#tai chi swords

[chobistudio]

【Wushu】2008 Men's Optional Routine Taijijian (3/3)

[bechloesupercorp]

beatrice is a tai chi grandma.

when ava wakes up and bea isn't in her arms, she toddles her way to the kitchen and fills their travel mugs with tea.

sixty years (seven months, and twenty-four days, not that bea's counting) is a long time to be together, excluding the whole arc situation. neither of them regret it one bit.

warm sun shines on her face as she skips down to the park by their flat. she might move slower now, but life's never been better.

there. it's just like the first time she saw her, focused and stoic, going smoothly though tai chi forms. ava knows exactly when bea sees her -- the way her gaze focuses and a hint of a smile.

settling into the chair that magically appeared after the second time ava appeared in the middle of a session, she waves to camila, who's frantically knitting. lilith is there too, wings shining in the sunlight. her hair is grey now, natural and flowing -- none of that dollar store wig-ess stuff from when she first transformed.

birds chirp and soft winds blow. a familiar figure arrives, same old cane in hand.

for a revived paraplegic and former nuns doomed to die young, ava thinks they've done pretty damn well for themselves.

[thenotoriousscuttlecliff]

Michelle Yeoh retired for acting in the late 80s and then came back five years later and did like seven movies in the space of a year.

What a legend.

[fuforthought]

Wu Jing in the 1998 tv series, The Tai Chi Master.

[kultofathena]

The Hanwei Practical Tai Chi Sword comes in 3 lengths. All models feature steel guards and pommels, plated to harmonize the color scheme of the sword. The moderately sharp blades are fully tempered high-carbon steel with a flattened-diamond blade section. The grips and matching scabbards are made of fiberglass for maximum durability.

28 Blade Weight: 1 lb 5.6 oz POB: 4 5/8"

30 Blade Weight: 1 lb 6 oz POB: 5 1/2"

32 Blade Weight: 1 lb 7.2 oz POB: 6 1/8"

[lokh]

man watching those is making me like. what if i went back to tai chi or kung fu 😭😭😭😭

[wesley-broekhuis]

backview: Shaolin Kungfu Jian - Straight Sword Form - He Yong Gan Martial Arts

backview: Shaolin Jian, or the Shaolin Straight Sword is an amazing weapon of Shaolin Temple Kungfu. Jean Luc Grandjean from the He Yong Gan Martial Arts school in the Netherlands is demonstrating this awesome form.

[amongdragons]

Taoist Elements In Sword Forms: A Couple Of Examples

My friend asked to give an example of Taoist element in the form. Well… For instance, the fragment involving a series of horizontal chou (抽) (or xi, 洗 as variant) with steps to both sides and dian (點) at the end (I’m using the names from Essentials Of the Wudang Sword Art (武當劍法大要)by Huang Yuanxiu, I was taught according to the manual of Li Jinglin). Continue reading Untitled

[queen-tashie]

I don’t have a second sword…yet

I know for a fact you possess all five. You’re the only person I know of with all five?

…maybe I should start giving all my friends swords…

I do! And I have so many more than two swords...

[crimson-and-clover-1717]

Stede Bonnet, Renaissance Man (Or an Exceptional Man who Thinks He’s Mediocre)

I’ve posted before about Stede’s love of beauty. He’s an aesthete, finding wonder in art and creative self-care rather than the transcendental. Stede’s a freethinker. He challenges the orthodoxies of his time, rejecting forced heteronormative behaviours, and even questioning the accepted traditions of piracy.

The thing about Stede is he often asks ‘why?’ It’s partly what makes him dangerous to some. This slant towards subversion is much of what Izzy observes and detests. It’s one of many reasons Stede must be kept from Ed. Like a number of Renaissance-style thinkers before him, Stede refuses to go along with the status quo. He is ‘doing something original’, questioning dogma. Many find it ridiculous, bizarre even. And it’s significant that instead Ed finds Stede enchanting, because it demonstrates who Ed might be given the chance to find his own path.

Stede is also a polymath and likely an autodidact - I doubt he learned about ‘insane foliage’ at school. He is self-motived and seems to have knowledge across a broad spectrum of disciplines. Literature, drama, botany, entomology, psychology, art, textiles. Stede’s very much about the life of the mind.

And he’ll approach areas at which he’s not so gifted, such as cartography and sword-fighting, with the enthusiasm of a dilettante; when he can’t succeed the traditional way, he simply subverts the discipline and does it his own. However, the most important thing for me in defining Stede as a Renaissance man is his humanism. People are front and centre. Sometimes that person is himself, and he loses sight of others. But it’s okay as that’s the point. Humanism is partly about being a messy individual who can do better. And Stede is someone who can learn and alter his position when circumstances change. He might not do so in the best way all of the time, but he is a quick-learner and highly-adaptable.

Stede also understands that no culture or institution is bigger than the people within it. The most important thing is human dignity - it’s what he shows and teaches Ned’s crew: that they deserve to be respected as people. Stede also has a strong moral core. When he messes up, he feels it deeply. He demonstrates strong ethics towards the natural world too - he’s absolutely disgusted by turtle vs. crab. Stede believes not so much in human superiority, but human responsibility, and this is the flip side of having dignity as a human being.

Another aspect of Stede’s humanism is his belief that culture should be accessible to all. Some of this might be naivety on Stede’s part rather than a well-thought out philosophy, but he believes in it intuitively. Stede wants the crew to have access to his library despite not recognising they can’t all read. He gives them musical instruments and sports facilities - he’s interested in what makes people flourish. And Stede practically invents art therapy!

His ship is also a safe-space for human relationships to blossom - romantic, platonic, and in between. Zheng’s ship might appear to offer collective harmony, but it’s mandated and dogmatically applied. Opting out of morning tai chi for a 24-hour shagathon might be viewed as an act of dissent. No such big brother is judging you on Stede’s Revenge.

And all of this is because of the man Stede is, and the influence he has on those around him. Sometimes it falls on deaf ears. Many don’t like what Stede’s offering. Others actively rebel against it. But anyone with an ounce of goodness will get what Stede Bonnet is about and embrace it. Stede doesn’t seem to understand his own power, it comes from such an authentic place. For me, it makes him all the more endearing.

[lillysilvermoon]

Qualities of your SP

Hi everyone! Hope yall are doing great, as I promised the Tarot Reading who won was Qualities of your SP, but don't worry, tomorrow I'll post What June will bring to you? (College starts Monday so I'll do my very best to make 2 readings tomorrow and post What are your psychics abilities? In the middle of the week). NOW let's get into the reading!

Pile 1

The reading is about qualities but I feel someone need to kind know something about what its going on with them??? (This is totally NOT planned but it's what I'm feeling). See, this is for a VERY specific person, below y'all gonna see the characteristics but this message has to be given to someone about their SP so, if you don't feel it's for you just continue the reading to see their characteristics!!

Hum, okay. Right now they going through a very thought situation, there is something ending in their lives but they aren't accepting and this is just making everything awful - with ends comes new begins and opportunities, but since they aren't accepting they are stuck. The cards literally complete each other, 10 of swords talks about endings and the importance of them for new things, but they are so strongly holding on that they are turning down opportunities, and the sad is: they are regretting doing this.

They are a very gentle soul, with and because of the others cards, I fell like they are imbalanced with their feminine and masculine side.

(END OF THE MESSAGE)

They are kind, like arts in all forms, very creative too, they like to use all their senses. They like to enjoy the pleasures life has to offer.

4ofC is astrologically aassociated with the moon in cancer, this card carries a passive receptive energy (and since you got the Empress too they definitely have more of feminine energy).

They have very "Je ne sais quoi" that many envy, they mastered the art of looking effortless. They don't follow trends and honestly don't care about them, very laid back and chill and youthful energy. They eat what they want when they want and workout when they feel like it, they believe life is to short. Hmm okay wait, they have too a big masculine energy, but because of things they have gone through they can look careless is selfish, but they are actually very kind and gentle, you will feel safe with them.

This is a general reading so: for some of you this person can be extremely toxic, with victim mentality, prone to overreactions and drama. What I'm picking up is: they are is a bad place right now, but this isn't who they are. They are NOT bad, narcissistic is anything, but they have gone through a lot and aren't their best right now (I feel you SP has been very judged by others because I feel so protective over them it's crazy like, has this urgency to say how they aren't evil or bad they are just so... omg they don't even know they just feel miserable but they have a good, kind, gentle side and it's their true self).

(Sorry pile 1 but I feel this is what you were needing to see right now😞)

Signs: scorpio, pisces, libra, house number 2, Jupiter and venus placements.

Pile 2

Hi pile 2, let's get into your reading!

They have "the whole package". They are smart, funny, and physically attractive (whatever it is for you), very masculine energy (saturn) and this is a VERY major part of their identity because it's from a major Arcana (The World) - wow pile 2 you guys are so lucky 😍 -

They are definitely into self care and they take very good care not just of their body but of their souls too, they may be into meditation or yoga, tai chi chuan.

They can be in a career who have to travel a lot, very into teamwork and social friendly, practical and effective in communication, they like to share and talk about the things they do/products they use and recommend to theirs friends, they like team sports.

Definitely someone very kind and compassionate, great with children, can be a people pleaser sometimes (but since this is minor arcana I feel this isn't too much a part of their personality, but can happen!)

They doesn't have a big ego, it's the kind of person who make you feel like you are in this together, when romantically involved would make everything to make the relationship works.

This isn't for everyone but, for some here they can also be someone that makes you feel like they are hiding something or keeping a secret from you - for some this means that they are someone who likes to make surprises to you;

They can be someone obsessed over some part of they physical appearance and go to extremes to preserve it, like work out a lot, have a extreme diet or be obsessed with eat only healthy foods, very regimented skincare routine etc, may have trust issues, struggle with repressive emotions, be closed off, would benefit from therapy but probably aren't open to the idea

(At this point feel like this group is divided into a healthy person and someone who needs to do shadow work, talk to a professional and probably receive a HUGE hug)

Signs: moon, mercury, Mars (saints! definitely masculine energy), aries, aquarius and Taurus.

Pile 3

I got to say: you are my favorite pile, Gods your SP is just SO CUTE and wonderful. Honestly the healthiest one here (what's going on with people now day huh???). But let's get into your reading, shall we?

Omg I am SO EXCITED I'm sorry I just can, this SP is romantic and sensible and has a LOT of pieces energy; takes great care of the appearance and makes their health a priority, dress casually but you can tell they made some effort to look sharp, empathetic and compassionate, you probably won't see them judging others, emotionally balanced, unafraid of their masculine sides, they are daring and take risks - 100% would call you on a date without fear of a "no" - also they support their feminine side by embracing their emotions, will make you believe chivalry is still here, they make you feel charmed but not manipulated.

They are a very happy, zen and calmest person you will ever meet, they are very grateful and never takes anything for granted, their spirituality have a HUGE impact on their life, "big picture" thinkers, probably likes philosophy or have profound conversations and they may not reveal this in the beginning of the relationship, they may come off as very sophisticated or they can appear modest when in fact they are super wealthy, they tend to consume a very well-moderated diet, the like to enjoy the finer things in life but they don't tend to abuse substances or overuse. They are emotionally intelligent and know how to deal with their emotions in a very rational way, rarely loses their temper but definitely have healthy boundaries, have gratitude practices, they put a great deal of value in the amount of energy someone invests in their relationships and they are always nurturing quality relationships with others. May works in something family related, anything related to family including pet services. They are someone who makes you feel serenely content, you might make the happiest, most peaceful memories in your life with this person. Excellent parent and 100% spouse material.

Signs: cancer, scorpio, sagittarius, aries, moon, Neptune (pisces energy, Leo.

I am honestly very happy with this reading, took me more time but I loved - I study more about the tarot related to personality, was really fun and I loved put the theory in practice.

Hope y'all liked, see you in the next reading.

- Lia

Share so more people can see♡

[chobistudio]

【Wushu】6th Asian Wushu Championships (2004) Men's Taijiijan 0904 Kamon Toshihira (Japan)

Men’s Taijijian 7th place

[sifu-kisu]

Appreciation of Master Chen Weiming's Tai Chi Sword

[biboomerangboi]

This is absolutely nothing to do with the Netflix show I haven’t even watched that thing but I’m once again thinking about Sokka and Sokkas Master again and going insane.

Especially with how Sokka was never supposed to be a warrior. Like fundamentally he’s just not built for that kind of life. He was born into war and has been basically been told and trained to believe that one day he is going to die for his tribe and especially for his sister and that’s his destiny and he’s like okay that’s my job that’s what I do and everyone in the tribe knows this and sees this as my role as I am the only man left. (I sincerely doubt a bunch of woman and old people were actually looking at this kid as the last warrior seriously until he went to fight the fire nation BY HIMSELF but that’s not the point, the point is he was doing it)

But but the thing about Sokka is he’s not a fighter, he’s a scholar to his core. He doesn’t win hand to hand against Zuko but he does get a hit in with his boomerang that takes an insane amount of math to do perfectly and even though he loses the fight we realise already that Sokka is coming at this war from a different angle that anyone else is.

Like Sokka knows when he joins Aang he doesn’t have as much to bring to the team, he basically assigns himself the role of provider and bodyguard and is now willing to die for both of them because they are two of the most important people in the world and he could have been cynical the entire time. He was prepared to be cynical. Until he goes to Kyoshi gets his shit rocked by a girl and is like oh damn there’s different ways to go about fighting and war and I actually don’t know a lot of it can you super pretty warrior lady teach me your ways and from that moment on Sokka becomes a student.

He gets the mark of the wise with Bato, he figures out how to get Katara on that prison ship and that the fortune teller is a hoax and gets the water bending scroll all through thinking things through not fighting them head on. He invents the fricken war ballon and it’s so clear that all his thinking is now coming at things from an angle no one expects which is so perfect for this war in particular considering it’s been basically a slow tug of war between the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation for decades. He’s looking at these things and he’s like hey I’m not a bender but I do know how benders think and how a lot of people think because I’m trying to figure out how the world works. Like by the time he gets to North he isn’t as great with the weapons because again HES NOT A FIGHTER AT HEART but he is a thinker and he points out all the holes in the Norths strategy with full confidence.

Like in book 2 all his thoughts are about winning and out thinking the enemy. He learns about the library and gets so genuine excited about it but he can’t be a true nerd cause of his responsibilities but he basically plans a way to win the war, learns haikus, try’s art, gets into wrestling and learns so much about other cultures and skills he’s always thinking and winning and no longer doing things on impulse.

But of course he still feels insecure about that and doesn’t see his brain as his true weapon because he was supposed to be the warrior. That’s his role.

So he goes to Piandao who sees all of that and sees how Sokka is so so smart and eager to learn and think in ways that no one expects and he nurtures that. He teaches him art and calligraphy and gives him a Jian! He gives Sokka a Jian "The Gentleman of Weapons" not Dao even though Dao are made for soilders and Jian are for scholars, nobels and people who have time for proper sword craft. (Not to mention the fact they are primarily used for Tai Chi which is also the base for water bending which is just a detail I love). Like the Jian is a sword for scholars it’s for scholars!!!

Sokkas a thinker not a fighter and that’s so amazing to me.

Like he starts as the boy that took on a fire nation ship by himself then ends the series as the guy who’s strategies won the war, a trusted advisor for basically anyone of importance because they know he’s smart and are willing to listen to his ideas and with such a happy future for him to grow without the weight of having to be a fighter weighing him down cause that’s not who he’s supposed to be.

[betterbooktitles]

“Do you do self-deprecating humor?” He asked.

“Sure,” I said, waiting for him to list three comics he loves who also make fun of themselves. I grimaced.

“Self-deprecation…” he said, swiping a flat hand through the air in front of him slowly as if doing Tai Chi “should be wielded like a sword. It’s a weapon to put other people at ease.”

“OK.” I said.

“You don’t do that, though. You tell jokes about your body and what you eat and let people in on how you feel about yourself.”

I stared at him while he waited for me to say something.

“Stop doing that. You can crack a joke at your own expense to make people relax, but opening yourself up, letting your guard down so you can tell everyone ‘Hey, look what a piece of shit I am!’ is bad. If you keep saying that and making other people see you as that, you will eventually believe it. So only use those jokes as a weapon. Not an excuse for public self-flagellation.”

I nervously laughed. It was like I had reached the top of a mountain to find a monk who would only answer one question, and he had already answered mine without me opening my mouth. One of the most important questions of all: where do I find self-worth and what do I do to protect it?

Read the rest of my thoughts about joke writing, food, books, and depression here.

It’s also available now as a newsletter if you’re interested in that!

[purplealmonds]

🧭⚔️☔️Observations about the earth-aligned "Kun" exorcism sword

Discussions of potential spoilers beneath the cut.

It appears to take various forms both segmented and whole in the latest trailer, but seems to have a solidity to it that's unlike the Li exorcism sword's organic fire-like form.

And the blade itself seems to be...nonexistent upon first unsheathing the exorcism sword?

It does not emerge until Shingi summons this concentric sigil, which matches the markings on his body.

As a side note: this sigil fascinates me. To fully understand why, please refer to my analysis video about the Asian Philsophy of the Universe.

I include a visual from that post for convenience:

If I were to hazard a guess, outer circle has eight prongs to represent the 8 trigrams, and the next one in with 4 prongs represent the older and younger variants of Yin and Yang? I'm willing to bet that the innermost circles represent Ryo-Gi (Yin & Yang) and Tai Chi (existence) respectively.

It also somewhat resembles the Luo Pan - a concentric compass used for Feng Shui practices. Look - I even found the character for "Kun" engraved onto it!

I wrote a little bit about it in this post. In summary, the latest lore video says that the Shuuga operates much like a magnetic field.

So what I'm getting at is, I believe sigil represents some kind of magnetic forcefield and the actual blade (and maybe even the ofuda derived from it) may be formed by some kind of ferromagnetic material which can be moulded to various shapes. Ferrofluid, or magnetic powder, perhaps?

There are plenty of stones that are magnetic - meteorites, lodestones, various igneous rocks seem to be the most thematically appropriate. And it kind of aligns with my theory that Shingi has shifted from an earth aligned to metal aligned being.