Grips and the Secret Sword in Chinese Martial Arts

Mastering the sword requires learning to project power into the weapon, but if a person generated power only on one side of the body, disorders would result. To avoid this, sword practitioners hold the empty hand with the index and middle fingers extended and the thumb folded over the other two fingers. When power is extended into the sword, it is also projected from the extended fingers of the empty hand to balance the energy. This is known as the secret sword. It is also used for applying cavity press when appropriate. There is also an open hand secret sword, which is occasionally used in some styles, primarily those in which muscular strength dominates the sword application. Click to learn how Chinese medicine treats Nocturnal Emission.

Fundamental Sword Training and Practice
There are two basic ways to hold the sword: left-handed and right-handed. The left-handed grip is used at the beginning of sequences, for defensive blocks, and to hold the sword while the right hand is used for a cavity press. The right-handed grip (Figure 2) is the usual grip for using the sword. The correct tightness must be maintained. If the grip is too tight you will lose flexibility and inhibit energy flow. If the grip is too loose, it is easy to be disarmed. The sword should be held like an egg, neither broken nor dropped. The grip