Dragon Spring Taiji

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SHORT FORM
The focus of the Short Form is primarily about bringing the body into a loose, connected structure that allows freedom of movement with the least amount of physical effort - relaxation in movement.

Often beginners body's are likened to a chain: each link, or part of the body, is touching the next, but not fully integrated into the whole. Through the process of the Short Form the body structure becomes more like a piece of cloth or rope, each strand is inter-weaved so integrated movement is attained and there is a greater sensation of being "one piece".

Of course, working in this way also has a relaxing effect on the mind, thereby releasing stress and allowing you to be more present. This in turn enables more effective use of all that energy that you've saved by being less constricted with unecessary tension.
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LONG FORM
The primary focus of the Long Form is the mind; the intention. Once the body is joined into one piece, like the image of the rope mentioned above, we can then use the intention to move the body.

If you've ever 'flicked' a long piece of rope you will have seen a 'wave' travel along its length. This wave is a good image of the moving intention which makes the movements come alive. Although we are practicing being as relaxed as possible the movements aren't limp or heavy.

The quality of mind/intention in Long Form practice is that of receiving and reply as one move. As though allowing a question to create it's own answer; as the question comes in, the answer comes out as part of the same flow. So it is with the movements in the Form. In martial terms, each one has a receiving aspect and a replying aspect. We use intention to create and feel for this incoming flow or force and allow that to create the response - the next part of the movement.

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MIRROR FORM
Practicing Mirror Form is a great way of expanding your awarness both outwardly and inwardly, by literally mirroring someone else who is playing a Form. This means you will be moving in a mirror image to them, experiencing both how they move and reflecting it back to them. This enables a physical and mental balancing of the opposite side of the body and brain than that which we are used to working with.

Mirror Form requires that you are at least familiar with Short Form to gain any real benefit from it, although you don't necessarily need to have studied Long Form.

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SWORD FORM
Having studied Short Form for the body connections and Long Form for the mind, the next step in the solo Forms would be a weapon. Sword Form is said to refine the spirit and feeling: spirit of aliveness, spirit of vitality.

Working with weapons gives you a way to practice Duo Taiji on your own. Your sword becomes your partner that has to be joined with just as you would join with another person in Da Lu or Push Hands. It gives you a direct connection to something beyond your skin and so allows the practice of Solo Form principles as well as Duo Form principles. Weapons greatly expand your field of awareness and focus the mind more sharply. Sword Form gives you agility and precision.

Besides giving the opportunity to practice Duo Taiji on your own, weapon forms are wonderful exercise. Empty-hand forms strengthen the legs and waist, whereas weapons develop the strength in the fingers and hands. In particular, Sword Form increases the strength and flexibility of the wrist and forearm.

Learning weapon forms is not about the weapon or the form, rather, what the practice shows you about yourself and the qualities it brings forth. Sword Form requires precision and finesse, it is silky and sinuous like a dragon; it has complexity, requires focus, connection, listening and joining. The practice itself will develop these qualities.

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SABRE FORM
There are differences bewteen the practice of Sword and Sabre Forms. Sabre Form is more direct, tenacious like a tiger. The moves are much simpler, the sequence shorter than that of the sword, and can require more attention in order for the moves to be fluid, accurate and continuous. Although all Taiji Forms use the whole body and movements arise from the centre/waist, physically the Sabre Form works the upper arm and shoulder more than Sword. It is generally a heavier weapon, therefore the dynamics create a particular quality of movement.

Sabre Form uses both the energetic connection of the empty hand onto the arm or wrist of that holding the blade, and the physical use of the empty hand to support and push directly on the back of the blade itself.