TAIJI FENCING RULES Presented by the Taiji Fencing League

What is Taiji Fencing?

Taiji Fencing is a sword fighting sport and training methodology designed to develop the necessary "untouchableness," to survive a real sword fight. In taiji fencing, the two swordsmen (of any gender), attempt to tag their opponent with their sword, while escaping unscathed after.

The sport is generally practiced with wooden swords, and at a controlled pace. One of the foundational principles of taiji fencing is that of maintaining a sense of "harmony" with your opponent. Instead of swinging wildly, hoping lady luck will reward you, the swordsmen engage their swords in defense of one another, and then push and parry, while searching for a cut that simultaneously defends from the opponent's blade.

Taiji Fencing gets it's name from the art that it was developed from, Taijijian. Often times, Taijijian (taiji, meaning "the principles of the interplay of yin and yang;" jian, meaning "straight sword"), is practiced along side Taijiquan (Tai Chi Ch'uan). Because of this, the idea of speed is secondary to the principle of cohesion and control.

The following overview will help anyone get started in taiji fencing. Be sure to check out our free YouTube series also, demonstrating the basic ideas in the fencing sport.

TERMS TO KNOW

• DUEL – Anytime two swordsmen are fencing one on one.
• MATCH – The complete duel that decides who is the victor
• ROUND – A series of sword fights that reach a victory requirement, that go towards winning a match.
• ENGAGEMENT – When the swords have made contact during an exchange
• EXCHANGE – Once the swords are engaged, the exchange begins, where the swordsmen vie for cuts. There may be multiple engagements in an exchange before a point or a break is given.
• SWORD – The implement being used to represent a sword in the fencing match; often times they are wooden in this sport.
• POINT – Some events award points for successful cuts
• CUT – When a sword makes contact on an opponent
• COUNTERCUT – When a swordsman cuts their opponent after getting cut
• CLEAN CUT – When a swordsman cuts their opponent and escapes untouched
• DIRTY CUT – When both swordsmen cut each other during the exchange
• HARMONIOUS CUT – A cut that did not surprise the opponent but was still unavoidable
• DISHARMONIOUS CUT – A cut that startled the opponent, or disrupted the flow
• EXCESSIVE CONTACT – A penalty given when a disharmonious cut causes injury or is considered dangerously out of control.

The 9-Phases of Taiji Fencing

1. Pre-Match Phase (PMP) – This is the time you take to get warmed up, put your gear on, and everything you need to do, prior to entering the designated fencing space. This is the time between the declaration of the match and when they begin.
2. Set-Up Phase (SUP) – This is the beginning of the match and/or round. The swordsmen show respects, enter the combat space, and should be ready to protect themselves at all times. This is the stage before the swordsmen begin their combat.
3. Exchange Phase (EXP) – Once the signal is given, the two swordsmen vie for position, interlock swords, and then work their techniques in search for the first cut.
4. Escape Phase (ESP) – Once a cut has been landed, the person that did the cut must escape the counter-cuts of their opponent. When attempting to counter-cut, you are permitted two steps (in any combination), before the escape phase ends.
5. Acknowledgement Phase (AKP) – The swordsman that attempted the counter-cuts will announce that they were cut. The swordsman that attempted to escape will announce if their cut was returned by declaring "clean" (no counter cut was landed), or "dirty" (both swordsman were cut in the exchange). Points are awarded according to the event style.
6. Reset Phase (RSP) – After concluding the previous three phases, the match return to the set-up phase position, and repeat the cycle of phases 3-6 until the requirements for a victor have been reached. Any repairs to weapons, adjustments to equipment, or timeouts will happen during the reset phase.
7. Wrap-Up Phase (WUP) – After the final reset phase–and the conditions for a victory have been reached–the swordsmen will return to their starting positions, for a summary or wrap-up of the round results, with a declaration of the winner.
8. Match-Break Phase (MBP) – In a duel that goes for multiple rounds, this phase is the time swordsmen get to reset, cooldown, and re-evaluate, before cycling back to the Set-Up Phase.
9. Clean-Up Phase (CUP) – Once the final wrap-up phase has completed, there will be a match-break phase while judges and referees verify all the scores. When when all parties are ready, the results are given during the clean up phase. The swordsmen will show respect and be courteous upon returning the fencing space to announce the results.

In a non-competitive environment, often times the lines between phases are blurred. It is important to be on the same page with your partner. Once you have a rhythm with you opponent, the phase changes will go seamlessly.

How Combat Flows

Two swordsmen square off (with or without a referee), and show mutual respects.

The swordsmen then raise their weapons, and begin moving around, vying for the right alignment of the swords. This is the beginning of the exchange

At the moment of contact, the swords are engaged. The swordsmen push and parry until one can land their first cut. After cutting, it is the goal of the swordsman to escape unscathed by their opponent's countercuts.

As the attacker makes their escape, the defender takes two steps, while trying to continue their counter attack. If no counter attacks land their mark, then the initial cut is considered a "clean cut" and point towards victory is awarded. If one or more counter cuts land, then the exchange is considered a "dirty cut" and no points are awarded, as if the exchange never happened.

There are various ways to score victory in Taiji Fencing. Often times, a duel is 1 match, for 3 rounds, to 3 points each. Championship duels may go to more points, have more rounds or matches, or may be scored in a completely different manner. Often times the initial point of each round is weighted with an extra point, to mimic the importance of the real life first exchange.

SAFETY

Everyone will have their own levels of comfort and risk when it comes to fencing. The most important rule is to stay slow and in control, so there is no risk of injury. Once you begin moving at speeds at which you cannot control your sword, you are no longer practicing safely. Your opponent is your training partner, not your enemy.

• We recommend using wooden swords instead of metal swords to prevent serious injury;
• We recommend eye protection such as sports goggles or a face mask to prevent stabs to the eyes from causing injury;
• We recommend wearing long sleeves and pants, to prevent splinters on the arms and legs;
• We recommend groin protection in the case of accidental kicks or stabs below the belt;
• We recommend wearing a mouth guard to protect the teeth and gums from accidental stabs to the mouth;
• We recommend wearing a glove on your sword hand to prevent busted and injured knuckles from the opponent's quick hand cuts;
• We recommend wearing a glove on the off hand, so you can protect your face in times of an emergency with injuring your fingers or knuckles;
• We recommend being on good terms and in a friendly mindset with your opponent, to prevent dis-concern for each other's safety;