OPEN PALMS AND POINTED FINGERS by Phillip Starr This is another short article directed primarily at kung-fu stylists. Have you ever wondered why, when performing a straight (double-edged) sword set, the first two fingers of your left hand are extended? Whats with that? Was the set devised by a troop of Chinese Boy Scouts, or what? And why, when using a broadsword, is the left hand left open? Why just two fingers extended for a sword and not for the broadsword? Again, Ive heard some very curious answers to these questions... “The extended forefinger and middle finger of the left hand (when performing a set with the sword) represent hitting vital point (dian xue, or “dim mak”).” Ive heard this one numerous times and it never ceases to amaze me that anyone could honestly believe such hogwash. It sounds like something out of a Class B kung-fu movie. “It represents holding a dagger in the left hand.” Get real. If that was the case, the set would include a dagger! There are several others but theyre even further awash than these first two. The truth is really very simple; for the most part (particularly with the sword), it represents holding the scabbard near its mouth with the shaft laid against the underside of the arm. In this wise, it can be utilized as a sort of shield, a solid blocking surface. It can also be used to strike and thrust, although the primary weapon is, of course, the blade. The open (left) palm in the traditional broadsword sets is not, contrary to what some people believe, used to slap or otherwise strike the enemy. Bearing in mind that the opponent is armed, trying to slap him with a bare hand might well result in your owning one too many gloves! As with the straight sword, the free (left) hand is often used to hold the scabbard and employ it as a shield of sorts. However, following a parry, the free hand is often used to seize the shaft of a long weapon (such as a spear) and provide an opening for the broadsword to penetrate. My teacher once told me, “If you want to know the level of skill of a swordsman, watch his free (left) hand when he performs a set...”
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 22:37:45 +0000
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