Spear fighting had a direct effect on the Bridging Methods of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan.

The spear was one of the earliest weapons in mankind’s arsenal. Sharpening the end of a straight stick is both a deadly weapon and a weapon with range. The spear has been used in many cultures as a weapon of war. Yang Luchan and his sons lived in a period of time where that was the most prevalent weapon in warfare. Yang Luchan and Yang Banhou were both known for their spear fighting skills. Most of the early matches were with spear. The older versions of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan practice the movements of Ward off, Roll Back, Press and Push with the Spear in mind. The Five Elements of Hsing I Chuan were also heavily influenced by the Spear. The following example shows me using the coiling around the three centers of the forearm up to the elbow as a Bridging Method. This can be used to enter in or to Connect and apply another techniques while diverting my opponent off line and pinning his feet to the floor. These actions cause my opponent to keep losing his body position while mine is undisturbed. This bridging technique is extremely effective once one develops the deeper skills necessary to make it actually work.