Wen Hsiu Quan

Hello, everyone! I hope you have also had a good morning's workout and that you are having an awesome weekend. Today I am at the last post in a series of posts that got written for my friend Nicolas in the U.S.. Nicolas loves sword-fighting and is into HEMA and Lightsabre League battles. Even though weapons training is not a big thing with me I do practice with weapons on Saturday mornings. To me, however, it is more of a physical workout than training for an actual fight using the weapon. That does not mean that I do not practice fighting techniques at all. So- how does one get a physical workout while practicing fighting techniques? Well... One way is with forms! In the previous posts we have looked at some exercises that are also basic attack and defense moves. We can string all these together in a single pattern that can get practiced regularly. This way our bodies get used to doing all the movements that we need it to do when we use the sword. Here is our form f...

Hello, everyone, and welcome back.  This morning started rather shakily as I have given my first webinar.  I had a lot of fun pointing out the internal aspects of the Shotokan kata Heian Yondan and explaining why Karate techniques are done the way they are done. I have not forgotten, however, that we still have the Jian to talk about. This is the second last post in the series and the next time you see me we will be doing a short sword form.  Before I do that, however- let's first look at the defense and counterattack techniques of this weapon. You still remember which part of the blade is used for blocking, right? Well- when you are defending- it is that part that shall make the most movement because that is the part that shall make contact with your attacker's weapon.   You have probably practiced these body rotations against body thrusts a couple of times now.  Only thing I can add is that I like to keep the...

Of all the weapons that I have collected, this one was the last. Liking Ninjutsu and the weapons that I have seen in many Ninja movies- the Jian or Chinese Straight Sword was not high on my list of weapons to get. Besides- if there was a sword to get the Japanese Katana would be the ultimate sword to have, right? Right...? As it would happen, though- after finishing high school I have developed an increasing love for Kung Fu and Chinese martial arts movies. I am running the risk of seriously digressing here and we have not yet even started, but, let me say this- My boss at the time- Mrs Ku- opened my eyes to a whole new world of martial arts movies when she showed me this movie called the Duel. You might not know this, but among martial arts movies in China- the Jian has a whole genre (or maybe sub-genre) of movies dedicated to it. The most famous movie in this genre is definitely Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon that I have seen 20 times so far. Needless to say- soon...

The Chinese sword is said to be mainly a stabbing weapon. It springy, supple blade remainds me a lot of the rotor blades of a helicopter, though. And I have seen slicing attacks being dealt with it. In attack and defence the is a weapon requires speed and accuracy. Like most Chinese weapons- the jian is useless in the hands of an unskilled user.