Tai Chi Weaponry
Like many oriental martial arts Tai Chi dedicates a large part of its syllabus to the mastering of several exotic weapons. While some basic Tai Chi weapons forms provide the basis for empty handed combat, others are reserved for advanced students only. Training with martial arts weapons improves overall physical conditioning, coordination and reactions too. Many Tai Chi practitioners see mastering the weapon forms as the apex of their martial skill. As you would expect from an ancient Chinese martial art, there are many exotic weapons to choose from.
Tai Chi sword
Many consider the straight sword or jian to be the most exalted martial arts weapon requiring the most finesse. In Chinese martial arts, the jian ranks among the four 'most noble' weapons, along with the staff, spear and sabre. It has been used for the last 2,500 years in China with its earliest versions made from bronze. Steel soon became the material of choice but there are a few solid jade jians, carved from a single piece of precious stone. These may have been ceremonial, but mystical jade swords have always featured in martial arts mythology and many martial arts films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Wooden jians are used by beginners to develop strength and coordination, or can serve a ceremonial purpose in Taoist sects.
The jian is a double edged, straight sword with a sharp point. A thinner lighter version is used in Tai Chi and this modified version is called the taijijian. The taijijian's light, flexible blade can be shaken during competitions to accentuate thrusts, adding to the spectacle on show. Meanwhile, a heavier version, more suited to actual combat, is normally used in training for upper body conditioning. There are Tai Chi forms for both single sword and double sword forms, the latter obviously being more difficult. The sharp point of the jian is designed for short cutting movements and deep thrusts. Meanwhile, a double sided blade allows slashing in both directions. The colourful tassle seen attached to the hilt of many modern jians once had a practical purpose - a lanyard was often attached to ensure that the sword was not lost during combat. Metal filaments were sometimes hidden in the tassles so an opponent's face could be unexpectedly cut with the reverse end of the sword.