Grandmaster Tse’s Tàijí Fist 219

Shísān Gān 十三杆 – 13 Long Pole – Part 3

The 13 Long Pole has 13 techniques: 沾 Zhān, 纏 Chán, 絞 Jiǎo, 攔 Lán, 披 Pī, 崩 Bēng, 拖 Tuō, 掛 Guà, 橫 Héng, 紮 Zā, 抖 Dǒu, 架 Jià and 挑 Tiāo.

1. 沾 Zhān
   Zhān means stick (to something). When the long pole comes into contact with another long pole, it sticks to that pole, so that we can divert it away from our centre. Once we get it out of the way, we can strike and finish the enemy, or at least change their direction from towards us. Also, by sticking to the pole we can feel their strength. If the pole is strong, we can divert it, if their pole is weak, we can push forwards to their body. Zhān is a good skill.
2. 纏 Chán
   Chán means spiral, like in Chán Sī Jìn 纏絲勁 – Silk Reeling Energy. When we practise Chén Shì Tàijíquán 陈式太极拳 – Chén Style Tàijíquán, we use Chán Sī Jìn. With the long pole we also use Chán Sī Jìn. When we contact the opponent’s weapon, we use Zhān, then we can use Chán to spiral their weapon, flick it away from the centre and then strike them. Just like in our Tàijíquán forms we can Chan and use Shùn Chán Sī 順纏, which is spiral outwards and Nì Chán Sī 逆纏絲, which is spiral inwards. Which one we use all depends on the opponent’s energy.