Tai Chi Saber Form
The saber form is a little longer than the flute; it has more movements and takes less than three minutes to perform (compared to flute, which takes only about a minute). Videos from Master Gohring YouTube:
Tai Chi Saber I (with names)
Tai Chi Saber II
First Minute (no names)
Master Gohring Demo (about half the form, no names)
Demo (2:45) (with names)
Additional video can be found by searching on
Master Gohring's YouTube page.
The movements do have names, many of them familiar from the Long Form, but there is not always much resemblance. White Crane Spreads Wings is about the same, but Fair Lady Works the Shuttle is unrecognizable. The call:
Step Up Seven Stars Left
Step up Seven Stars Right
Step Back White Crane Spreads Wings
Turn Around Hidden Knife
White Crane Stands on One Leg
Diagonal Push Knife
Lift Knife Left
Lift Knife Right
Straight Forward Push Knife
Fair Lady Works the Shuttle
[End of Part I above]
Note: There have been a few changes in the form as we learn it now. In the video above, lift knife left/right is repeated; we are now doing only one set, left and right.
Center Lift
Middle Pull
Step Forward Horizontal Push Knife
Straightforward Push Knife
Turn Around Over the Head Hidden Knife
[End of Part II above]
Note: in the video (Part II), the next-to-last move is diagonal push knife. We are now doing straightforward push knife, which requires a stronger turn-in with the left foot to begin the next move.
Slice Up Left
Slice Down Right
Straightforward Push Knife
Turn Around Over the Head Hidden Knife
Slice Up
Slice Down
Slice Up
Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg
Right Lift Double Kick Hit the Tiger Form (?)
Turn Around White Crane Spreads Wings
Over the Head Hidden Knife
Heel Kick
White Crane Spreads Wings
Over the Head Hidden Knife
Toe Kick
White Crane Spreads Wings
Brush Knee Push
Straightforward Push Knife
Turn Around Over the Head Hidden Knife
I'm having a hard time nailing down the names for the movements in the last section of the form.
Push Boat With Current (one)
Push Boat with Current (two)
Push Boat with Current (three)
Turn Around Hidden Knife
Slice Up
Slice Down
Slice Up
Jump Step [what?]
Use Strength to Axe Mountain
Embrace Knife [what? Jump Step?]
Use Strength to Axe Mountain
Over the Head Hidden Knife
Close Form
Straight Forward Push Knife/Turn Around Over the Head Hidden Knife becomes a refrain I'll call TURN in the simplified version below, which is just how I remember the sequence.
Opening
LIFT KNIFE
FAIR LADY
TURN
BIG SLICE up left/down right
TURN
slice up/down/up
HIT THE TIGER kick
White Crane kicks to Brush Knee Push
TURN
PUSH BOAT
TURN
Slice up/down/up
Jump Step #1
AXE MTN
Jump Step #2
AXE MTN
Close
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