Day 03: Overhead Flower Technique Basics
With Sabina Storberg
Welcome to "Day 03 Overhead Flower Technique," part of the Deluxe Edition of Sword Mastery Basics! This essential technique is a Jian classic and used often in WeaponUp flows and classes.
The overhead flower requires the wrist to flick up and down, and is often performed above your head.
How to Perform the Overhead Flower:
The overhead flower requires the wrist to flick up and down, and is often performed above your head.
How to Perform the Overhead Flower:
- Start on the left side of your body, with your palm facing up towards the sky or ceiling.
- Bring the tip of the sword forward, then behind you to make a circle.
- Flip the wrist so your palm faces down.
- Straighten the sword out.
- The movement can be described as if you are holding a pizza: taking it out of the oven, showing your guests by bringing it forward, making a little show of it behind you, and then flinging it onto the plate with a flick.
Stylistic Choices for Holding the Sword:
The video demonstrates two ways to hold the sword for this technique:
- Regular Sword Hold: This is demonstrated with the wrist facing upward, sliding the sword in front, and then the wrist facing down as you bring the elbow out.
- More Graceful Hold: You can hold the sword lightly, with your thumb just underneath the guard. Another option is to hold the index finger knuckle right underneath the middle of the guard. This allows for a gentler movement that goes up and out.
Practice:
The video leads you through repetitions, emphasizing that you should move your elbow and eyes with the sword, looking up at the tip when you start and looking to the side as it moves.
