In early 2006, the Australian GRTC group kicked off its training program for children with a seminar led by Center Director Scott M. Rodell and his son, Feihong. From that core teaching in jianfa, the program curriculum expanded steadily to include the first section of the Michuan empty-hand form, Yangshi Taiji Dao, and Silu Miaodao. Many students were able to train hard and benefit greatly from lunchtime and recess trainings held four days a week at a local school. Their enthusiasm was evidenced in the usual stampede to the training room door as soon as class finished. For those not attending that school, a Wednesday after school program was established.
The children’s training bears much similarity to adult training. The main difference is the amount of time spent on each part of the lesson. While adults can discipline themselves to many repetitions of an exercise, children can only concentrate on one thing for about ten minutes. A typical seventy five minute weekly lesson might include basic jian and miaodao cuts, two sections of jian form, a few movements of the miaodao form, partner drills, free sparring, concentration games, some push hands and some history. While there are many changes of exercise, the program typically only concentrates on one or two principles per lesson. For example, if the day’s goal is to put fajing in every strike, that is emphasized throughout each section.
Much of the partner work is done with padded swords for safety, though many of the children use more realistic wooden swords for other aspects of the practice. The wooden swords are never treated as playthings. By teaching the children to act as though the edge is sharp, they are more mindful and develop more genuine swordsmanship. When the student is deemed disciplined enough, they are introduced to steel swords. They learn how to pass and receive a sword, how to remove and replace a scabbard, how to cut correctly and how to take care of the steel.
In January 2009, the Australian program reached another milestone, hosting the first Traditional Chinese Sword League Youth Tournament. Sixteen children dressed in fencing masks, cricket gloves and gambesons, sparring with padded swords and doing their best to win the Under 18s or Under 13’s trophies. Even with forty four pool matches before the eliminations, there was time for a sword form competition at the end of the afternoon.
Today the children’s program continues strong with after school training sessions, private lessons, and supplemental Saturday seminars throughout the year. GRTC Australia continues to work hard to keep Chinese swordsmanship alive and well in the land down under.