The Chen-style single broadsword (單刀 Dān Dāo) is an exciting form that lasts only about a minute. I first learned it (a slightly different version, actually) about five years ago. This year I have been practicing and correcting my form with the help of Hu Pei Yi and Jesse Tsao’s excellent teaching video.

Here is a beautiful demonstration by Chen Zhenglei: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ld2HZ8rSY

Chen Zhenglei performs Chen Saber

He also offers a YouTube instructional video with English subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL2SvwTYE7Q .

Here is the list of names of the movements, of which there are just 21: ChenSaber (PDF).

Michael Garofalo offers a thorough, interesting, and ultimately bewildering discussion of broadsword techniques, dao fa, on his excellent Cloud Hands tai chi blog: http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/swordtech.htm#Daotech. He lists 18 altogether; the Chen style seems to employ 13 (read the source notes that follow his list). Chen Zhenglei lists “slicing, hacking, blocking, cutting, pricking, rolling, closing, scooping, cross-cutting, twisting, shaking, supporting, and tilting”—but these are not his words. This is English, and as usual, the translation muddies the water.

I come away with the following vocabulary for saber. These are terms that I think I understand (meaning that I know what to do with the saber). I list them here in roughly the order that they are introduced in the form.

1. 刺     Cī (Stab)
2. 缠     Chán (Wrap)
3. 划     Huá (Slash)
4. 挂     Guà (Hang)
5. 托     Tuō (Support)
6. 撩     Liāo (Lift)
7. 切     Qiē (Slice)
8. 扫     Sǎo (Sweep)
9. 劈     Pī  (Chop)
10. 拦     Lán (Block)
11. 截     Jié (Intercept)
12. 扎     Zhā (Stab)
13. 砍     Kǎn  (Hack)

The wrap, chan, is chan tou, wrap the head. The saber passes close around the head, protecting the back and head and positioning for a second slash (hua). The chan tou/hua combination is continuously repeated in Yang saber. Here, it occurs only when the wind sweeps the wilted flowers (and in closing form).

I’m reviewing Chen Saber for a demonstration next week. For video, I’m looking at Chen Zhenglai. This sequence is slightly different from what I’m used to, but it’s mostly the same.

Chen Zhenglei performs Chen-shi Yi Dao

Also, Master Gohring has an entire playlist from a workshop that Master Blue Siytangco held at our school a few years ago.

Master Siytangco teaches Chen Saber

I’ll combine this post with an earlier one on Chen saber to make a page for the form and link to that from the Moving Forms page.

This short, flashy form is required for the second degree black sash. It’s performed with a flexible broadsword and lasts only a little more than a minute. A section can be repeated to add length for purposes of competition, where a minimum time of two minutes or more may be required.

Video resources for this one are scant! On Master Gohring’s YouTube, you can see Mister Hunter and Mister Rodriguez performing at Black Sash Graduation 2010. Very dark! And shot from the back.

Master Blue Siytangco studied with Grand Master Cheng Jincai along with Master Gohring. A few years ago he taught a class in Chen Saber at Master Gohring’s school. Here’s a video–wonderful instruction but doesn’t cover the whole form.

Here’s the list of movements:

1. Preparing Form
2. Protect the Heart
3. Blue Green Dragon Leaps from the Sea
4. Wind Sweeps the Wilting Flowers
5. White Clouds Overhead
6. Black Tiger Searches the Mountain
7. Su Chin carries the Sword on His Back
8. Golden Rooster Stands Alone
9. Turn to Coming Force
10. Cut the White Snake at the Waist
11. Three Rings Around the Sun
12. Part Clouds to See the Sun
13. Search Grass for Snake
14. Blue Green Dragon Leaps from the Sea
15. Wind Sweeps the Wilting Flowers
16. White Crane Inserts Golden Wing
17. Nei Zha Searches Sea Bottom
18. Turn and Chop Left
19. Turn and Chop Right
20. White Snake Spits Poison
21. Embrace the Moon
22. Close Form