Wudang Sword - Tai Yi Daoist Form and Applications (YMAA) 武當劍

ymaa.com/publis...
Since ancient times, Wudang martial artists have earned prestige for their mastery of the sword. Wudang sword uses flowing, circular movements to neutralize incoming attacks and redirect the opponent's power. This program comprehensively instructs Wudang Sword for the first time in both English and Chinese.
The sword is the king of all weapons, and to wield it requires an unparalleled level of skill. Unlike other weapons which use brute force to clash and overpower, your sword techniques must be precise, and your movements light and quick. Wudang Sword training will make your body stronger and more flexible, and will increase your speed and endurance. Wudang Sword increases and refines your Qi (energy) and develops a calm and focused mind.
This program begins by discussing the legend and history of the Chinese sword. Next, it offers practical information on sword care and safety. The principles of Wudang sword are discussed and fundamental conditioning drills are presented. The Wudang Tai Yi Daoist Sword sequence is demonstrated in detail, making it easy for the viewer to learn. Each posture is then instructed separately with martial applications.
Special Features: Choice of Chinese Narration with English Subtitles, or English Narration • Interactive Catalog with Previews of All YMAA Titles
YMAA PRODUCTION • ZHOU, XUAN-YUN "WUDANG SWORD" • WRITTEN BY ZHOU, XUAN-YUN, WITH JULIE BAECKER & DAVID SILVER • PERFORMED BY ZHOU, XUAN-YUN, WITH MICHAEL VOLLERO, ANGEL SOTO, & HENRY LEE • EDITING AND DVD AUTHORING BY OCEAN SILVER • PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY DAVID SILVER
Daoist monk Zhou, Xuan-Yun (Mysterious Cloud), grew up in a temple on Wudang Mountain, China where he was a student and later an instructor of Taiji and Kung Fu. He belongs to the Orthodox Unity sect of Daoism, and is trained in ritual arts, chanting, divination, and internal alchemy. He is formally recognized as a disciple of Li Guang Fu 李光富 Head Daoist monk on Wudang Mountain (武当山道教协会会长), and he is dedicated to teaching the traditional arts in classes around the world. Visit DaoistGate.com

[@frogers3]

Spear (Qiang): King of All Weapons Staff (Gun): Grandfather of All Weapons Straightsword (Jian): Gentleman of All Weapons Sabre (Dao): General of All Weapons

[@littleelsa323]

Wudang has become very popular after the past recent years. And not because of the group. I do recommend this DVD.

[@Ymaa_Publication_Center]

Thanks for all the comments! I'm replying to all: in most shots, master Zhou used a real cold steel sword. In a couple of shots in remote areas of Wudang mountian, he had to use a borrowed sword that was a flexible wushu blade, because that's all that was handy. For the instructional segment, it is all with a real sword, that he borrowed that day from Master Yang, Jwing-Ming. Master Zhou is a friend to YMAA, but the wudang material isn't official YMAA curriculum.

[@Ymaa_Publication_Center]

The staff or spear is the king of LONG weapons.

[@10susan10]

The mind is the KING of all weapons for without a trained mind no weapon has any value.

[@gamer7916]

the sword is called the Gentleman of All Weapons, due to how the sword is carried by scholars and poets due to its light weight and movability

[@Zacarriss]

@Dvivid it took me 8400 days to master who I am, you people should realize it's not about the Weapons or the amount of time to master said weapons, it's about mastering ones true self, honing ones self as ones most powerful weapon thru discipline, patience and extreme devotion to the concept of Balance, god knows how much we need discipline in this day and age...

[@PooMonkeyMan]

The Chinese sword is actually the "Gentleman of all Weapons." The Chinese sabre or broadsword is actually the "King of all Weapons."

[@alexlo7708]

Wudang is the name of Taoism sacred mountain. Sword according to the Wudang sect. is Taichi sword stances.

[@ImportedfromUK]

Always protect your neck during sword play. One slip up and you're done.

[@xxCimarronColoradoxx]

Wow. This demonstration is amazing but I can't help but notice how pretty the temple is!

[@sjander29]

It looks like a brilliantly beautiful ,and skilled teaching of Wu Dang Dragon Sword !

[@Ymaa_Publication_Center]

@TonyPstunts Spear is the king of the long weapons. Training for staff and spear is essentially the same. Sword is king of the short weapons, but sometimes called king of all weapons because it takes a lifetime to master.

[@Ymaa_Publication_Center]

@Dvivid Exactly, spear/staff take about the same amount of time. Spear is the king of the long weapons. Sword is king of the short weapons, and sometimes called the king of weapons in general to imply that it really takes a long time to master the weapon.

[@Ymaa_Publication_Center]

@drjqool Most traditional practitioners use a real (heavy) blade when training deliberately to build the body. For demonstration, a lighter demo sword is used. Most of this video was done with MAster Zhou using a sword owned by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming. It is a heavy sword that was a gift from Laing, Shou-Yu. At tiomes, you'll see the flexible demo sword if someone was tired, or in some of the footage shot in China, if that was the only sword handy.

[@GabTheDrummer]

At last a DVD that shows applications of the mouvements. I would buy this DVD i first hand.

[@beatthinker]

It is ok to NOT comment if you do not know what you are talking about. It is ok to ask questions if you do not know what you are talking about.

[@aerospike00]

I will be starting my sword training this week. I bought a wooden one because I know that I am not ready for a real sword yet.

[@Ymaa_Publication_Center]

The real sword wasn't destroyed. They said they had to bend it back into shape with a rock after they filmed this. He breaks wushu blades. The form is correct, it is a real sword, and he is a very good swordsman.

[@Cha0sB1k3r]

Baring in mind that some of the swords are thinner than what you would expect, and have a slight allowance for pressure on the blade (as in the force one would exert, not the pressure of contact.) As well, actual combat experience derives wisdom, application, understanding, etc etc, not often does it increase power and speed. He very well could have such power/speed, and never be in a real fight. I'm not saying your comment was wrong or right, merely it could be explained.

[@DaoistGate]

tallorder9, the first question for the Daoist arts is whether or not our practices are good for our health. Practicing incorrectly, even Taiji can cause serious injuries. However, even with the more vigorous forms, as long as someone is practicing correctly, they shouldn't be getting hurt.

[@Ymaa_Publication_Center]

@jadekayak01 The spear is the "king of the LONG weapons". People learn spear is relatively short order, after mastering the staff. Sword is the king of all weapons because it is a nuanced art that takes decades to master. They say "100 days of barehand, 1,000 days of spear, 10,000 days of sword." ; )

[@oneillkza]

@Dvivid I think it was also that, for much of Chinese military history, most infantry were equipped with spears, while only officers were given swords (which were more expensive to make, more difficult to learn, and likely less effective in mass combat). So perhaps the "king/general of all weapons" is in some ways an inversion of "the weapon of kings"?

[@griqs]

@Dvivid The spear is the king of weapons the sword is known as the gentlemen of weapons anf the saying "100 days of barehand, 1,000 days of spear, 10,000 days of sword." is true except i think your mixing up barehand with something but sometimes the sword is called the king of short weapons.

[@Cha0sB1k3r]

Both. Nothing wrong with either. You need to be prepared to change your perspective though, techniques only work if you trust in your training and understand the practical application.

[@jadekayak01]

@Westernwayofwar too right there-my teacher has his own observations,there are people who do(turn up,do and go home)and learners(yhose who turn up,train,ask questions,then go home and research for themselves and continue training)

[@wavyriver]

@drjqool I think there are 2 types of sword training, form fluidity and power training. The daoist also train with a sword that has an extra long blade and extra long handle.

[@dcfefs]

i wanna see kendo vs fencing vs wudang sword/ chinese sword techniques

[@epic0wnag]

@tallorder9 do not worry as a martial artist the guy is in total control of the weapon

[@carlossotoalcaraz]

Realmente hermosa técnica para el combate

[@Sanningsministeriet]

Nice to see this, clear power in the strikes! A question, the movements when the blade rests on the arm, it looks like one would could cut oneself. But maybe the Wudang school advises the old "last 3rd of the blade is sharp, the tip is like a razor" sharpening method instead of sharpening the full lenght of the blade?

[@lastswordfighter]

@Dvivid Truth be told there is real king of weapons. Whether it's a knife or a sword or even a firearm the effectiveness of the weapon is determined by the skill and discipline of the user. I speak from experience because I work at a gun range and catch people improperly using their firearms.

[@mistermonkeyhead]

NICE! good shooting & what an amazing place!

[@coronal2207]

Everyone think this is a fake sword, it is not, he have a very deep training in 內功, the internal force, something like 氣功(qi gong), he drives the force into the blade when he strikes, the blade is not good enough if it doesn't spring back.

[@Ymaa_Publication_Center]

Master Zhou used borrowed swords when he was at Wudang filming this, so it is different in each clip. Usuaully they only have real swords, but in some locations they have cheaper wushu blades for convenience. In the DVD version, he teaches indoors using a really nice sword he borrowed at YMAA from Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming.

[@TonyPstunts]

I thought the Spear was "The king of all weapons"?

[@killere2009]

both, depends on how you use them

[@DaoistGate]

@RobLovesAlex10 We usually buy our swords at Wudang Mountain, but I have heard that Cold Steel makes good jian. @desdes24 Xuan Yun teaches the applications to the sword form in his regular classes in Boston, this DVD also shows how to use the movements in the form against an opponent. @shopperman2007 Right now he isn't teaching at YMAA's school, but has classes 6 days a week in Boston. You can see his schedule at daoistgate (dot) com

[@DaoistGate]

@drjqool Acutally that isn't a wushu blade. The sword he used at Wudang wasn't as heavy as the sword he borrowed from Dr. Yang, but is was an acutal sword. He can't work with wushu blades. I've seen him try, and they always end up snapping in half. It is bending because of the force he is using. We had to push that sword against a rock to bend it back into shape when he was done.

[@shintai88]

Sword is great, But so is every other weapon. Long Weapons always have advantage, because of their range. Just as Knives have advantage at short.

[@Ymaa_Publication_Center]

@KissakiSan YMAA DVDs are all about in-depth martial applications and traditional-style training.

[@desdes24]

did they train swordplays to build body health and entertainment interests? not for real fight? do they work if a sword fight really happens?

[@thespratbg]

I wanna live there!

[@davidmellingseter3661]

700+ likes, Nice art..!

[@innerachievement]

So your saying that he was so powerful that he destroyed the "real sword" he was using? It seems strange to me that a real sword would bend under the force of movements from a form but would be strong enough to be used in combat by a martial arts with real combat experience using methods derived from the same form. From my perspective either the form is wrong, the sword is not real or he is the best swordsman from his linage even without having real combat experience. No disrespect meant.

[@darkfire729]

real life senior blue dragon here demonstrating his three severance sword, four aspect sword and double shape sword movements.

[@NowhereManForever]

Wudang clan ain't nuthin ta fuck with.

[@dcfefs]

is this art more focused on pratical fighting skills or cultural maintaince?

[@shopperman2007]

one of the scene loks like it was at YMAA boston is it so? is he in any connection affiliated with the curiculum, now?

[@hingcheung]

@drjqool A "soft" sword is also an actual real weapon.

[@RobLovesAlex10]

anyone know where to get a jian?

[@garrasinsombra]

in traditional wushu, it's not the same?

[@jadekayak01]

"the sword is the king of weapons",really the Chinese used to think the spear was king of weapons,when did things change.(I'm a swordsman so I think the sword is best but a simple staff will beat it most of the time and the c\Chinese spear has a pointy,sharp bit on it too)

[@kagetora7tsukiyo]

where can i buy this?

[@monkeyking32]

is there a type of sword you would recommend for this, i just ordered this dvd

[@taijiteufel]

google it ive got like 5 or 6 websites book marked that sell them

[@orlonarsino6729]

What is the difference between a Tai Yi sword and a Jian? Are they the same?

[@Ymaa_Publication_Center]

Same

[@alekx58]

wan man shui chu liu hsiang fu jia si chi hai bi schu wang wan fu wan fu dan dien liang dong schu liang dong sau sau cheng si bu schu fu ih jia bi tai ih tiao lian qing goa bao yuan hui kyang chi hai

[@tallorder9]

I hope this guy doesn't hurt himself.

[@Ymaa_Publication_Center]

@mistermonkeyhead thank you. Wudang is indeed amazing. It cost us about $20,000 to produce this program, and we hope to break even within 5 years. YMAA (dot) com

[@1madaboutguitar]

Link doesn't work.

[@BLUTFAHNE]

Yea the spear is totaly the boss on the battlefeild Gwan dao for example totaly out performed the sword!

[@alimpije33]

you said king of all weapons lol.We all know that katna is most perfect by use and in proces of making sword t self.U can can cut thrust slash throw without damaging sowrd it self katana i mean and my opinion and opnion of many others i just like miene.

[@darkservantofheaven]

George Lucas should model light saber combat after this

[@alimpije33]

man you didnt aprowd comment

[@MarkusMFDawnbringer]

Knife dancer?......lol what

[@drjqool]

do ppl practice with real swords anymore? that is a fake ("wushu") blade. look at it bend. do the masters at wudang use real blade at any point in their training?