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Trial by Blade – A first person
experience with a Tang-Ki and his sharp sword
It was 7th of December, 2003, about 10.10pm. After 7 devotees had
demonstrated the protective power of their Deities - through use
of sharp sword and saw on their bodies, it was my turn.
I was instructed to take off my t-shirt, by the same man who shook
my hand warmly half an hour ago for me agreeing to participate in
the demonstrations - the host of the night, Master Roland. Soon
after I shed my clothing, my bare torso began to respond to the
surrounding cold air with goosebumps, an indication that the rain
outside still going on since 5 hours ago. I also start trembling
to the cold weather, which did not help me to cope with the fear
of things to come – to be chopped by a sharp object.
Next I was told to stand still at a spot about 5 metres from the
South Altar, while facing it at the same time. Master Roland then
proceed to cast protective spell on me, starting from my back. I
started my silent counting as well. Beside feeling the cold from
surrounding air, I felt no abrupt change in temperature or
pressure within my body and on my back (SPI Agent [G]ate told me
that IR thermometer detected my body temperature went up by 1
degree when Master Roland was casting the spell), until I counted
to 21 seconds when I felt a small blunt object pushing against my
back. Master Roland soon walked to the front of me, holding a
wooden rod with his right hand and used it to make gestures, as
though he was drawing a talisman on my bare torso without contact.
By the time I counted to 47 seconds, Master Roland ended the spell
casting with 5 pokes on my head, chest and my abdomen from his
wooden rod – same feeling of small blunt object pushing against my
body 26 seconds ago. Other than that, my body did not register
anything odd or abrupt throughout the ritual. Finally I was asked
to turn around, on the same spot to face the North Altar. The
moment of truth was about to arrive.
Master Roland was standing in front me, flourishing the same sharp
sword which we did an experiment not too long ago, where it sliced
through apples easily. (The apples ended up in [G]ate’s stomach if
you really want to know). He gave me two choices – either a single
stab to the abdomen by the sword, or to be chopped on abdomen 3
times continuously. I think to myself : if anything went wrong,
either way could be fatal, so no use fussing over which method to
use. I let Master Roland to decide. It was a quick decision –
continuous chops on my abdomen.
I looked forward, took a deep breath, while my heart thumped
wildly like there was no tomorrow. I was very scared, and very
cold, but so was my equally strong curiosity to experience what
few had gone through. Master Roland patted on my flabby abdomen,
asking me to get relax before he readied his sword on my abdomen.
I focused all my attention on my abdomen, and for a brief moment I
could feel the sharpness of the edge, before Master Roland swinged
back and started the first chop.
The moment the sword made contact, I felt like I was hit by a thin
rod real hard. Instead of sharpness felt not too long ago, the
sword felt like a blunt edged object. At the same time my abdomen
felt like it was behaving like a trampoline, as though it was
springing off the sword, like water pushing off a cock. The
resulting pain from the first impact was so intense that I lost
focus during the second hit, but my concentration returned in time
for me to feel the trampoline effect on my abdomen for the second
time. The third and final hit was as hard as the first, same
feeling of being hit hard by a thin rod, followed immediately by
the springing sensation on my abdomen. It was finally over.
The first thing I did was to look at my abdomen. There were three
red line marks, and they were starting to bleed too. Beside the
intense pain, I also felt increasing soreness within my abdomen.
My experiences told me it will be an ugly bruise over the point of
impact. I looked up, and found myself congratulated by the
surrounding spectators for completing the demonstration.
Then I realised I had to start breathing, and smiling too.
Later that night, I looked at my abdomen and had a wild idea, as
usual - I wanted my abdomen to show me where the actual points of
impact were. So I left my abdomen unattended. Despite pain &
soreness, I felt nothing extraordinary for next 24 hours. As I
expected, a big bruise appeared on my abdomen and I took a picture
of it (See pic 1 – ‘my gung-ho abdomen’). Strangely, the centre of
the bruise was below the 3 line marks. My preliminary deduction
was the main impacts were below the area where the edge of the
sword made contact with my abdomen. How did that ever happen?
Overall, an unique death-defying experience for me, and other 3
scars for my body.
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