Northern Style Broad Sword

Grandmother form, Kitchener, ON, 10-15 August, 2002

Mom & I went to Kitchener, ON, to train with world-famous Grand Master Pan Qing Fu. This was a fabuous trip and we learned a great routine which was specially choreographed for our group. This page shows a sample of the moves in this form, but really does not do the form justice. You have to see it in motion with all of the stabbing, slashing, and sabre-rattling.

Here is Mom showing off her new sword. This is one of the metal swords which Grand Master Pan brought back from China for our group. We could only use the wooden training swords in the park, but it was a pretty day so we snapped a quick picture of Mom with the metal sword.

Here is my sword, still in the case.

Mom and I spent quite a few hours in Victoria Park after class practicing the moves. Memorization of the major movements was the most frustrating part for me. But you also must know all the details to make things look right.

There were seven of us in all, Alice, Jan, Melanie, Catherine, Elizabeth, Mom, and myself in the group. I do not have a group photo yet but will post one if I can get ahold of one. Together we trained with Grand Master Pan, Dianne, and Suelen at least 3 hours each day. After class we did more training by ourselves. It was an exhausting schedule but well worth it.

Thank you to Grand Master Pan, Dianne, and Suelen for making a wonderful experience for all of us!

Here is Mom's resting stance. You get to this point after doing 3 quick slashes and a big jump. Mom has a very good resting stance, much tighter and prettier than mine.

This is me doing the same stance, I think I am just starting to come out of it. But it still does not look as good as Mom's.

This is a crane stance, I am just about to stab forward and make a big noise with the sword. If you fly out with a lot of speed and power you get a big noise from the sword, lots of fun and very showy. Also, Grand Master Pan and Dianne yell at you if the sword doesn't make any noise.

Grand Master Pan says that the Chinese Martial Arts will make you "more younger, more powerful, and more beautiful."

Visit Grand Master Pan online at http://www.masterpan.com . There is some more information about him at warriorspower.com.