Culture Workshop: Chinese Swordfighting (Jian Fa)

A brand new Culture Workshop topic for 2017! Learn the basics of Chinese swordsmanship in the home of the British national collection of arms and armour.

Learn skills that date back thousands of years and engage with Chinese culture in a completely different way with this workshop at the Royal Armouries Museum!

Workshop times:

10am - 12pm (Free - book via Eventbrite)

12.30pm – 2.30pm (Free - book via Eventbrite)

3pm – 5pm (Free - book via Eventbrite)

Limited to 10 people per workshop. Participants must be over 16 years of age.

Laoshi (instructor) Paul Andrews will introduce historical Chinese swordplay (Jian Fa) from the Tai Ji Quan and Xing Yi Quan martial art systems. The workshop will focus on the basics of Chinese swordsmanship. The characteristics of the Chinese Jian (Straightword), how to hold the sword correctly, the opening movement and ready position, and the three fundamental techniques - Ci (Thrust), Pi (Cut) and Dian (Point), as well as methods to deflect and defend.

The workshop will introduce basic exercises to practice the techniques and how to apply these techniques with a partner. With these three basic methods you will have all you need to begin to engage in Chinese Swordplay. Throughout the workshop Paul will provide in depth commentary and hands on instruction, provide demonstrations and assist where required.

All equipment will be provided including safety glasses and wooden training swords. A safety briefing will be given at the beginning of the workshop.

The Chinese straightsword - Jian - evolved over 2500 years from the mainstay weapon of soldiers to a symbol of status and self protection wielded by the Chinese elite. The jian is elegant and requires skill and grace to master but remains a deadly and effective weapon.

Xing Yi Quan is a martial art developed at the end of the Ming Dynasty (1641) and focuses on the strategies of wild animals, the art employs an array of traditional weapons such as the long spear, sabre, straight sword and mace.  Tai Ji Quan is more commonly associated with slow health movements but was taught to the Chinese Imperial Guards by the Yang Family in the 1850s.

More about your instructor:

Laoshi (Instructor) Paul Andrews is the head instructor of Xing Yi Academy, teaching Chinese Martial Arts and specialising in Historical Chinese Weapon Arts. Paul is a Level 3 Xing Yi Instructor with the Yongquan Martial Arts Association and an Advanced Level Instructor with the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain. Paul has trained in Chinese martial arts for over 15 years and has also studied intensively in China. His experience includes extensive knowledge of the martial arts of Xing Yi Quan and Tai Ji Quan as well as many other arts. Paul competed in the 2011 European Chinese Swordfighting Tournament reaching the quarter final. In 2012 Paul reached the semi-final of the European Chinese Swordfighting Tournament and his student went on to win the tournament. Paul teaches Xing Yi Quan and Chinese weapon arts in Leeds, West Yorkshire and continues to study Chinese swordsmanship with expert Laoshi Scott Rodell from the USA.