Halberd / Guan’s Broadsword (Guan Dao) Form Listing

The Halberd, also known as the falchion, is one of the heavy weapons of Chen style taijiquan. It consists of a long blade at the end of a pole. The form is sometimes called da dao (big sabre/broadsword) but is commonly named Guan dao after a famous Chinese general of this name who wielded this type of weapon.  It is practiced briskly, using the skills from the yilu to use the waist to weild the weapon and to improve the balance of rotation and winding in the body. 

First Section

1.      General Guan carries broadsword   to Ba bridge (Guan Sheng Ti Dao Shang Ba   Qiao)

2.      White clouds cover your head, pose like a hero (Bai Yun Gai Ding Cheng Ying Hao)

3.        Raise blade as if waving a banner and embracing the moon (Ju Dao Mo Qi Huai Bao Yue)

4.      Three steps forward to frighten Xu Chu  (Shang San Dao He Sha Xu Chu)

5.      Three downward movements driving Cao Cao back (Xia San Dao Jing Tui Cao Cao)

6.      White Ape Draws the Broadsword and hack the top (Bai Yuan Tuo Dao Wang Shang Kan)

7.      Dance of the Flowers (Full Circular Movement) (Quan Wu Hua)

Second Section

8.      Tiger Leaps Suddenly on the Spot(Yi Peng Hu Jiu Di Fei Lai)

9.      Parting Mane Broadsword, warding forwards & backwards (Fen Zong Dao Nan Zhe Nan Dang)

10.  Cross Broadsword , Splitting the Heart (Shi Zi Dao Pi Kan Xiong Huai)

11.  Turn Waist like a Millstone, Circle Head & Twist Root (Mo Yao Dao Hui Tou Pan Gen)

12.  Wu Turn Body and Strike Upwards (Hua Sa Shou Wang Shang Kan)   

13.  Raise Halberd, Circling like Millstone, Hold the Moon (Ju Dao Mo Qi Huai Bao Yue)

14.  Turn Body and Strike Downwards (Wu Hua Sa Shou Wang Xia Kan)

15.  Sink to chest centre, Holding the Moon (Luo Zai Huai Zhong You Bao Yue)      

Third Section

16.  Complete Turning, Brush with Halberd Twist Body  (Quan Wu Hua Shua Dao Fan Shen Kan)

17.  Backwards Strike, shatter human Spirit (Ci Hui Yi Ju Chen Chi Ren Hun)

18.  Complete Turning, move left, settle into posture, (Wu Hua Wang Zuo Ding Xia Shi)

19.  White Clouds Over Head Turn Again (Bai Yun Gai Ding You Zhuan Hui )

20.  Full turning and Strike Upwards (Wu Hua Fan Shen Wang Shang Kan )

21.  Lift Up Green Dragon to see Body (Zai Ju Qing Long Kan Si Ren)

22.  Turning Body and Strike Downwards Right(Wu Hua Wang You Ding Xia Shi)

23.  White Clouds Over Head Turn Again (Bai Yun Gai Ding You Zhuan Hui)

Fourth Section

24.  Offer Wine, Pick Up Cloak, Suddenly Turn Back (Di Jiu Tiao Pao Meng Hui Tou)

25.  Turn Around Halberd, Grab at bottom (Hua Dao Zhuan Xia Tong Pan Gan)

26.  Turning Body Double Kick Holding Up (Wu Hua Shang Jiao Shui Gan Zu)

27.  Turning Halberd Bar Iron Gate (Hua Dao Zhuan Xia Tie Men Shuan)

28.  Rolling Curtain Step Backwards, Block & Close (Juan Lian Dao Tui Nan Zhe Bi)

29.  Crossing Strike with Halberd then Raise (Shi Zi Yi Dao Wang Ju Qi)

30.  Turn & Raise, Dragon Wades in the Water (Fan Shan Zai Ju Long Tan Shui)