Classical Shaolin Quan

Volume IV

Jun Da Dao Shu

(Military Big Saber Art)
by

Huang Honfan And Huang Honchao

translated by Joseph Crandall

Smiling Tiger Martial Arts Pinole, CA 94564

 Copyright March, 2001, Joseph Crandall All rights reserved. ISBN 1-929047-25-8 (electronic) No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher. [ Smiling Tiger Martial Arts P.M.B. 110 1564A Fitzgerald Dr. Pinole, CA 94564

Preface
The Severing Horse Saber has a big edge and short handle. It is a good infantry weapon. It is especially good for chopping the legs of horses. The cavalry fears it. It has been used on battlefields from ancient times. My countrys military authorities have trained its citizens to protect themselves for thousands of years. They were trained to use the point and the edge and instill fear in the enemy. Therefore the military authorities look for experts to drill and teach the big saber. My teacher, Mr. Luo, used the Fan Gong secret skills to change and simplify the training for use in modern times. In autumn of 1938, I visited the Luo family in order to learn this skill. It was used extensively in battle. Luos style became famous in some places, but not everywhere. I have written this book so that the style can be spread everywhere. It is good for protecting oneself when surrounded by the enemy. One need not join the army in order to learn it. That is why I wrote this book.

An Description of the Saber

The length, from the guard to the tip, is 18 to 20 inches. Width at the upper end is 3 inches. The middle section is 2.5 inches. The lower end near the hilt is 1.75 inches. The edge is thin and sharp. The back of the saber is 0.4 inches. The circumference of the hilt is 11 inches. The edges rise up 0.2 inches. The handle is long and slightly curved. The handle is 9.5 inches long. The approximate diameter is 3.2 inches. When you hold the saber upright next to your side, the tip of the saber should come up to the shoulder. If it exceeds this then perhaps a short person can use it as a long weapon or a large person can use it as a short weapon.

Ancient and Modern Types of Sabers Examined

In ancient times, sabers were considered to be composed of five elements. These elements are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. In the saber they are called heaven, earth, king, minister, and teacher. Also in the Republic it has been changed to become heaven, earth, country, self, and teacher. Without a doubt, in both ancient and modern times, the focus is on the five elements. We can capitalize on the teachers words according to the true transmission of Shaolin fighting. When you hold up the saber, the saber tip makes heaven. The lower edge makes earth. The back of the blade makes the king. The hilt makes the minister. And the handle makes the teacher. This whole saber is drawn out in order to examine it. I examine all its details. It really implies that it has other meanings. One is so that I get an idea of its true length. Two is so that the saber and scabbard are properly displayed. You really never see it [the precious saber] waved about. It is moved with dignity (like a female slave dresses the wife). Since ancient times, martial artists have been fond of "precious sabers" and "precious swords". Those that owned a quality precious sword would grasp the scabbard and gradually pull it out in order to examine its edge and point. This is a poor way to judge the quality of a sword. Those that do it this way are putting on airs and making themselves look foolish. The correct way is found in the old martial arts of my country, and is therefore not leisurely undertaken.

Upper picture: When the opponent uses a long weapon to strike down on me, I use the counter-clockwise saber reverse upward assist.

Middle picture: When the opponent uses a long weapon to sweep across my lower area, I must use the sitting coiling lower blocking form to cut across it.

Lower picture: Practicing the form Cross shaped Horizontal Saber.

Huang Honfan is wielding the staff Huang Honchao is wielding the saber

1. Hold the Saber Center Level Form.

Explanation: Pick a spot in the west to make the beginning. The front faces south. The back faces north. The left faces east and the right faces west. The right hand hangs down by the side of the leg. The left hand tiger mouth faces down and grips close to the hilt of s the saber. The saber points up and the tip sticks next to the outside of the shoulder. Keep it still, it shouldn wave about. If not, then it is t easy to have the bad practice of a dancing saber. Your attention is focused towards the front. This saber posture is used to open the form.

2. Level Raise the Saber Form.

Explanation: From the above form. First the left foot steps back half a step. Pull the right foot back to make a right sitting tiger step. The right hand grasps the saber near the hilt and replaces the left hand. The left hand moves down to the pommel and grasps at that position. Raise the tip of the saber up. The edge of the saber faces outwards towards the east. The right arm makes a level straight line. Function: He uses a long weapon like a spear or staff to try to kill me. I quickly use both hands to raise the saber up with a flicking action. This is the core of the saber method. It causes the incoming weapon to slip down to the left or right. It doesn matter how fierce t the attack is, it will fall into emptiness. After it falls into emptiness, I return the strike. It does not matter how much power he tries to use on me, I can still do this. Knowledge of this method is one of the mysteries of this weapon.

3. Climb the Mountain, Sever the Enemy Skull . s

Explanation: From the above form. The right foot steps forward to make a right climbing the mountain form. Simultaneously bring the saber towards the front and cut slightly diagonally to the north or left side. Also the right arm is level, making the closed form. Function: He uses his weapon to strike down diagonally to my right side. I instantly advance my horse to get near him. I use the saber to diagonally stroke his neck area. This method pares along the inside of the weapon. To be a good technique, this posture must be quick and cause injury. If the weapon is long it is easy to take it by force from a superior posture. Advance inside his weapons range to make him regret his error. My saber can then strike him.

4. Leaping Step, Sever the Enemy Skull. s

Explanation: From the above form. First raise the left rear foot. Then using the back of the saber, reverse to the lower rear part and return. (see the transition form) Then leap towards the front and make a right climb the mountain step. The saber then strokes diagonally from the lower rear to the upper front direction. Function: He uses a staff to strike my kneecap. I instantly use the method of pulling the saber back to pare the incoming posture. Then I leap forward and bring the saber up to split his neck area.

5. Lying Leg, Horizontal Sever the Horse.

Explanation: From the above form. First change from the right climb the mountain step to make the right lying leg. The saber pares down along the upper side of the left from the north and strongly strokes back toward the south. Function: He moves his head to evade my splitting his neck. I quickly move the front edge of the saber and cause him to have to consider his danger. The idea is that in order to shoot the man , I first shoot his horse. To strike the man, you must first strike his hand. He moreover raises his horse and I do battle. If his is careless, I can wound his foot. He is injured and lamed by my severing his raised horse. This is also one of the fundamental qualities of the Sever the Horse Saber. Therefore when severing, do not forget to wound in the lower areas.

6. Sneak Away, Horizontal Sever the Horse.

Explanation: From the above form. First raise the right foot to make the single standing form. Lift the saber up like in the picture of the transitional form. Then jump back towards the west. In general, take a half step and make a right lying leg form. The saber, from above, strokes diagonally above your thigh. The edge of the saber faces back to the south with the appearance of strength. Function: He slips past my saber. Instantly he strikes at my lower body or knee area. I raise my leg to evade him. Then I jump back and split his weapon with my saber and cause him to have to change.

7. Sitting Tiger, Double Raise the Saber.

Explanation: From the above form. First pull back the right foot and make a right sitting tiger form. The saber, from the lower horizontal paring method, turns to point upwards. Function: He uses a long weapon like a spear or staff to try to kill me. I quickly use both hands to raise the saber up with a flicking action. This is the core of the saber method. It causes the incoming weapon to slip down to the left or right. It doesn matter how fierce the attack is , t it will fall into emptiness. After it falls into emptiness, I return the strike. It does not matter how much power he tries to use on me, I can still do this. Knowledge of this method is one of the mysteries of this weapon.

8. Leaping Step, Sever the Enemy Skull. s

Explanation: From the above form. First raise the left rear foot. Then using the back of the saber reverse to the lower rear part and return. (see the transition form) Then leap towards the front and make a right climb the mountain step. The saber then diagonally strokes from the lower rear to the upper front direction. Function: He uses a staff to strike my kneecap. I instantly use method of pulling the saber back to pare the incoming posture. Then I leap forward and bring the saber up to split his neck area.

9. Rotating Turning Sitting Coiling Saber.

Explanation: From the above form. First the feet do not change. From the high posture, the saber returns and scoops downwards. Have the edge of the saber face downwards. (see the transition picture) Then the left foot steals a step towards the front making a sitting coiling step. The saber, from the rear, then goes back in a circle. At the end of the circle, it then splits down to the front. Function: He uses his weapon towards my lower area to force his way inside. I instantly reverse the back of the saber to carry off the incoming weapon. Then I steal inside half a step turn the saber up to split his face. It contains the technique with the intent of striking twice. The turning and sitting coiling must be smooth. The sitting coiling and severing must be quick.

10. Wind Around, Sever the Enemy Skull. s

Explanation: From the above form. The feet don change. Bring the t saber back next to the left shoulder. (see the transition picture) Then turn to the left. Step around in a circle. Then raise the right foot to make a right climb the mountain form. The saber splits down diagonally to the front from the shoulder area. Function: In winding around, use this saber method to help protect your upper body. Moreover you can use this turn to seek out the enemy s weak points. When you become sensitive with this method, you can use this to attack his weak points.

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11. Slip Saber Block Waist Sever.

Explanation: From the above form. The feet don change their t positions. Shift to make a riding horse form. The saber, from the front, makes a half circle and levelly cuts to the right rear. Function: He decides to use his weapon to stop me from severing his neck. I wait until he is close and quickly slip my saber horizontally to cut his waist. This blocking the waist severing method is a core saber method. It makes the staff fear the middle level. The saber fears the blocking the waist as it is a similar menace. If you are not good, by understanding this, there is no one who won be killed by this. To get t skill in this, work arduously at it.

12. Sneak Away, Meet the Head Chop.

Explanation: From the above form. First raise the right foot. Then bring the saber back and raise it up like in the transition picture. From this raised step, leap back to the west. In general, the distance is one step. Then make the right climb the mountain form. The saber chops down towards the front from above. Function: He frames my block the waist method. And then he attacks my lower area. I raise my leg to evade him as before. I sneak away, turn back and chop down on his weapon.

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13. Sneak Away, Meet the Head Chop.

Explanation: From the above form. First raise the right foot. Then bring the saber back and raise it up like in the transition picture. From this raised step, leap back to the west. In general the distance is one step. Then make the right climb the mountain form. The saber chops down towards the front from above. Function: He frames my block the waist method. And then he attacks my lower area. I raise my leg to evade him as before. I sneak away, turn back and chop down on his weapon.

14. Diagonal Step, Raise the Saber Form.

Explanation: From the above form. The right foot steps from the east towards the south and makes a right sitting tiger step. The saber follows the step towards the south, and is flicked upwards. Function: When I continue to make the sneak away form, he suddenly moves to my right corner. He uses his long weapon to strike down on my head. I instantly use the flicking saber to parry it. From facing directly on then he turns to the corner to attack. If the method isn strong and stable then the enemy will easily put you in t hazardous circumstances. If the step follows the saber turn, then it s will prevent the enemy from being able to take advantage of it. If the saber follows the stepping turn, then my enemy will use the empty space to change.

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15. Leaping Step, Sever the Enemy Skull. s

Explanation: From the above form. First raise the left rear foot. Then bring the back of the saber back to the lower rear area and return it. (see the transition form) Then leap towards the front and make a right climb the mountain step. The saber, then strokes diagonally from the lower rear to the upper front direction. Function: He uses a staff to strike my kneecap. I instantly pull the saber back to pare the incoming weapon. Then I use the leap forward and bring the saber up to split his neck area.

16. Rotating Turning Going Up Flicking.

Explanation: From the above form. The feet do not move. Only bring the saber back and raise it up. The edge faces the rear. (see the transition picture) The left foot steals a step towards the front to make the sitting coiling step. The saber, from the upper rear direction, turns back as far as it can go and drops down. It then returns and cuts up from below. It comes level and stops. Function: He wishes to use his long weapon to block my splitting his neck. I instantly do a counter turn, reverse the saber, and scoop it into his crotch. The counter turn is one of the deadly saber methods. If it is no trouble I use the counter turn because it is easy. He does not have an easy time evading it.

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17. Reverse Body Sitting Coiling Saber.

Explanation: From the above form. The feet do not move. Twist the body back towards the north and make a sitting coiling step. The saber, from the counter turn, follows the body and splits towards the north. Function: He comes in my direction when I face the south. He rushes at my back to strike me. I quickly see him coming. I don wait but t turn my body and step following the saber turn to face his attack. s This method is as quick as lightning. It causes him difficulty in seeking to ward off my attack. And now I am in a position to quickly attack back, which shows how true these words are.

18. Wind Around Form, Big Posture Turn.

Explanation: From the above form. The feet don move. The saber first t turns past the left shoulder like the transition form. Then turn to the left. The whole body rises up. You must quickly turn to make a horse step. The saber stretches out from the left direction to split towards the east. Function: When I have many enemies surrounding me on all sides, I first bring the saber next to my body, I first desire to seek to protect myself. My whole body quickly rises up and causes the horizontal saber to cut all those around me.

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19. Wind Around Big Turn the Posture.

Explanation: From the above form. First bring the saber across the front. Turning to the rear, it sticks next to the left shoulder like the transition picture. Then rise up in the air. The whole body, from facing north, turns to face south. As before, make a horse step. The saber follows the body turn and cuts out to the front. s Function: When I have many enemies surrounding me on all sides, I first bring the saber next to my body, I first desire to seek to protect myself. My whole body quickly rises up and causes the horizontal saber to cut all those around me. With the above forms you can strike to the front and back, left and right, all around.

20. Withdraw Step, Meet the Head Chop.

Explanation: From the above form. The left foot steps back to make a right climb the mountain form. The saber, from levelly stroking, turns and goes back to the east. It then splits straight down. Function: He blocks my block the waist method. Then he stabs towards my middle or lower area. I retreat to evade it. I sneak away, turn back my body, and use my saber to chop down on the incoming weapon.

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21. Flick the Saber, Leaping Step, Split.

Explanation: From the above form. First raise the left foot. The saber slightly rises up like in the transition picture. Then jump forward one step. The saber chops straight down from above. Function: His weapon strikes at my head. I instantly use the transition form of flicking up the saber to block the weapon and then advance to chop his skull. The flick and split are smooth and continuos in this posture. And putting forth your strength is also easy. Moreover the leap and chop are like the water flowing down a big river. He won be t able to block this posture.

22. Flick the Saber, Leaping Step, Split.

Explanation: From the above form. First raise the left foot. The saber slightly rises up like in the transition picture. Then jump forward one step. The saber chops straight down from above. Function: His weapon strikes at my head. I instantly use the transition form of flicking up the saber to block the weapon and then advance to chop his skull. The flick and split are smooth and continuos in this posture. And putting forth your strength is also easy. Moreover the leap and chop are like the water flowing down a big river. He won be t able to block this posture.

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23. Sitting Tiger Horizontal Parting Saber.

Explanation: From the above form. Pull back the front foot to make a right sitting tiger step. The saber horizontally parts and returns to the north direction. Function: He slips past my weapon and attacks my left side. I first quickly change from the climb the mountain to the sitting tiger. Then I move the saber toward the left to disperse the incoming weapon. When the incoming weapon is dispersed, then I can decide what to do. I take advantage of the posture, and flow with the weapon. This allows me to find an opening in which to attack.

24. Reverse Saber, Sever the Enemy Skull. s

. Explanation: From the above form. The feet do not move. First bring the saber toward the top of the head and horizontally block like in the transition picture. The right foot in front advances and the left foot in the rear steps up to make a left climb the mountain form. The saber, from horizontally above the head, passes to the left rear direction and turns to cut horizontally to the right. The edge of the saber levelly faces south. Function: I parry his weapon. He turns, passing to my right rear to attack. I first use the saber to horizontally carry it off. Then I turn my horse and change my posture. I reverse the saber and horizontally split his neck.

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25. Wind Around, Block the Waist, Sever.

. Explanation: From the above form. First I advance my right foot and make a horse step. The saber sticks by my back area. It follows the step, turns to the front, and then goes levelly out to the front. Function: He sits in a horse and moves his head sideways to avoid my saber. I instantly advance my horse. The saber, from the back goes straight towards the front to block the waist and sever him. Perhaps there are many men surrounding me and I am in the center. I have enemies on all four sides. I have to use the method of winding around my body. The posture must make the people be wary. I first desire to cover and protect my whole body. Then, as the whole body spins, I seek to be able to rush the circle. This is aptly named From Death then I Seek Life method.

26. Diagonal Step, Raise the Saber Form.

. Explanation: From the above form. First the right foot moves toward the north making a sitting tiger posture. The saber, from below, is lifted up to the north. Function: When I continue to make the Wind Around method, he suddenly moves to my left corner. He uses his long weapon to strike down on my head. I instantly use the flicking saber to parry his weapon and pierce him. From facing directly on, I turn to the corner to attack. If the method isn strong and stable then the enemy won t t easily be defeated. If the step follows the saber turn, then the s enemy will not be able to take advantage of it. If the saber follows the stepping, turn then the enemy will use the empty space to change.

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27. Striding Step, Sever the Enemy Skull. s

Explanation: From the above form. First raise the left rear foot. The saber is pulled back like in the transition picture. Then leap straight to make a right climb the mountain form. The saber splits diagonally towards the left front direction. Function: He uses a staff to strike my kneecap. I instantly pull back the saber to pare the incoming posture. Then I leap forward. I reverse the saber upwards to split his neck area.

28. Wind Around, Big Turn Posture.

Explanation: From the above form, the feet do not change their position. Bring the saber horizontally past the left direction like the transitional picture. Then the left foot steps to the side and makes a horse step with the front facing north and the back facing south. The saber, from behind the back, splits towards the north. Function: When I have many enemies surrounding me on all sides, I first bring the saber next to my body. I first desire to seek to protect myself. My whole body quickly rises up and causes the horizontal saber to cut all those around me.

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29. Wind Around, Big Turn Posture.

Explanation: From the above form. In place the feet don t change. Bring the saber horizontally past the left shoulder like the transitional picture. Then the right foot advances to the west to make a horse step. The saber, from behind the back, reaches levelly towards the front and goes out to the west direction. Function: When I have many enemies surrounding me on all sides, I first bring the saber next to my body. I first desire to seek to protect myself. My whole body quickly rises up and causes the horizontal saber to cut all those around me. With the above forms you can strike to the front and back, left and right, all around.

30. Withdraw Step, Chop Towards the Head.

Explanation: From the above form. The right foot, from the rear direction, withdraws one step to make the climb the mountain form. The saber then flows in the same direction and splits down to the east. Function: He blocks my Block the Waist method and then stabs towards my lower area. I retreat to evade it. I use my saber to chop down on the incoming weapon.

31. Level Raise the Saber Form.

Explanation: From the above form. Pull the right foot back to make a right sitting tiger step. Simultaneously raise the saber up. Function: He uses a long weapon like a spear or staff to try to kill me. I quickly use both hands to raise the saber up with a flicking action. This is the core of the saber method. It causes the incoming weapon to slip down to the left or right. It doesn matter how fierce the attack t is, it will fall into emptiness. After it falls into emptiness, I return the strike. It does not matter how much power he tries to use on meI can , still do this. Knowledge of this method is one of the mysteries of this weapon.

32. Retract the Saber Level Form.

Explanation: From the above form. Bring the right foot back next to the left foot and stand up straight. The left hand comes near the saber hilt. Change the tiger mouth to make it go down. The right s hand lets go of the saber hilt. And use the left hand to take its place. Then have the saber stick next to the body and hang down. The right hand changes to make a palm. From below, it circles up to do a horizontal block above the top of the head. At this point, the form is done. Then bring the right hand to hang down so that both the left and right hands hang down. Then bow and make the proper etiquette.

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