The straight double-edged sword has fascinated China for years. Considered to be the queen of all traditional weapons, it occupies a place of honour in the heritage of Martial Arts. Moreover, the spirit of the sword has a profound symbolic value in Chinese culture, thanks to which it transcends its practical use as a combat tool, sinking its blade into folklore, the arts and philosophy.
The complexity of its handling and the precision required by each of the techniques that give it essence, make the straight sword an instrument of martial refinement without parallel.This book presents a detailed description of the 32-Step Straight Sword Form: one of the most widely used and practised sequences of Tai Chi Chuan in the world. This sword Form is a simplified version of the traditional Yang style one that allows beginners and intermediate level practitioners to be introduced to the study of this emblematic weapon.