Saber Form

Yang Family Thirteen “Movement” Taiji Saber Form, interpreted by Gary Yuen

Video of Gary

Another video of Gary

Notes:
Descriptions of actions are intended as a guide for individuals who already have learned Yang taiji hand
forms and have been introduced to the saber form by Gary Yuen
Names in italics are posture or movement names used in Yang hand forms
L = left, R= right, front and back are sides or directions relative to body
Front, Back, R Side, L Side, Front-R corner, Front-L corner, Back-R corner, and Back-L corner indicate
directions in a room or on a stage

 

Loose translation of poetic Chinese name

Individual actions

1

Seven stars, ride the tiger, grasp the saber
  1. Rise and sink (Gary added)
  2. Turn to L, open arms low
  3. Step up to the seven stars
  4. Step back and ride the tiger
  5. Turn body to R, present sword tip, bring sword handle to R hand

2

Moving, turning, deflecting and spreading with spirit
  1. Advance into L bow stance, press w/ sword handle
  2. Lift R knee to L-front corner, open arms to draw sword to R
  3. Step down into R bow stance, close arms to stab sword to L
  4. Twist step to R, deflect w/ sword parallel to ground
  5. Advance into L bow stance, thrust sword straight (edge to L), L hand protect head (fair lady works shuttles)
  6. Twist step to L, deflect to L w/ sword vertical
  7. Advance to R bow stance, bring sword up & outwards w/ 2 hands (fan through back)
  8. R foot step back, draw sword down w/ 2 hands (roll back)
  9. L foot advance into bow stance, push sword w/ 2 hands (fair lady works shuttles)

3

Look left, look right, spread apart
  1. Turn to R, lift L knee, bring sword down to right holding L arm and sword in horizontal line (Gary changed to hold L hand overhead)

4

White crane spreads wings, extend palm
  1. Circle L hand in front of body while standing on one leg; then lift L palm while stepping to L; finally, R foot advances to bow stance & sword cuts upwards (L hand held to L)
  2. Twist step to R, sword deflect to L then low in front of body
  3. Fan through the back

5

Wind curls lotus leaf
  1. Turn body to R under sword (L hand in front of chest), draw R foot into empty stance while dropping sword to shoulder w/ edge up & parallel to ground (sword tip and head directed to R-back corner),
  2. R foot step out to R-back corner into L empty stance, thrust sword straight to R (blade edge down)
  3. L step to Front-R corner into bow stance, lift and extend L hand (single whip)

6

Fair lady works the shuttles in eight directions
  1. Sword cuts to L at knee level (L hand to chest), wrap sword around head while advancing with R cross-step in front of L leg (L hand extends out), step into L bow stance & swords cuts to L at neck level w/ L hand raised overhead (fair lady works shuttles)
  2. Roll back to R w/ 2 hands (weight on R foot)
  3. L step into bow stance & shove (sword edge out, sword handle high, sword back against L forearm)
  4. Park sword back on L shoulder while making 270° turn to R (L hand at chest), R step to Front-L corner, cut diagonally down & draw blade back while L palm strike directed to L Side (Gary calls this motion ‘hiding the blade’)
  5. Turn and shift body to L (toward Back-L corner), sword deflect to L (sword handle up/sword tip down
  6. Advance R foot w/ cross-leg step to Back-L corner, parry sword to R w/ 2 hands (L hand high/sword handle low)
  7. L step to bow stance, fair lady works shuttles (thrust sword upwards, blade edge to L, L hand up)
  8. Repeat b, c, and d (step to Back-R corner)
  9. Repeat e (toward Front-R corner), f, b, c, and d (stepping to Front-L corner)

7

Three stars open, close, extend at will
  1. L foot step into empty stance, close L hand and sword in front of chest (sword tip to front/sword edge to L
  2. L foot step to L, shift body to L, L hand and sword open to sides (sword edge to R)
  3. Lift R knee, close L hand and sword in front of chest (sword edge up)
  4. Standing on L leg, thrust sword to front (edge down), extend L hand to side
  5. While hopping onto R foot, swing sword downward into a circle
  6. Pluck sword blade down w/ 2 hands (weight on R leg & L leg extended)
  7. L press kick (Gary added)

8

Kick and hit tiger
  1. Transfer L arm under sword blade, step & turn body to L, parry sword handle to L w/both hands
  2. Open R arm to front while holding sword handle in L hand, kick R foot upwards to contact R hand (separation of feet)
  3. Cross step R leg to L, step to L bow stance & hit tiger L
  4. Turn to R, bring both hands down while lifting R knee, step to R bow stance & hit tiger R

9

Kick like a mandarin duck
  1. Shift & turn body to L, parry sword handle to L w/both hands
  2. Cross hands & open R arm to front while holding sword handle in L hand to L, R press kick
  3. Grab sword in R hand, advance R foot w/ cross-leg step, sword cut to R (L hand at chest)

10

Push the boat against the current
  1. Step to L & start wrapping sword to R around head while turning body 180° to R, hold sword back on L shoulder while stepping back with L foot & lifting R knee
  2. Step out with R foot into bow stance, cut diagonally down & draw blade back while L palm strikes directed to front (‘hiding the blade’)

11

Coordinate three lower movements
  1. Shift back into R empty stance, bring sword to chest (blade parallel to ground, edge out), R foot step into bow stance & push
  2. Twist step to R into L empty stance, sword cut to R (L hand at chest)
  3. Step to L & L arm opens to L horizontally, R step into bow stance & sword cut horizontally to L (L and R arms held open and horizontal)

12

Part waters left and right, leap the dragon gate
  1. Draw weight back onto L leg (R leg extended), lift blade to L
  2. R foot step forward, turn body to R to extend L leg, lift blade to R
  3. L step forward, golden pheasant stands on one leg (sword pointed upward at slant, blade edge up)
  4. While hopping onto R foot, swing sword downward into a circle (starting w/ sword edge up/finishing w/ sword edge down)
  5. With weight on R leg, extend L leg, draw sword back & L palm strike

13

Phoenix returns to the nest
  1. Lift L knee, wrap sword around head to L (L hand at chest)
  2. L foot steps down to Front-R corner, sword chops down to Back-R corner, raise L hand overhead (shoot tiger with bow)
  3. While shifting & turning body to R, circle sword to place blade on L arm
  4. While holding sword in both hands in front of body, cross R leg behind L leg, turn body 180° to R into L bow stance directed to L Side, shift weight to back & turn body to R
  5. Shift forward, press handle (Gary added)
  6. Shift weight back, parry sword handle parry to R, R hand holds fist
  7. Shift forward, brush L knee w/ sword handle & R punch
  8. Turn body to Front, L hand (palm down) deflect to R
  9. Bring R foot in line with L, L hand circles down & cover while raising body