Way of the Jianke
Essential Elements of Chinese Swordsmanship
Essential Elements of Chinese Swordsmanship
Illustration series for Scott M. Rodell 5th generation teacher and his Great River Taoist Center (est1984) martial art school, Virginia, US
The most essential
Characteristic of the Jianke is Calm (沉着)-
A calm heart is the foundation all other skills are built upon. A frantic mind will become dogmatic and fall into using the same technique over and over, regardless of effectiveness. A tense body becomes disjointed and slow and over reacts. A tense body lacks the looseness and alignment needed to transmit internal power. An unsettled heart and mind falls back on rushing forward boldly to overcome inaction or fumbles in fear. The jianke therefore endeavors to develop a quiet mind and calm heart that remains still regardless of the turmoil of the moment.
Characteristic of the Jianke is Calm (沉着)-
A calm heart is the foundation all other skills are built upon. A frantic mind will become dogmatic and fall into using the same technique over and over, regardless of effectiveness. A tense body becomes disjointed and slow and over reacts. A tense body lacks the looseness and alignment needed to transmit internal power. An unsettled heart and mind falls back on rushing forward boldly to overcome inaction or fumbles in fear. The jianke therefore endeavors to develop a quiet mind and calm heart that remains still regardless of the turmoil of the moment.
The Jianke develops
Internal Power (內勁) -
Internal power comes from the ligaments and bones and is supported by proper alignment. In comparison with power generated by muscle alone, it is more springy and tenacious. In order to transmit this springy energy through the body, the muscles must be loose and unclenched. Being generated from a loose, soft, body, internal power is also faster and more penetrating than simple muscular, external force. The muscles being loose and unclenched allows for quick changes in direction, as they aren't hard or inflexible. Qi from the dantian can be combined with this springy method of generating power in a manner that helps improve the level of softness of the muscles that one can achieve. At a more experienced level, qi from the dantian add strength to the release of Internal power by combining qi with the spring of internal power.
Internal Power (內勁) -
Internal power comes from the ligaments and bones and is supported by proper alignment. In comparison with power generated by muscle alone, it is more springy and tenacious. In order to transmit this springy energy through the body, the muscles must be loose and unclenched. Being generated from a loose, soft, body, internal power is also faster and more penetrating than simple muscular, external force. The muscles being loose and unclenched allows for quick changes in direction, as they aren't hard or inflexible. Qi from the dantian can be combined with this springy method of generating power in a manner that helps improve the level of softness of the muscles that one can achieve. At a more experienced level, qi from the dantian add strength to the release of Internal power by combining qi with the spring of internal power.
The Jianke
must have Courage (膽力) -
Perhaps the Yang Family treatise, the “Song of Prefect Clarity” explains this best. One section from that classic reads,
"Being bold is not correct, Being timid is not correct, Strong courage and keen perception is correct."
To be bold means to move forward aggressively, regardless of what lies in front of one. This often means that paying no attention, one moves too quickly, often faster than one's duifang is moving. This can easily result in running into the duifang's weapon. When one wins through boldness, it is because one is facing a duifang who is timid or inexperienced.
To be timid means to be restricted by fear. This means that one will be bound by inhibition and move too slowly to respond appropriately to the actions of one's duifang. When one prevails through timidity, it usually means that one's duifang was over confident, sloppy or foolish, and ran into one's weapon.
must have Courage (膽力) -
Perhaps the Yang Family treatise, the “Song of Prefect Clarity” explains this best. One section from that classic reads,
"Being bold is not correct, Being timid is not correct, Strong courage and keen perception is correct."
To be bold means to move forward aggressively, regardless of what lies in front of one. This often means that paying no attention, one moves too quickly, often faster than one's duifang is moving. This can easily result in running into the duifang's weapon. When one wins through boldness, it is because one is facing a duifang who is timid or inexperienced.
To be timid means to be restricted by fear. This means that one will be bound by inhibition and move too slowly to respond appropriately to the actions of one's duifang. When one prevails through timidity, it usually means that one's duifang was over confident, sloppy or foolish, and ran into one's weapon.
Speed is essential
to the Jianke (速捷)-
As many weapons have a longer reach, or are more powerful than the jian, it is essential that the jianke be able to move faster than his or her duifang. Being faster than one's duifang means that any advantage in power or reach he or she may have, can not be applied. This does not simply mean that the jianke must develop an agile, spirited body, but that his or her "listening" and "interpreting" skills are also sharp and quick. True speed does not come solely from the speed one can move one's body. It comes from how quickly one comprehends the duifang's actions. Knowing where a duifang's cut is coming from and where it is going, correctly understand the action, allows the jianke to arrive before it lands, either intercepting the cut, voiding it or controlling it for a quick deflection into counter-cut even though this cut may have begun first. This kind of listening is developed from a body and mind that have shed tension and remain in the moment.
to the Jianke (速捷)-
As many weapons have a longer reach, or are more powerful than the jian, it is essential that the jianke be able to move faster than his or her duifang. Being faster than one's duifang means that any advantage in power or reach he or she may have, can not be applied. This does not simply mean that the jianke must develop an agile, spirited body, but that his or her "listening" and "interpreting" skills are also sharp and quick. True speed does not come solely from the speed one can move one's body. It comes from how quickly one comprehends the duifang's actions. Knowing where a duifang's cut is coming from and where it is going, correctly understand the action, allows the jianke to arrive before it lands, either intercepting the cut, voiding it or controlling it for a quick deflection into counter-cut even though this cut may have begun first. This kind of listening is developed from a body and mind that have shed tension and remain in the moment.
The Jianke must be
Versatile (靈活) -
The strength of jianfa is its adaptability. Various systems of jianfa have different numbers of basic cuts, though most have many in common, such as ci (thrust) and pi (split). Some cuts are short and quick. Others are powerful enough to rend limbs from the body. Some cuts are percussive, and hit with a shocking blow. Others slice and move past the target.
The jian makes good use of both the edge and tip, employing both cut and thrust. By switching freely back and forth between striking with the edge and tip, the jianke can choose from a variety of effective possibilities to deal with the task at hand. This variety allows the jianke to quickly adapt to any situation, while remaining unpredictable. So, while the jian is not as powerful as a two-handed saber, such as the zhanmadao, and lacks the reach of a spear, in well trained hands, its wide range of techniques give it an adaptability that makes it a formidable weapon. The key to achieving this adaptability is a through study of the basic cuts under an accomplished jianke. Once one has a solid understanding of jianfa, it is important for the jianke to look at other types of swordsmanship and weapons training. The idea is not to study many other systems, but to be familiar enough with them to understand the strength and weakness of other weapons. Such observation can also inspire the jianke’s sword work. So one must not only study one's own system in a pure fashion to grasp its essence, but also engage in swordplay free of dogma, calling upon the most effective techniques, regardless of which system it belongs to. As Sunzi wrote, "one should apply the orthodox as the unorthodox and the unorthodox as the orthodox."
Versatile (靈活) -
The strength of jianfa is its adaptability. Various systems of jianfa have different numbers of basic cuts, though most have many in common, such as ci (thrust) and pi (split). Some cuts are short and quick. Others are powerful enough to rend limbs from the body. Some cuts are percussive, and hit with a shocking blow. Others slice and move past the target.
The jian makes good use of both the edge and tip, employing both cut and thrust. By switching freely back and forth between striking with the edge and tip, the jianke can choose from a variety of effective possibilities to deal with the task at hand. This variety allows the jianke to quickly adapt to any situation, while remaining unpredictable. So, while the jian is not as powerful as a two-handed saber, such as the zhanmadao, and lacks the reach of a spear, in well trained hands, its wide range of techniques give it an adaptability that makes it a formidable weapon. The key to achieving this adaptability is a through study of the basic cuts under an accomplished jianke. Once one has a solid understanding of jianfa, it is important for the jianke to look at other types of swordsmanship and weapons training. The idea is not to study many other systems, but to be familiar enough with them to understand the strength and weakness of other weapons. Such observation can also inspire the jianke’s sword work. So one must not only study one's own system in a pure fashion to grasp its essence, but also engage in swordplay free of dogma, calling upon the most effective techniques, regardless of which system it belongs to. As Sunzi wrote, "one should apply the orthodox as the unorthodox and the unorthodox as the orthodox."
