While still in the Metal phase/season I attended another internal arts workshop. Since the theme was metal, we worked on the Chinese straightsword commonly known as the "TaiChi sword" or Jian combined with Chi gong breathing and finger positioning which activated meridians in the body associated with the metal element and the corosponding organs which are the Lungs which run along the thumb and the large Instestine which runs along the index finger. Interesting practices such as breathing while circling the tassle clockwise,opening the sword scabbard and ofcourse the partner drills of blade against blade similar to sticky hands in other styles. The most fun was the chance to put it all together into a free form flowing exercise similar to kata but made up spontaneously based on your prior training if any, along with the new information learned. WHile circular walking weaving in and out of 3 poles set up in a triangle without striking them with the blade, you not only used the blade's sharp edges but the flat sides as a weapon, the tassle,pommel and scabbard as well (held in the opposite hand) at a semi fast pace.
