between 37 and 40 inches (94 cm to 101.6 cm). ). In general, only the final third of this length is sharp. These long weapons can often be folded or retracted for convenient carry in a scabbard that is hung from the waist via a belt clip.

Other parts of the sword include the handle, also known as the hilt, the hand guard, and the point, which is usually cut in a diamond shape. The handle usually has a hole to accommodate a tassel; This tassel is not only a way to distract the competitors in the contest, but also a guide in practice to affirm if the professional is doing movements correctly with the proper balance. Unbalanced movement will result in the tassel becoming entangled around the arm or the sword itself.

The two most important facets of the sword are its weight and its point of balance. The point of balance, which is usually a blade point just a few inches from the hand guard, denotes the specific place where the weapon must be held in order for its weight to be evenly and stably distributed. Knowing this point can allow a tai chi practitioner to manipulate the instrument to balance and exchange maneuvers.




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