Classical Weapons 2 - Kwan Dao

Lesson One:

Memo: this is not wing chun.

Vocabulary: Butt, shaft, blade(base, edge, back). Flip grip-throw k to opposite leading hand grip like a ROTC rifle drill.

If practicing with a straight stick, mark one end as blade end.

Ideal to do the form with others in unison. Get timing correct.

The kwan dao form

1. Stand feet even and separated, k vertical in front of chest held in R, butt on ground. L tracks down chest in wu sao position, then grasps shaft below R as R foot steps across L foot to W (pointing NE). Kick the butt as L hand grasps it. L foot steps W (foot points SE). R foot small steps to W (points SE) as launch into leaping turn, ending in #11 chop to W in deep forward stance (L leading), R leg pointing N, hips facing SE. CHA!

Note: from 1st move, need to shift hands down shaft towards butt, want to have reach with the chop.

2. Draw R foot to L as R hand chokes up shaft to base, turn R to face N as shaft is tucked under R elbow and laid across back to L shoulder as R leg shoots W. End facing E in L deep forward stance (spine concave), L palmheel to E, butt very close to L palmheel (if choked up on shaft properly). CHA!

Note: Keep L leg bent and pivot w/o straightening for smoother/faster. Slide k shaft along R torso to back.

3. k rotates cw on R side 360 degrees as feed shaft into L hand, then slash up in #9, butt crossing to L side. As butt passes R foot (still extended to W), step E w/R and turn 90 degrees (body now faces N). Turn R w/o stepping for #10 slash, butt travelling across to R side of body. As butt passes L foot, step to W w/L, turning hips 180 degrees to R, then step to W w/R (turning 180 degrees to face N) and slide L foot E to meet R foot as blade slashes up in #9, then finishes with a #3 direction (very small). Hands should be at butt of shaft, k should be horizontal.

4. R foot steps E as loop blade cw to scrape floor (lean into it, do not move arms alone), then thrust E above head level as cross-kick (stomp above knee level) to E w/L. CHA!

Turn L as step W w/L foot, turn 180 degrees L as step W w/R, launch into a 360 degrees spin, ending in horse? stance facing S (feet on W-E line) as #11 chop to W. CHA!

Note: do not pause on cross-kick, step W from cross-kick into turn.

5. Spin k ccw in front of you. As the blade passes in front of L leg turn 180 degrees R and step to W w/L. Keep the blade spinning (now cw), and drop the blade over R shoulder and behind. As blade passes behind the R leg, turn R 180 degrees as step to W w/R, then feed butt of shaft under R elbow as turn 90 degrees R and step W into R forward stance. As turn to R into fwd stance, will lean backwards so blade clears head. Thrust to W w/R hand as L hand retracts into wu sao. CHA!

Note: as you spin k, choke up on shaft until R hand is holding base, edge down.

Turn on toes 180 degrees L into deep L forward stance, spine concave, shaft resting over L shoulder, L palmheel to E.

Lesson Two

6. Drop blade vertically, pivoting across/under R shoulder, and 1-hand thrust forward to E. CHA!

Grasp the shaft with L hand under R arm, spin k to R side (vertically), as blade passes rear R foot step E into #9 slash, then continue spin on L side and step E w/L into #10 slash (L hand crossing body under R arm), then turn 90 degrees R into L forward stance as 2-hand thrust to E. CHA!

Note: the footwork here is supposed to feel in sync with the blade, where it was in sync w/ k butt in #3. During this, move hands away from blade toward butt of shaft.

7. Raise L knee, pointing toe at floor, and bring butt around to L side of body, thrust S high. CHA!

8. L foot to W, go into a low stance (L leg extended to W) and turn hips from facing E to facing S as drop k blade and thrust W high. CHA!

Note: do not choke up on shaft here, swing arms only. Hands stay in same grip position between #7 and #8 thrusts.

9. Turn body 180 degrees to L (unwinding legs) as k tip arcs through #1 , then (facing N) tip arcs through #2 as turn 90 degrees R to face E, then k spins 360 degrees on R side of body (butt crosses from L to R side of body : at beginning of #2 cut is on L side, tip moves W to behind body, then up and vertically down to point E) as step back w/R foot, retracting k to W, as L palmheel to E. Palmheel will be further to E than k tip. CHA!

Note: the arcing swoop is very similar to a 3-sectional staff spin. When begin this, choke up to middle of shaft, becomes faster.

10. Step backwards to W w/L foot (keep L arm locked out), then step forward to E w/L as retract L hand into wu sao and R thrusts k to E. CHA!

11. Turn 90 degrees L as step E w/R into a deep horse stance, end facing N. As you do so, grasp shaft w/R and spin tip to L in 450 degrees flat spin like a helicopter rotor above head. K will end pointing N, held in R hand, shaft resting along top of right arm and shoulder. R hand will face palm down on top of the shaft.

12. Throw k into L hand, grab in center and point to W. L hand is on centerline@chest level. Turn head only to look W and R fist punches to above top of head, thumb down, knuckles facing W.

Lesson Three

No new portions of the form, worked form for speed and flow.

Problems:

1. "Skating" try to get some airborne lift in the jumps.

2. - need to move fluidly, legs are too stiff.

4. Cross-kick needs to move to E of R leg.

General: loosen up. Work on low stances. Move arms at same time as legs, not one then the other. Specifically: practice #2.-timing OK, but stiffness looks bad and is too slow.

Exercises - prep for more moves:

1. Hold R arm extended overhead, k balanced on palm. Spin k cw as you make one full turn ccw(when looking forward, turn toward your L). Don't drop it.

2. In finished position of #2., kick R foot up to tap blade end of k. Keep L thigh horizontal, pop fast. 15+, switch legs.

3. Hold R arm extended overhead, k held in grip, but w/elbow bent slightly and protruding forward. Release k and let roll down forearm off elbow, then snap hand down to catch it.

Lesson Four

Do exercise 1 - 2 full turns. Work on speed and fluidity. Calling CHA! seems to help timing and energy.

Lesson Five

Added more to k form, still not sure I have it.

13. Reach across L arm w/R to grasp k near base, slide L foot E to meet R foot as stand, holding k vertical w/R in front, L by thigh.

14. Cross-step W w/R, kick k butt as step S w/L, turning 90 degrees L to face W in L fwd stance as slash (#1) to W (R leg pointed N).

15. R foot swings to W-E line as turn k tip 180 degrees to point E, tip a little higher than started (body turns to face E). As reach E-facing, raise k in R arm (elbow still locked) as continue turn R 360 degrees. End in low L fwd facing W, k base in R hand behind R hip, L palmheel to W, k butt over L shoulder.

16. #9 to W, as butt passes rear R foot step W w/L as turn 270 degrees R (facing N, k in front, vertical, point up) - keep tip moving up & E as bring behind R foot. Step W w/R to keep K in front of you (now facing S, k vertical in front, point up again). Step W w/L as turn 180 degreesR to face N (k still in front, point up), then step W w/R and turn 90 degrees R as k blade stops behind/beside R leg.

End in (high) L fwd facing W, k base in R hand behind R hip, L in wu, k butt over L shoulder.

Note: this is not the low stance of #2. This sequence should be done as a continuous double full turn to the right. start facing E in low L fwd stance, end facing E in high L fwd stance.

17. Step W (forward) w/R into R fwd as k tip fwd/up/L/up/R, end with k pointing N. Shift grip towards butt as do so.

18. Bounce back from R fwd into crane (L on ground) as jab at ceiling w/full extension (hands at butt, elbows locked).

19. Step W w/R, w/L, and leap w/L into full squat, k pointing W, ends at ground level, butt next to left heel. Feet side by side on S-N line.

20. Turn 90 degrees to face S (feet don't move) as flip grip (L nearer base) slash #9 to W as step w/ L to W, turning 180 degrees R to face N. Flip grip (R nearer base) and slash #8 to E, spin k 360 degrees on that plane to slash #8 again (butt crosses to R side of body) and follow slash w/L foot, spinning almost 360 degrees (L foot returns to last ground position, on W-E line to W of R). K tip is moving E, bring it W-SW and shave face as flow into 1-hand jab (L in wu) to W. As jab, flip feet into R fwd.

Note: this foot flip is not a step forward, the feet change places.

21. Turn 180 degrees R into #2 position facing E.

22. Slash #9 to E, as butt passes L foot turn 270 degrees R and step W w/L (now facing N), then W w/R as turn 180 degrees R(to face S), keep k rotating cw in front of you and turn 90 degrees L to face E as slash up #9 into (launch w/L) a jump-squat to E, full-extension jab to above head.

Note: "reverse slashes".

23. Step W w/L as turn 180 degrees to face W into L fwd (higher than #2). K across R shoulder, R near center, L between center and butt, butt pointing W.

Note: snatch butt w/L and yank to W as turn in order to slide k into position.

24. Step W w/R to behind L heel, then W w/L as snap k down in vertical strike to W. (L foot still leading).

Note: Step is sort of a stomp, sort of a reverse shock step. 2-handed strike, butt ends on R side of body, k horizontal.

25. Turn 90 degrees R to face N as k tip moves vertically to E. Keep k in fornt of you and spinning (#8 to cross behind body, but turn with it) as step E w/L (turn 180 degrees R to face S) and flip grip (L near base now), then launch into 360 degrees spin R leap to vertical/#8 strike to E. End facing S, feet W-E line.

Notes: spin leap, R foot steps E, then L foot steps E as spin.

26. Slide hands to flip grip (R slides up shaft to near base, l ), then rotate k cw (shave face) to point high W, jab above head to W.

27. Cut #11 to W as turn 180 degrees L and step E w/R(will be facing N w/feet on W-E line, K tip pointing W, arms crossed), and launch into 360 degrees leap spin. End facing N, strike #11 to E, R near base, k horizontal, feet on W-E line.

Lesson Six

Worked over k form some more, got errors ironed out (detail on last current move, and had forgotten entire sequence of (now) #16. RM said he's been ordered not to give us any more of the form until we get this part down. Now I need to practice with the correct stuff, as I kept slipping back into the way I have practiced.

Reminders:

* this is a weapons form for short people against cavalry. Most strikes will be higher than you might think.

* L.Ting-this is a weapons form for cavalry. Kwan dao per se is not an infantry weapon, the shorter-handled chai-dao is.

* Most strikes are angled more vertically than horizontally. Almost every move can be done in a 3-foot wide alley.

* spin the kwan dao. It weighs 13 pounds or so, keep it moving or pull muscles (like SCA greatsword). It's not a bouncy, feinting weapon like a 6' staff.

* use your body's spin, don't fight it. If you launch into a leaping spin, or walk through a turn, go with it. If you fight your spin, it probably means your arms aren't keeping up with your footwork or vice versa.

* Corollary: keep the kwan dao in front of you (generally). If a spin of the kwan dao means the shaft center is moving around to the far side of your body, you probably need to turn your body to face the weapon.