苗刀：传统技法 中华武风

苗刀，古称长刀，因其刀身修长、形似禾苗而得名，是中国宝贵的文化遗产。苗刀兼有刀、枪两种兵器的特点，可单、双手变换使用，在临敌运用的时候，主要劈砸头、肩、手、胸等上半身部位，威力极大。

The miaodao saber, also known as "long saber" in ancient times, gets its name from the slender shape of a seedling. It is a precious cultural legacy of China. Miaodao can be used both as a blade and a spear; with one or both hands. In actual combats, the weapon is mainly aimed at opponent's upper body, like the head, shoulders, arms or chest.

苗刀，刀身修长，形似禾苗。The miaodao saber gets its name from the slender shape of a seedling. /CGTN

作为非遗项目，苗刀在汉代便有雏形，唐代达到鼎盛，距今已有一千多年的历史。苗刀的刀形，决定了它的技击特点；刀脊比较厚，利于格挡对方的器械；刀尖部趋于直线型，利于刺击。

It has been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of China. Originating in the Han Dynasty (202BC-220AD) and having reached its peak in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), miaodao has a history of more than a thousand years. The weapon’s shape determines the fighting technique. The back of the thick blade is used to fend off the enemy's weapon. The tip is pretty straight, and good for stabbing.

除此之外，又能避开剑的极易折断的缺点。因此，骑兵出现以后，苗刀逐渐成为古时战场搏杀的重要冷兵器。

Miaodao can’t be easily fractured like a regular sword. With the advent of cavalries, it became an important cold weapon in ancient battlefields.

苗刀，可单、双手变换使用。The miaodao saber could be used single-handedly or with both hands. /CGTN

在很长一段历史时期，苗刀技法鲜有文字整理，主要靠代代相传。沧州是中国的武术之乡，沧州人的习武尚武之风有几百年的传统，至今流传多种武术技法，其中便包括苗刀。

With only a few written records, miaodao techniques have been passed down by word of mouth for a long time. Located in north China's Hebei Province, Cangzhou City is known as the hometown of Chinese martial arts. Martial arts have been a part of local traditions for hundreds of years. Many techniques and weapons, including miaodao, have been passed down among these people.

郭桂德出身沧州武术世家，自幼随父郭瑞祥习武。作为苗刀的代表性传承人，习武数十年的他，对苗刀技法有着独到的见解。

Born into a martial arts family, Guo Guide began practicing with his father Guo Ruixiang when he was still a kid. As a representative inheritor of miaodao, he has some unique views on its techniques.

郭桂德，苗刀代表性传承人。Guo Guide is a representative inheritor of miaodao. /CGTN

劈刀、撩刀、削刀、刺刀…苗刀吸收了通臂拳步法，招式多利于变换，在郭桂德看来：“在劈砍或削撩时，（苗刀的）刀脊和刀刃必须要重叠，且要双手使用，便于发挥手臂的力量。”

Hacking, lifting, cutting and stabbing: the moves of miaodao integrate the footwork of the Tongbi Fist, which is pretty flexible. According to Guo Guide, when you wield the saber, the back and the blade must be on the same track. Holding it with both hands helps release the arm’s strength.

双手使用苗刀，便于发挥臂力。“Holding miaodao with both hands helps release the arm’s strength.” /CGTN

除研究苗刀技法以外，郭桂德致力于传承祖辈的心愿，将苗刀技法整理成册，更好地流传下去。上世纪70年代，还没有文字证明苗刀的来源，郭桂德的父亲四处考证，著书成册，证明苗刀是中国宝贵的文化遗产。

In addition to studying miaodao techniques, Guo is committed to inheriting the legacy of his ancestors, editing written records for next generations. In the 1970s, there weren't any document about the origin of miaodao. Guo's father went around doing verification to prove that it is indeed a precious cultural heritage of China.

“（父亲）晚年给我留下最深的印象，是他眼也花了，戴着眼镜，自己披着棉袄，他每天四五点钟起，就开始写，留下了几十个小本子，上面写着密密麻麻的字，有很多他的自己研究成果”，郭桂德回忆道。

"My strongest recollection of my father in his late years is that he had dim eyesight, wearing glasses and a cotton-padded jacket on the shoulders. He got up at four or five o'clock every day and started writing about miaodao. He left dozens of notebooks with dense handwriting, including many of his own research results," Guo recalls.

郭瑞祥，郭桂德的父亲。Guo Ruixiang, Guo Guide’s father. /CGTN

受父亲影响，郭桂德亦坚持挖掘整理中国传统武术。在坚持不断地练习、研究、传授的过程当中，他对苗刀技法有了更加深刻的理解。

Influenced by his father, Guo insists on the rearrangement of traditional Chinese martial arts. He has dug much deeper during the process of practice, research and teaching.

郭桂德的苗刀教学。Guo teaches miaodao techniques in his class. /CGTN

“武术不光练的是技艺，它练的是人坚韧不拔的一种意志。”

"Martial arts cultivate the practitioners' skills as well as their indomitable will," says Guo.

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