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Therapeutic Exercise
Patient Education
Instructor Training

Rokukan Tai Chi - Movement #10

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THE TENTH MOVEMENT
Sword Circle

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Preliminary Considerations

1. SWORD CIRCLE - This is a defense against an attacker who needs to be stunned into ceasing his aggressive behavior.

2. This movement is based on the image of swinging a sword in order chop someone's head off..

3. In this movement, the disciple is still dealing with the fifth and final agressor.

The fifth agressor is the only opponent in this movement.

4. This movement shifts from the balanced back stance, wherein all of the body weight is on the back foot, to a front stance, where 60% of the weight is on the front foot, and then back again into a "standard" back stance where 70% of the weight is on the back foot.

Question #7

The standard back stance has how much of the body weight on the back foot?

Write " 70% " on your Course Project Form.

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5. There is a peculiar physiological reaction that occurs when one is struck on the side of the neck. It is immediate dizziness, loss of balance, and (perhaps) unconsciousness. Here is why this occurs:

In the carotid sinus (part of the carotid artery system), there is a sensor that measures blood pressure. When a person is struck at or near this sinus (located in the sides of the neck), the blood pressure is momentarily elevated - quite a bit!

The sensor notes this rapid (instant) elevation, assumes that the blood pressure is "going through the roof," and instructs the central nervous system to immediately reduce the blood pressure (by relaxing the vessels).

The result is essentially "temporary shock," or an instant dropping of blood pressure that produces dizziness or blackout. We call it a "stun."

Question #8

A blow to the side of the neck can cause an instant dropping of ____________ ?

Write " blood pressure " on your Course Project Form.

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6. Note that this movement (#10) Sword Circle, and the next movement (#11) Straight Punch, flow together in one continuous motion :

But the maneuver is complex, and so we study it in two parts.

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SWORD CIRCLE

(Still facing West).

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The disciple stuns the final agressor by striking his neck with a right sword-hand.

This movement resembles the Swinging of a Sword in a Circle.

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The disciple moves the front foot forward (just a little) onto the heel on stepping stone #6. Then the entire body weight shifts forward and then shifts back again.
The weight shifts forward to #6 and then returns to #5.

(No change in direction)

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The disciple stuns the final agressor by striking his neck.

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1. From the White Crane stance, the left foot moves slightly forward so that the weight shifts onto the heel and flat sole of the foot on stepping stone #6.

2. The right hip bone (ASIS) is rotated forward, giving momentum to the right sword-hand that swings out in a circle to strike the left side of the agressor's neck.

3. At the same time, the left hand is pulled close into the disciple's side above the left hip as a fist with the palm facing up.

4. The swinging sword-hand continues in a wide circle and comes back around to rest in front of the disciple's solar plexus in a supine attitude (as though holding a bowl of soup).

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Common Mistakes

1. Not shifting the front foot slightly forward as the first motion.

The front foot must move first or the entire movement will be un-balanced.

Sometimes the front foot is lifted up in a kick before returning to the floor.

2. Not rotating the right hip forward as the second motion.

The rotating hip gives momentum to the swinging sword-hand (which now follows).

3. Not pulling the left fist into its position over the left hip.

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You may wish to tell your patients that :

A) This movement can be quite effective.

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