Forms Library · CodexLast reviewed Oct 19, 2026
42-Form Tai Chi Sword Competition
四十二式太极剑竞赛套路
1988 年国家体委武术研究院、中国武术协会编定 · 42 movements · 3–6 min · Free
Counting · The official text says 全套动作包括起、收势共 42 个动作: 起势 is movement 1 and 收势 is movement 42, numbered continuously. Only 预备势 stands outside the numbering. This is the opposite of the 32-form sword and the 48 form, where the opening and closing movements sit outside the count — do not copy their rule here.
Derivation · Not a family form: the national competition sword routine, compiled for the 1990 Beijing Asian Games from the major sword traditions and standardising eighteen sword methods, five stances, three balances and three leg techniques.
Naming · No official per-movement English names have been published; the English below are common translations. Wording varies between editions: 弓步削剑 (not 斜削), 后举腿架剑 (not 后举脚), 进步挂剑 (not 进步挂点), 提膝上刺 (not 提膝收剑). The pictorial aliases sometimes listed for this routine belong to the 32-form sword and are not used.
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Preparation Posture
预备势
- Stand with the feet together facing due south, the left hand holding the sword point-up with the blade against the back of the left arm, the right hand as sword fingers at the side.两脚并立、面向正南，左手持剑剑尖向上、剑身贴左臂后，右手剑指垂于体侧
- Crown lightly suspended, shoulders sunk and elbows heavy, waist loose and hips tucked — calm mind, loose body.虚领顶劲、沉肩坠肘、松腰敛臀，心静体松
Section 1 · Movements 1–11
01
Commencing Posture
起势
- Open the left foot half a step; swing the sword, bend and hold it as the foot lifts; step up and extend the sword into a T-step; turn into the bow stance and point forward.①左脚横开半步；②摆剑屈蹲、抱剑提脚；③上步送剑成丁步；④转身弓步前指
- The sword leads and the waist turns, shoulders sunk; at the settle the sword fingers point the same way as the bow stance.剑领腰转，沉肩坠肘；定势弓步前指，剑指方向与弓步一致
02
Feet Together, Point Sword
并步点剑
- Step up and thread the sword; draw the foot in and part the sword; receive it in the bow stance; bring the feet together and point.①上步穿剑；②收脚分剑；③弓步接剑；④并步点剑
- The point is made by lifting the wrist so the force reaches the tip. Closing the feet should feel like drawing a bow — a stretch front and back. Guard against the point falling short of its target.点剑在提腕，力达剑尖；合步要"身披五张弓"、前后对拔；忌剑尖不到位
03
Bow Stance, Slice Sword
弓步削剑
- Close the sword and lift the foot; withdraw a step, turn and slice.①合剑提脚；②撤步转身削剑
- The waist drives and the sword extends the reach; hands part and close with the movement, the power spiralling through in one pass.腰带动、剑接手长；手分手合随势，劲走螺旋、一气呵成
04
Lift Knee, Chop Sword
提膝劈剑
- Sit back and swing the sword; raise the sword, lift the knee and chop forward.①后坐摆剑；②举剑提膝前劈
- The turn matches the swing and the balance matches the chop. Standing on one leg, the torso is vertical, the knee lifted above waist height and the toes guarding; the chop is a vertical blade cutting down with the force in the lower edge. Do not curl the body, and do not turn the chop into a wrist-flick point.独立时上体竖直、顶头立腰，提膝高过腰、脚尖护裆；劈剑为立剑自上而下、力达剑身下刃。忌团身屈腿、忌把劈剑做成屈腕点剑
05
Left Bow Stance, Block Sword
左弓步拦
- Circle the sword, turn and withdraw a step; block in the bow stance.①绕剑转身撤步；②弓步拦剑
- Sink the wrist and the body, the waist and hips leading; crown suspended, torso upright, the left foot angled into the bow stance as the waist brings the sword round and the hands part.沉腕沉身、以腰胯带动；悬顶正身，左脚斜向成弓步，腰带剑到、两手分开
06
Left Empty Stance, Lift Sword
左虚步撩
- Turn, draw the foot in and circle the sword; step up and circle again; lift forward in the empty stance toward the south-east.①转身收脚绕剑；②上步绕剑；③虚步前撩（方向东南）
- The waist leads the sword and hand and foot agree; moving from closed to open, the sword stays about a fist's width in front of the brow and does not overrun.腰带剑走、手脚相合；由合到开，额前三拳之距、不越前
07
Right Bow Stance, Lift Sword
右弓步撩
- Turn and circle the sword; step up and lift forward in the bow stance.①转身绕剑；②上步弓步前撩
- The shoulder is the pivot and the waist turns the body; the foot and the sword rise together and the bow stance completes as the lift arrives. Lifting is from below upward.以肩为轴随腰转，提步提剑两手分；弓步成而撩剑到，自下而上是撩法
08
Lift Knee, Hold Sword
提膝捧剑
- Sit back and carry the sword level to the left; withdraw a step and carry it level to the right, parting; shift the step, lift the leg and hold the sword standing on one leg.①坐腿剑向左平带；②退步剑向右平带分开；③活步提腿独立捧剑
- The waist carries the sword in blocking both ways and the withdrawal presses without losing attention; sink the body into the step and hold the sword with the mind centred.腰带剑左右格挡，退步压剑不分心；沉身上步随势变，提膝捧剑意守中
09
Kick with Heel, Thrust Forward
蹬脚前刺
- Lift the knee, kick and thrust the sword forward at the same moment.提膝蹬脚与剑前刺同时
- The right heel drives forward as the sword thrusts; shoulders sunk, crown suspended, joints loose and the body upright.右脚前蹬、剑前刺；沉肩坠肘、顶头悬，立身中正、关节松
10
Jumping Step, Horizontal Thrust
跳步平刺
- Lower the foot and extend the sword forward; jump, drawing the sword in; step up and thrust level in the bow stance.①落脚向前送剑；②跳步收剑；③上步弓步前刺
- The jump is a forward reach that opens and closes; you must be able to stop at any moment rather than relying on momentum, and land already stable.跳步先探身、屈身开合；没有惯性随时定，落地即稳
11
Turn the Body, Thrust Down
转身下刺
- Draw the foot in and the sword in; close the foot and turn; thrust down in the bow stance.①收脚收剑；②扣脚转身；③弓步下刺
- The turn carries the sword in one movement with the blade hidden under the elbow through the half turn; then step and thrust downward with hand and foot arriving together.转腰带剑一气成，肘下藏剑半转身；顺势上步朝下刺，手脚齐到
Section 2 · Movements 12–21
12
Bow Stance, Horizontal Cut
弓步平斩
- Close the sword and draw the foot in; open the step and cut level on the south-east to north-west line.①合剑收脚；②开步平斩剑（方向东南—西北）
- Step the right foot out diagonally, the waist turning the blade to cut across to the left; upper and lower stay together and everything comes from the waist and hips.斜开右弓、腰带转剑斩向左侧；上下相合，万变不离腰胯
13
Bow Stance, Upward Flick (Beng)
弓步崩剑
- Turn the waist carrying the sword; insert-step and block; lift the leg holding the sword; flick upward in the bow stance.①转腰带剑；②插步格带；③提腿捧剑；④弓步崩剑
- A movement from the Wudang sword tradition. Waist, leg, arm and sword must agree; the final flick is a releasing action — turn the waist, sink the hips, drop the elbow and snap the wrist so the force reaches the tip and springs loose. Do not pause after the insert-step, and do not let the lifted knee become a full balance.源自武当太极剑；崩剑为发劲动作，转腰、沉胯、垂肘、抖腕，力达剑端、发劲松弹；左脚插步后不停顿，右腿提膝捧剑不要做成独立步
14
Resting Stance, Press Sword
歇步压剑
- Raise the sword and insert the foot; press down into the resting stance with the point toward the south-west.①举剑插脚；②歇步下压（剑尖指西南）
- Sit back into the resting stance with the sword falling with the body and level with the ground; upright and comfortable, shoulder and hip together, the crown still suspended.退步坐身成歇步，剑随身落、与地平；中正安舒、肩胯相合、不忘头悬顶
15
Step Forward, Twining Sword
进步绞剑
- Lift the sword in an empty stance facing south-west; advance three times, twining the sword with both hands joined.①虚步提剑（西南）；②③④连续进步绞剑、两手相合
- Rise and lift the wrist with the right foot empty; the advance twines the sword counter-clockwise; covering and advancing steps move the body sideways, with the waist as the master.起身提腕、右脚虚；上步绞剑逆时针；盖步上步侧身进，腰为主宰
16
Lift Knee, Thrust Upward
提膝上刺
- Sit back and draw the foot in; thrust upward standing on one leg toward the south-west.①坐腿收脚；②独立上刺（西南）
- The turn brings the sword around and the hands together; the knee lift and the upward thrust happen at once, stretching front and back like drawing a bow.转腰带剑左右合，提膝与上刺同时；前后对拔如开弓，上下合一不稍迟
17
Empty Stance, Intercept Downward
虚步下截
- Lower the foot, raise the sword and support it forward; intercept downward in the empty stance.①落脚举剑前托；②虚步下截
- The turn carries the sword with the change; with the left leg full and the right empty, intercept downward — head suspended, shoulders level, body upright.转腰带剑随势变，左实右虚下截；头悬肩平身正，沉肩坠肘
18
Carry Horizontally, Right and Left
右左平带
- Raise the sword and lift the foot; step up and carry right in the bow stance; draw the sword and foot in; step up, bow the leg, turn the hand over and carry left.①提剑提脚；②上步弓步右带；③收剑收脚；④上步弓腿翻手左带
- Holding the sword with the knee lifted keeps the edge level; the step and the sword go out together on both sides, closing right and opening left from the waist.提膝捧剑剑锋平，出步出剑左右同；右合左开靠腰动，腰带剑走运不停
19
Bow Stance, Chop Sword
弓步劈剑
- Step up, turn and intercept downward; step up, raise the sword and chop forward.①上步转身下截；②上步举剑前劈
- To go forward, first go back: the step and chop turn like a wheel, and both the rear intercept and the front chop are led by the waist.欲前先后，上步劈剑势如轮；后截前劈皆腰带
20
T-Step, Support Sword
丁步托剑
- Lift the leg and intercept downward; turn, step up, draw the foot in and support upward in the T-step.①提腿下截剑；②转身上步收脚、丁步上托
- Close the foot, turn and recover the sword, the body upright as the knee lifts and the sword swings to intercept; the support guards the head above the crown, and the sword lies level in the T-step.扣脚转身剑回收，提膝摆截身体正；托剑护头高过顶，落脚丁步剑横行
21
Separate Foot, Point Backward
分脚后点
- Step up and grind the foot to turn; withdraw a step and thread the sword; thrust forward in the bow stance; circle the sword and draw the foot in; lift the knee and raise the sword, threading the sword fingers down; turn the waist and point behind as the foot separates toward the north-east.①上步碾脚转身；②撤步穿剑；③弓步前刺；④绕剑收脚并步；⑤提膝提剑、下穿剑指；⑥转腰后点剑前分脚（方向东偏北）
- The closing of the feet rises with the knee, and separating the foot while pointing behind is a balance test.顺势合步随膝提，分脚后点是平衡功
Section 3 · Movements 22–32
22
Crouch Stance, Thread Sword
仆步穿剑
- Withdraw a step and swing the sword forward; turn into a side bow stance and cut; turn the waist raising the sword; thread in the crouch stance due east; then thrust in the bow stance due east.①退步前摆剑；②转身侧弓步斩剑；③转腰举剑；④仆步穿剑（正东）；⑤弓步穿刺（正东）
- The withdrawal joins the hands and stretches front and back; the crouch presses the hands down and the sword threads flat along the ground like a snake.退步合手前后拔，转体分手两脚随；合手扣压成下式，平地穿剑如蛇行
23
Kick with Heel, Parry Upward
蹬脚架剑
- Turn the waist, turn the hand and raise the sword; kick, parry upward and point forward.①转腰翻手举剑；②蹬脚、架剑、前指
- The body twists and the hips fold as the sword turns over; the knee lifts and the kick goes out while the sword holds high. The form is steady and the sword fingers and the tip arrive together.拧身叠胯剑翻身，提膝蹬脚剑上擎；身正形稳、剑指与剑尖齐到
24
Lift Knee, Point Sword
提膝点剑
- Draw the kicked leg back into a lifted knee, bring the sword back to a steady hold, then lift the wrist and point toward the south-west.蹬脚收回成提膝，架剑还抱稳身形；提腕向西南方向点剑
- Upper and lower move as one; the wrist lift that makes the point comes from the waist.上下合一、顾盼定；提腕点剑是腰功
25
Crouch Stance, Horizontal Sweep
仆步横扫
- Lower the foot and thread the sword fingers behind; sweep horizontally in the crouch stance.①落脚、剑指后穿；②仆步横扫剑
- Sink the wrist and the body, the left foot stepping out diagonally into the crouch; the turn sweeps the sword into a low bow stance without the body rising or falling.坐腕沉身往下落，斜出左脚成仆步；转体扫出成低弓步，身无起伏方见功
26
Bow Stance, Intercept Downward
弓步下截
- Draw the foot and sword in; intercept downward in the right bow stance; draw in again; intercept downward in the left bow stance.①收脚收剑；②右弓步下截；③收脚收剑；④左弓步下截
- The sword and hands turn with the movement, stepping diagonally up to intercept; left and right differ only by the turn, and the movements join continuously.运剑合手随势转，斜上弓步截；左右皆同只一转，式式相连
27
Bow Stance, Thrust Downward
弓步下刺
- Stomp and draw the sword in; thrust downward with force in the bow stance.①震脚收剑；②弓步发力下刺剑
- The stomp is meant to startle; upper and lower combine into one whole force, and as the left leg bows the sword, the eyes and the body arrive together at the tip.顿足（震脚）为惊敌胆，上下相合、劲力整；左脚上弓，剑到眼到，整体合一入剑尖
28
Cloud and Smear, Right and Left
右左云抹
- Draw the foot and sword in; open the step and part the sword; cloud with a right cover step; smear in the right bow stance; draw in; open left and swing; cloud with a left cover step; smear in the left bow stance.①收脚收剑；②开步分剑；③右盖步云剑；④右弓步抹剑；⑤收脚收剑；⑥左开步左摆剑；⑦左盖步云剑；⑧左弓步抹剑
- Close the body first, then part the clouds with the cover step; left and right should feel like one movement, steady in shape with height controlled.先合身，拨云见日盖步行；左右如一身形稳，高低有制
29
Right Bow Stance, Chop Sword
右弓步劈
- Draw the foot in, turn the waist and wheel the sword; step up and chop toward the south-east.①收脚转腰抡剑；②上步劈剑（劈向东南）
- The sword hides under the armpit and turns over; the right foot moves up into the bow stance and the wheel and the chop arrive together.腋下藏剑、剑翻身；右上弓步移身形，挥剑轮劈同时到
30
Raise Leg Backward, Parry Upward
后举腿架剑
- Step up, swing the foot and hook the sword; raise the sword to parry, lift the leg behind and point back to the north-west.①上步摆脚挂剑；②举剑上架、后举腿、后指西北
- The body turns and rises lightly with the crown suspended, the raised leg and the high sword forming a bow drawn backwards.腾身而起势如宏；一身轻利头悬顶，反张弓之势
31
T-Step, Point Sword
丁步点剑
- Shift the weight right and turn, the right foot settling into a half crouch with the left heel drawn to its inside, toes down in a left T-step; point the sword down and forward to the south-east with the wrist about chest height, the sword fingers arcing in to the inside of the right wrist.重心右移、身体右转，右脚踏实屈膝半蹲，左脚跟至右脚内侧、脚尖点地成左丁步；右手握剑向右前下方点击，腕约与胸同高；剑指附于右腕内侧（方向东南）
- The T-step and the point must agree in time and the right arm straightens on the point. Do not let the two arrive at different speeds, and do not let the arm bend so that the point becomes a lift.丁步与点剑协调一致；点剑时右臂伸直。忌丁步与点剑快慢不一、右臂不直而做成撩剑
32
Horse Stance, Push Sword
马步推剑
- Withdraw a step and draw the sword in; step up into the horse stance and push the sword.①撤步收剑；②上步、马步、推剑
- Withdraw holding the sword to guard the body, then turn the waist like pushing a millstone; the horse stance trains stability and the change runs from ground to crown.退步抱剑剑护身，如老人推磨转腰；马步桩式多练稳，通天接地变化深
Section 4 · Movements 33–42
33
Stand on One Leg, Support Upward
独立上托
- Circle the sword and insert a step; turn, grind the foot and swing the sword; support upward standing on one leg.①绕剑插步；②转身碾脚摆剑；③独立托剑
- An outer wrist circle turns the body back; the withdrawal presses without pausing, the level smear skims past as if sweeping a horse's legs, and the lifted knee and level support cover overhead.外挽剑花转回身，退步压剑不稍停；贴地平抹如扫马脚，提膝平托盖顶
34
Step Forward, Hook Sword
进步挂剑
- Lower the foot, swing the step and hook the sword left; step up and hook right; step up raising the sword; point in an empty stance toward the north-west.①落脚摆步向左挂剑；②上步右挂剑；③上步举剑；④虚步点剑（斜向西北）
- Advancing in a continuous loop, each movement linking to the next, open and close measured and upper and lower together, so the empty-stance point completes one round.进步循环、势势相连；开合有度、上下相合，虚步点击一气圆
35
Resting Stance, Upward Flick
歇步崩剑
- Grind the foot, turn and withdraw a step with a reverse lift; withdraw into the resting stance and flick upward toward the south-east.①碾脚转身退步反撩剑；②退步歇步上崩剑（方向东南）
- Step up and part the sword as the body turns, the sword turning over as the step withdraws in one line; sink into the flick so front and back join — being able to separate and to join is the skill.上步分剑身形转，翻剑退步一线牵；沉身崩剑前后合，能分能合方为能
36
Bow Stance, Reverse Thrust
弓步反刺
- Lift the leg and raise the sword; turn, lower the foot and thrust in reverse in the bow stance toward the north-west.①提腿挑举剑；②转身落脚弓步反刺剑（方向西北）
- Hold the shape and look behind you: the left leg becomes the bow stance and what was the back becomes the front. The sword takes an oblique line and follows the opening, so front, back, left and right all stay covered.稳住身形看后边，左成弓步后为前；剑走偏锋、就势而进，前后左右照应全
37
Turn the Body, Thrust Down
转身下刺
- Close the foot and draw the sword in; turn and thrust downward in the bow stance.①扣脚收剑；②转身弓步下刺剑
- The sword and foot withdraw as the body turns, then the step goes out on the diagonal and the thrust follows the body in, hand and foot arriving together.收剑收脚身形转，斜向出步势连绵；顺势进身朝下刺，手脚齐到
38
Lift Knee, Raise Sword
提膝提剑
- Lift and turn left, circling the sword up; turn right and circle it down; lift the knee and raise the sword.①上提左转上绕剑；②右转身下绕剑；③提膝提剑
- The waist turns and the body draws in as the sword circles; advancing with the knee lifted keeps the sword guarding the front. Above empty and below full, the body is stable with front and back pulling apart.回腰缩身，进身提膝剑护前；上虚下实身法稳，左右对拔变化生
39
Walking Steps, Thread Sword
行步穿剑
- Lower the foot and thread the sword to the front-left with the wrist at waist height; swing the step and thread it forward and right in an arc with the wrist at chest height; close the foot and continue walking.①落脚穿剑（剑尖向左前方，腕与腰同高）；②摆步穿剑（向前向右画弧，腕与胸同高）；③扣脚行步
- Five walking steps trace a circle. The weight stays level, the left foot turning in and the right turning out on each step, hips sunk and waist wrung, the torso turning right with the eyes on the point.行步共走5步、轨迹走成圆形；行步时重心平稳，左脚上步内扣、右脚上步外摆，沉胯拧腰、上体右转、目视剑尖
40
Swing Leg, Parry Upward
摆腿架剑
- Carry the sword left; turn the blade over and swing the right leg out, then draw the lower leg back; lower the foot and smear the sword right at chest height; raise the sword to parry in the right bow stance with the sword fingers pointing forward-left at nose height.①持剑左带；②扣剑摆腿；③落脚抹剑；④弓步架剑
- On the outward swing the left leg bends slightly to stand firm, the right foot sweeping from the left in a fan of at least 135 degrees and no lower than the shoulder, matched to the sword turning over overhead. The smear stops above the right knee before the sword goes up to parry.外摆腿时左腿微屈站稳，右脚从左侧扇形外摆、幅度不少于135°、高度不低于肩；抹剑抹至右膝上方即收上架
41
Bow Stance, Straight Thrust
弓步直刺
- Draw the foot in and the sword in; step up and thrust straight with the blade upright in the bow stance.①收脚收剑；②上步、弓步立剑直刺
- The sword drops into the joined hands as the left foot steps up, foot and sword arriving together; practise upright with the spirit at the crown.落剑合手上左步，脚到剑到；练时中正、神贯顶
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Closing Posture
收势
- Sit back, turn the waist and receive the sword in the left hand; bring it forward and swing it down; draw the feet to a parallel stance as the right hand becomes sword fingers and arcs forward and down; bring the feet together to the preparation position.①坐腿转腰接剑；②接剑向前摆落；③收脚开立、右手成剑指向前画弧摆落；④并脚还原成预备姿势
- The waist turns as the sword returns close to the elbow and the left hand receives it in one flow; the body turns, the sword parts and the movement rises and falls — open the stance and the breath returns to its source.转腰收剑贴肘侧，左手接剑势相连；回身分剑连起落，开步站立气归原
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