Taiji Sword Class

Last night I was able to participate in a Taiji Sword class through my ICR. Through the IACA we were able to take a class at Master Ling’s Taiji School in Noblesville. I had not factored in rush hour before leaving so I was a little late, but I really enjoyed the class. Dr. Ling himself taught our class and showed us a basic form that is practiced. Last year I had taken the Tai Chi PWB and had thought that this class would be similar, just with a sword. I was very wrong. I learned that the sword aspect of taiji added a whole other component than what I had learned last year in class. It also could have been that last year I learned a different style of taiji than the one that we practiced last night. I thought it was a little awkward holding the sword with my right hand as I am naturally left handed, but Dr. Ling had said that the sword is held in the right hand as most people are right handed. I thought it was really interesting learning some of the different movements that are practiced and the names of those movements. At the end, Dr. Ling and some of the other people that were helping with the class showed us the full form. I thought it was really interesting seeing the form in full and watching the different movements of the sword.