Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Wudang Dragon Sword – Opening Details

Today, we reviewed the basics and the leg set I gave yesterday. Then, I walked through each of the small movements for the first named movement slowly. I spent some time on the basic physics behind what we are doing and the idea that as we are moving, there is a logic and a harmony that we need to pay attention to so we can use it.

1. Coiling Dragon Rotates to Spit out the Core

1. 盘龙旋转吐芯势

The names and instructions in Chinese were written by Professor Liu Yuzeng in 2002. The English is mine.

1. 盘龙旋转吐芯势（面南，背北、左东、右西）

1.1 虚步反撩

体右转、面西南。右腿蹲；左腿伸成右弓步。左手持剑横扫。而后，体左转、 面南；右手接剑向前反撩；左手剑指前推，置于腹前。

1.2 顺缠挑抖

体左转、面东北。左脚上踩成左龙步。右手剑顺缠挑抖；左手剑指扶在右腕 上。

1.3 拧身藏剑

体右转、面西南。双手将剑藏于腰右侧。

1.4 拗步吐芯

体左转、面东。左脚向前跨一步成左六四步。右手剑平刺吐芯；左手剑指后 摆，手心向下。

 

1. Coiling Dragon Rotates to Spit Out the Core (face south, back north, left east, right west)

1.1 Empty Step Turning Around

The body turns right, facing southwest. The right leg remains in place, the left leg extends changing to a right forward lunge step. The left hand holds the sword and sweeps across. Then, the body turns left, facing south, the right hand takes the sword facing forward and turning around; the left hand sword fingers pull to the front and are placed in front of the abdomen.

1.2 Turn and wrap around, raise and shake

The body turns left, facing northeast. the left foot lifts up changing to left dragon step. The right sword hand turns and wraps around, raising and shaking; the left hand sword fingers rest above the right wrist.

1.3 Twist the body to hide the sword

The body turns right, facing southwest. Both hands hide the sword at the right side of the waist.

1.4. Diagonal Step and Spit out the Core

The body turns left, facing east. The left leg extends forward one step changing to a left six four step. The right hand sword stabs out flat to spit out the core; the left hand sword fingers point backward, with the palm of the hand facing down.