Hi Bob,
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What is the difference between empty hand and sword form or is this just an extention of your arm (maybe). Is there any difference in movements or approaches towards the form?
As I understand it, you do want to get to the point that the sword feels like an extension of your arm. Another way of saying this is that you feel you can use the sword as you would a part of your arm. You also become very aware of the different parts of the sword--the tassel, the hilt, the edge, the blade, the point, etc.--and can focus your intent wherever it is needed.
The sword form follows the same Ten Essentials and pretty much the same basic theories as the empty-hand form; however, the energies, or Jins, are different. Rather than Wardoff, Rollback, Press, etc., you learn things like draw cuts, stabs, thrusts, hits, etc.
The sword form is also done at a different pace than the empty-hand form and also with more flow. In the empty-hand flow, you generally try to show complete outward separation of the weight, with total control of your momentum. In the sword and saber forms, you often shift weight only partially between the legs if this will help the flow. There are also a fair number of new stances that do not appear in the empty-hand form and a different ratio of the stances that do.
Take care,
Audi