Introduction Marcus came to me with five years of yang style sword behind him and a question I’d heard before: “I watched a chen style tai chi sword demonstration last month. The practitioner was soft and flowing one second, then the blade cracked like a whip the next. Is that really tai chi?” It is. … Read more
Introduction When students ask me which sword form to learn first, my answer has been the same for twenty years: yang style tai chi sword, and specifically the 32 form. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s honest. Every fundamental principle of jian work lives inside its thirty two movements, stripped of acrobatics and decoration. … Read more
Most beginners should start with Yang-style Tai Chi sword, specifically the 32-form. It’s the most widely taught style globally, uses higher stances easier on the knees, and has the largest instructor community. If you prefer dynamic, martially focused movements, Chen style Taijijian might be your path instead. In this guide, we’ll break down all four … Read more