WU STYLE TAIJI SABER (XUANXUAN DAO)

內家拳太極功玄玄刀
THE TAIJI UNFATHOMABLE SABER OF THE INTERNAL SCHOOL
吳圖南著
by Wu Tunan
[published by 商務印書館 The Commercial Press, LTD, Apr, 1934]

[translation by Paul Brennan, Sep, 2014]

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - portrait 1

褚民誼先生
Portrait of Chu Minyi
圖南兄惠存
A souvenir for “elder brother” Wu Tunan
褚民誼
– calligraphy by Chu Minyi

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - portrait 2

吳鑑泉先生
Portrait of Wu Jianquan

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - portrait 3

著作者吳圖南肖像
Portrait of the Author, Wu Tunan

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - callig 1

吳圖南著
by Wu Tunan:
內家拳太極功玄玄刀
The Taiji Unfathomable Saber of the Internal School
蔡元培題
– calligraphy by Cai Yuanpei

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - callig 2

吳圖南著
by Wu Tunan:
內家拳太極功玄玄刀
The Taiji Unfathomable Saber of the Internal School
于右任
– [calligraphy by] Yu Youren

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - callig 3

吳圖南著
by Wu Tunan:
內家拳太極功玄玄刀
The Taiji Unfathomable Saber of the Internal School
易培基題
– calligraphy by Yi Peiji

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - callig 4

吳圖南著
by Wu Tunan:
內家拳太極功玄玄刀
The Taiji Unfathomable Saber of the Internal School
褚民誼題
– calligraphy by Chu Minyi

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - callig 5

圖南先生所著玄玄刀出刋
For Wu Tunan’s publication of Unfathomable Saber:
勞其筋骨
“Work your muscles and bones.”
吴鐵城題
– calligraphy by Wu Tiecheng

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - callig 6

國術精華
The quintessence of Chinese martial arts!
民國二十年十一月為圖南先生題 子昇蕭瑜
– inscription for Wu Tunan, Nov, 1931, by Xiao Yu, called Zisheng

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - callig 7

圖南先生鉴
Some praise for Wu Tunan:
術堪游刃遊刄
“You have the skill of the ‘gliding blade’.”
[i.e. the skill of the famous cook in Zhuangzi, chapter 3]
沓公翁徐思安題
– calligraphy by old Xu Si’an [Xu Tangong]

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - callig 8

圖南仁兄著太極刀法
To my dear friend Wu Tunan, for his book of Taiji Saber Methods:
馳騁至堅
“[The softest thing in the world] wears away the hardest.” [Daodejing, chapter 43]
齊勛銕𣥦
– [calligraphy by] Qi Tiegen

褚序
PREFACE BY CHU MINYI

余性喜運動,在海外時,於西洋各種體操,旣曾加以鍛鍊,熟諳門徑。歸國後,諗知國術之功用,乃從國術前輩吳鑑泉先生學習太極拳,習之期年,覺身心獲益無窮。於是一方加意鍛鍊,精進不懈,同時竭力提倡,期能普及。而思慮所及,輙有發明,如太極拳推手各種器械,多為同志所樂用,前歲去歐返國,舟中無俚,習拳之餘,覺其姿勢繁複,初學者習之,每感難習易忘之苦。於是而有太極操之發明。蓋其功用與太極拳同,而姿勢簡單,習之甚易,且難遺忘。然因斯而有感焉!
吾國之有國術,迄今歷數千年,不惟未能發揚光大,且有日就湮沒之勢,是可慨也。閒嘗加以思考,覺其原因,不外數種。後之學者,以傳授衣鉢為主旨,不復加以研究,故於國術之原理,茫然莫知,循其附會神怪之說,流入神祕之途一也。昔人對於國術,苟有一技之長,輙自矜奇,非甚親近者,不輕傳授,無民族之思想,遑論乎提倡與普及二也。是故吾人今日應力矯前人之弊,不當僅以國術謀取個人康健為幸福,應富於民族之觀念,視此為臻民族强盛之捷徑,則舍竭力提倡普及外,尤貴悉心研究,加以整理,使有系統,有組織,纂成專書,以廣流傳。或力事發明,創造新法,便利學者。俾能日有進展,發揚光大,此則凡我同志,所宜共同努力者也。
吳君圖南,從事敎育,精研太極拳二十餘年,旁及於太極刀劍之法,融會貫通,別有心得,前曾著有科學化的國術太極拳一書,風行海內,近本其所得,著述內家拳太極功玄玄刀一書以問世,余流覽一過,覺吳君之志,與予之夙願,不謀而合,不禁喜而為之序云。
中華民國二十一年,五月,一日,吳興褚民誼序于行政院秘書處。
It is my nature to love exercise. When I was overseas, I engaged in extra training in Western calisthenics, becoming very familiar with it. After I returned home, I discovered the use of Chinese martial arts and then learned Taiji Boxing from Wu Jianquan. After practicing for a year, I felt my body and mind had received limitless benefit. I therefore became intent upon further training and advanced enthusiastically, also doing my utmost to promote it so that someday it may spread everywhere.
     Having given it much contemplation, I have also made an addition to it. Taiji Boxing’s pushing hands and weapons sets are enjoyed by many of my comrades. But the year before last, while on the boat to Europe and back, there was no sense of ordinariness about it, and when I was not practicing the boxing set, it struck me that the postures were overcomplicated. Beginners who practice it all feel troubled that it is difficult to practice and easy to forget. I thereupon invented Taiji Calisthenics [also writing a book about it, published Aug, 1931]. It has the same function as Taiji Boxing, but the postures are simpler, and it is easier to practice and remember. It has affected people because of this.
     Our nation’s martial arts have a history of several thousand years. Not only are we not able to carry them forward, these techniques are vanishing into oblivion with each passing day, a pitiable situation. I have often reflected upon this in my spare time and feel that the cause of this comes down to no more than these couple of reasons:
     Firstly, successive generations of students have wanted to teach more than they have wanted to study. Therefore martial arts principles have gotten vastly misunderstood. By following their strained interpretations and obscure explanations, it has drifted down a path of mystical nonsense.
     Secondly, in former times, people thought of martial arts as a specialized skill, and those who had it bragged of themselves as unique. They did not lightly teach people with whom they did not have a very close relationship or who thought different from the local folk, much less popularize and spread their art.
     Therefore we nowadays should strive to rectify these mistakes of previous generations. It is inappropriate to only use martial arts as a way to gain individual health and happiness. We should instead have a deep concern for the well-being of the group, and we should look upon martial arts as a means of more efficiently strengthening our people, thus we should humbly do our utmost to popularize these arts. We especially should meticulously study them, arranging everything about them to make them systematic and organized, then compile them into specialized books to be widely circulated, sometimes even coming up new methods that are more convenient to learn if we have to. In order to be able to make progress in carrying this out, we will, all of my comrades, have to work hard together.
     As for Wu Tunan’s particular field, he has studied Taiji Boxing intensively for more than twenty years, including the supplemental studies of Taiji Saber and Taiji Sword. He has become thoroughly knowledgeable through study, not to mention what he has gained through experience. He has already authored a book, A Scientific Martial Art: Taiji Boxing, which is popular throughout the nation. Now he is near to publishing this volume on the saber. I have browsed through it and feel that his purposes and my long-held aspirations are the same. And so I cannot help but be pleased to write this preface.
     – written by Chu Minyi of Wuxing at the Executive Branch Secretariat, May 1, 1932

王序
PREFACE BY A MR. WANG

予于去年晤北平吳君圖南於民誼庽次,溫文爾雅,吐屬不凡,頗異乎其為人。旣而諗其嫺拳術,著有太極拳一書,風行各校,隸弟子籍者,徧海上!民誼亦極口稱之!
君自言遠師三丰,得柔字訣,與少林派之主張武力異。急難則防護可以應敵,平居則運動可以衞生,童髦皆宜,純任自然。言次,出其近撰太極刀法共百餘則,解衣試演,刀光飛舞,祗見霜雪一團,左右上下,騰躍萬態。神哉技乎!吾觀止矣!曩誦泰興朱君銘盤贈邱大刀詩,詫為形容溢分!今迺于吳君而遇之。
竊謂世界戰爭,競尚炮火,而短兵相接,大刀有隊,此宋斤魯削之所以重于古也。然非器械精利,手法純熟,則亦不足應用。
此書一出,他日莘莘學子,編練成師,為國家禦侮,吳君倡導之功不小哉!因書此以張之。
辛未五月季夏,中浣八日,新舊廢物。
I once met Wu Tunan of Beijing last year in Chu Minyi’s house. He is cultured, elegant, and remarkable in conversation, very different from ordinary people. Then I became aware he is adept at boxing arts and has authored a book on Taiji Boxing that is popular in every school and with every student in Shanghai. Chu along with them praises him highly.
     Wu expresses the ancient teacher Zhang Sanfeng, who obtained the secret of “softness”, distinct from the Shaolin school’s emphasis on martial strength. In an emergency, it can be used to defend against assailants. In ordinary times, it can be used to build one’s health. It can be practiced by young and old alike, due to its pure naturalness. As we were talking, it came out that he would soon be writing Taiji Saber Methods to share with everyone.
     He then took off his jacket and performed it for us. The shine of his saber danced through air, appearing to be a ball of shimmering snowflakes. Going left and right, up and down, it leapt forth over and over again. It was a magical skill I found incomparable. I long ago memorized the poem “Zeng Qiu’s Large Saber” by Zhu Mingpan of Taixing. I thought its descriptions were too extraordinary to be real, but now Wu has lived up to it.
     It seems to me that warfare throughout the world is valuing artillery most of all, but for fighting at close quarters it is the saber-wielders that have the edge. This is because of the “Song’s axes and Lu’s knives” [Rites of Zhou, Record of Artisans] type of value for what is ancient. But unless the weapons are superbly sharpened and the techniques are highly skillful, it would not be of adequate effectiveness.
     Once this book has been published, there will then soon be vast numbers of students getting together to practice the material to perfection so that our nation can resist foreign aggression. The training initiated by Wu will not be on a small scale, due to the spread of this book.
     – written by the “Modern Traditional Good-for-Nothing”, 8th day of the second ten-day week, last month of summer, 1931

自序
AUTHOR’S PREFACE

吾國武學,由來遠矣。黃帝刀戟之作,啓技擊之端;三代盛時,干戈之術,童而習之。蓋所以强族强種,衞身衞國也。厥後師弟傳受,各立專門。有以尚險為貴者;有以矜奇為能者,已漸失却提倡體育之本旨矣!
宋元之際,有張三丰先師出,因易理而有太極功之發明。氣分陰陽,機先動靜,誠已誠物,與道合一。然後諸賢相繼,世有其人,惜皆口授心傳,未供於世。雖有好學君子,不得其門,徒滋遺憾耳!予有鑑於此,遂於民國十七年冬,曾就管見所及,編印科學化的國術太極拳一書。謬蒙學者贊許,謂於提倡國術發揚光大之旨,不無微功。茲更應時勢之需要,賡緒成此內家拳太極功玄玄刀一書。大聲疾呼,為國民倡。用科學之方法,作强種之建設,中華民族,亦將有賴乎!
回憶淞滬之役,吾國大刀,嘗衝鋒格鬥,破陣殺敵!可見當此科學世界,吾國國術,尚能別顯身手。斯編行世,或可為殺敵雪恥,共赴國難之一助!希我舉國民衆,一致奮起,國術同志,努力宣傳。則於吾國前途,未必無小補焉!是為序。
中華民國二十二年,二月,二十二日,北平吳圖南序於上海中法國立工學院學監室。
Our nation’s martial studies began a very long time ago. The creating of weapons by the Yellow Emperor was the beginning of martial arts. During the Three Dynasties [Xia, Shang, and Zhou], skill with the weapons of war was trained from boyhood, thereby strengthening the culture and the race, defending both self and nation. It was thereafter passed down from master to disciple, each focusing on their own specialty. There were those who used it to spread cruelty and those who used it to help the unfortunate, and gradually its original intention of encouraging physical education was lost.
     When the Song Dynasty was being replaced by the Yuan, the founding teacher Zhang Sanfeng emerged and developed the Taiji skill in accordance with the theory in the Book of Changes. Energy divides into passive and active aspects, a moment which initiates distinction between movement and stillness, and in realizing both self and other, it merges with the Way. It was then passed down from the talented to the talented, each generation having its representative figure, but unfortunately it was always passed down by way of personal instruction instead of being supplied to the world. Although there are gentlemen who love studying it, they have not obtained the knack, and their followers feel what a pity it is.
     I took this as a warning, and so in the winter of 1928, I set out from my limited experience to write and publish a book, A Scientific Martial Art: Taiji Boxing [published Oct, 1931]. Exaggerating and ignorant students praised it, decreeing that it greatly contributed to the promotion of martial arts, though I suppose it was not without some slight achievement. Now, in further response to the demands of the current situation, I have continued by completing another book, The Taiji Unfathomable Saber of the Internal School, and I urge you all to promote it. By using scientific methods, we can build a strong populace, and the future of the Chinese people depends on this.
     Recall that during the Shanghai Incident [Jan-Mar, 1932], our troops were wielding large sabers, yet they charged forward and broke through the enemy’s position to slaughter him. From this can be seen that in our scientific world, our nation’s martial arts are still capable of distinguishing themselves. As this book becomes popular, it can perhaps work toward avenging the enemy’s insults and help us to work together during this time of national crisis. I hope our whole nation and all of its people will rise up as one, and that my martial arts colleagues will make a great effort to spread such information. Then our nation’s future will assuredly receive some small boost. Thus I have written this preface.
     – written by Wu Tunan of Beijing at the Shanghai Central State College of Engineering, Proctor’s Hall, Feb 22, 1933

目次
CONTENTS

第一章 總論
Chapter One: Generalities
第二章 各論
Chapter Two: Specifics
 太極勢
 [1] TAIJI POSTURE
 攬雀尾一
 [2] CATCH THE SPARROW BY THE TAIL – Part 1
 攬雀尾二
 [3] CATCH THE SPARROW BY THE TAIL – Part 2
 攬雀尾三
 [4] CATCH THE SPARROW BY THE TAIL – Part 3
 上步摟膝
 [5] STEP FORWARD, BRUSH KNEE
 分刀式
 [6] BRINGING THE SABER TO THE OTHER SIDE
 閃展看刀式
 [7] IN A SUDDEN FLASH, SHOW THE SABER
 左摘星式
 [8] PLUCKING THE STARS TO THE LEFT
 右摘星式
 [9] PLUCKING THE STARS TO THE RIGHT
 卸步擄刀
 [10] WITHDRAWING STEP, CAPTURING WITH THE SABER
 分心刺
 [11] STAB THROUGH THE CENTER
 左掛金鈴
 [12] HANGING THE GOLDEN BELL TO THE LEFT
 推窗望月
 [13] PUSH OPEN THE WINDOW TO GAZE AT THE MOON
 回身劈
 [14] TURN AROUND, CHOP
 回身撩陰刀
 [15] TURN AROUND, RAISE TO THE GROIN
 左掛金鈴
 [16] HANGING THE GOLDEN BELL TO THE LEFT
 登山遠眺
 [17] CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN AND LOOK OUT AT THE VIEW
 鷂子翻身
 [18] HAWK TURNS OVER
 大鵬展翅
 [19] RUKH SPREADS ITS WINGS
 燕子入巢
 [20] SWALLOW ENTERS ITS NEST
 進步擄刀
 [21] ADVANCE, CAPTURING WITH THE SABER
 迎面刺
 [22] STAB TO THE FACE
 翻身藏刀式    
 [23] TURN AROUND, CONCEALING THE SABER
 指襠刀
 [24] SABER TO THE CROTCH
 打虎式
 [25] FIGHTING TIGER POSTURE
 燕子入巢
 [26] SWALLOW ENTERS ITS NEST
 進步擄刀
 [27] ADVANCE, CAPTURING WITH THE SABER
 蒼龍出水
 [28] BLUE DRAGON LEAVES THE WATER
 翻身藏刀式
 [29] TURN AROUND, CONCEALING THE SABER
 上三開式
 [30] UPWARD WITH THREE SPREADINGS
 帶醉脫靴
 [31] HELPING A DRUNK REMOVE HIS BOOTS
 推窗望月
 [32] PUSH OPEN THE WINDOW TO GAZE AT THE MOON
 翻身藏刀式
 [33] TURN AROUND, CONCEALING THE SABER
 回身劈
 [34] TURN AROUND, CHOP
 回身撩陰刀
 [35] TURN AROUND, RAISE TO THE GROIN
 横掃千軍
 [36] SWEEPING ASIDE A THOUSAND SOLDIERS
 左掛金鈴
 [37] HANGING THE GOLDEN BELL TO THE LEFT
 推窗望月
 [38] PUSH OPEN THE WINDOW TO GAZE AT THE MOON
 翻身藏刀式
 [39] TURN AROUND, CONCEALING THE SABER
 回身劈
 [40] TURN AROUND, CHOP
 探海式
 [41] SEARCHING THE SEA
 撈月式
 [42] SCOOPING THE MOON
 卸步擄刀
 [43] WITHDRAWING STEP, CAPTURING WITH THE SABER
 分心刺
 [44] STAB THROUGH THE CENTER
 玉環托刀式
 [45] JADE RINGS PROP UP THE SABER
 七星式
 [46] BIG DIPPER SABER
 臥虎跳澗
 [47] CROUCHING TIGER JUMPS OVER THE STREAM
 迎面刺
 [48] STAB TO THE FACE
 臥虎式
 [49] CROUCHING TIGER POSTURE
 藏刀式
 [50] CONCEALING THE SABER
 盤龍式
 [51] COILING DRAGON POSTURE
 趕步盤龍式
 [52] CHASING STEP, COILING DRAGON POSTURE
 雲刀藏刀式
 [53] CLOUDING SABER, CONCEALING THE SABER
 護膝劈刀式
 [54] PROTECT THE KNEE, CHOP
 左掛金鈴
 [55] HANGING THE GOLDEN BELL TO THE LEFT
 臥魚式
 [56] FLOPPING FISH POSTURE
 藏刀式
 [57] CONCEALING THE SABER
 迎面刺
 [58] STAB TO THE FACE
 臥虎式
 [59] CROUCHING TIGER POSTURE
 臥魚式
 [60] FLOPPING FISH POSTURE
 藏刀式
 [61] CONCEALING THE SABER
 分心刺
 [62] STAB THROUGH THE CENTER
 轉身截刀式
 [63] TURN AROUND, BLOCKING
 靑蛇伏地
 [64] GREEN SNAKE HIDES ON THE GROUND
 分心刺
 [65] STAB THROUGH THE CENTER
 回馬提鈴
 [66] TURN THE HORSE, LIFTING THE BELL
 斜飛式
 [67] DIAGONAL FLYING POSTURE
 金針指南
 [68] GOLDEN NEEDLE POINTS SOUTH
 懷中抱月
 [69] EMBRACING THE MOON
 順水推舟
 [70] GOING WITH THE CURRENT TO PUSH THE BOAT
 斜飛式
 [71] DIAGONAL FLYING POSTURE
 提刀探海式
 [72] LIFTING THE SABER, SEARCHING THE SEA
 卸步閃展式
 [73] WITHDRAWING STEP, SUDDEN SPREADING
 進步劈刀式
 [74] ADVANCE AND CHOP
 左掛金鈴
 [75] HANGING THE GOLDEN BELL TO THE LEFT
 推窗望月
 [76] PUSH OPEN THE WINDOW TO GAZE AT THE MOON
 靑龍獻爪
 [77] BLUE DRAGON SHOWS A CLAW
 横掃千軍
 [78] SWEEPING ASIDE A THOUSAND SOLDIERS
 流星趕月
 [79] METEOR CHASES THE MOON
 斜飛式
 [80] DIAGONAL FLYING POSTURE
 抱月式
 [81] EMBRACING THE MOON
 乘風破浪
 [82] BRAVING THE WIND AND WAVES
 分心刺
 [83] STAB THROUGH THE CENTER
 右摘星式
 [84] PLUCKING THE STARS TO THE RIGHT
 左摘星式
 [85] PLUCKING THE STARS TO THE LEFT
 卸步擄刀
 [86] WITHDRAWING STEP, CAPTURING WITH THE SABER
 進步崩刀
 [87] ADVANCE, FLICK WITH THE SABER
 反臂插秧
 [88] TURNING OVER THE ARM TO PLANT SEEDS
 靑蛇伏地
 [89] GREEN SNAKE HIDES ON THE GROUND
 分心刺
 [90] STAB THROUGH THE CENTER
 轉環提籃式
 [91] ROTATING THE CRANK TO LIFT THE BASKET
 進步提籃式
 [92] ADVANCE, LIFTING THE BASKET
 雲龍戲水
 [93] CLOUD DRAGON PLAYS IN THE WATER
 翻身劈
 [94] SPIN AROUND, CHOP
 回身刀
 [95] TURN AROUND, CHOP
 臥虎式
 [96] CROUCHING TIGER POSTURE
 藏刀式
 [97] CONCEALING THE SABER
 進步交刀式
 [98] ADVANCE, EXCHANGING THE SABER
 摟膝拗步
 [99] BRUSH KNEE IN A CROSSED STANCE
 退步收刀式
 [100] RETREAT, GATHERING IN THE SABER
 合太極
 [101] RETURN TO THE TAIJI POSTURE
第三章 結論
Chapter Three: Conclusion

內家拳太極功玄玄刀
THE TAIJI UNFATHOMABLE SABER OF THE INTERNAL SCHOOL

第一章 總論
CHAPTER ONE: GENERALITIES

吾國開化最早,幅員之廣,人口之衆,物產之豐,甲於世界,宜可以臻於富强,雄視宇內矣。然至今日,衰弱至此,其故何哉?雖其病原孔多,究其主因,則在國民體質之不强健,精神之不振作故也。語曰:「健全之精神,恆宿於健全身體之中。」然則無健全之身體,卽無健全之精神也明矣。旣無健全之精神,欲求鑽究科學,應付環境,以競存於現世,豈可得乎?此所以病夫之國,恆致外侮;羸弱之民,難充捍衞,人為刀俎,我為魚肉矣!哀哉!著者有鑒於此,遂發憤提倡國術,自强不息,並期喚醒國人,毋再偸惰因循,泄泄沓沓,必須羣策羣力,一德一心,共為國術之運動,使國民之身體與精神,俱臻於健全之地位,則偉大之創作與建設,自有成功之希望。西人稱吾國為睡獅,殆將一吼而躍起矣!
昔黃帝有導引之術,開國術之端,三代盛時,羽籥干戈,童而習之。蓋所以强族强種,衞身衞國也。厥後專制帝王,不加提倡,惟恐國民一具健全之身體與精神,倘不滿于朝廷施措之時,無以應付,于是有重文輕武之舉。迨以文取士之制旣定,則國民終身埋沒于詞章帖括之中,對于身體之健强,已無暇顧及矣。此國家之提倡如此也。至于國民之本身,鑒于國家之忽視,則賢者不屑為,為之者,非赳赳武夫,卽椎魯細民,率皆不學無識者流,別派分支,私立門戶。間有獨得之妙,卽秘而不宣,以為無上眞諦。蓋恐後之學者,其將優于我也。殊不知「聞道有先後,術業有專工,師不必賢于弟子。」何况學無止境,愈研愈精,豈可閉門造車,管中窺豹耶?甚有囿門戶之見,入主出奴,互相仇視者,更不足論矣。旣不能公開講習,又不能筆之于書,中人以上,見其如此,又焉得虛心而問津者焉。此吾國武術隳落之一大原因也。
雖然,當今提倡國術之方針,果宜如何耶?必當去已往之惡例;除門戶之偏見;破秘守之陋習;闡公開之風氣。採用科學方法而歸納之;使全民均有練習國術之機會;於國術本身亦務使其合乎動力與心理;本諸生理與衞生。不拘時間,不限地方,不費金錢,不尚拙力,不論老弱婦孺,均可練習,則國術之地位因之日益增高,其原理日漸明確,其功用日益顯著矣!此非達到國術科學化,團體化,與平民化也哉?
至於歐美式之運動,固亦强身之一道也。然其動作激烈,設備複雜,未免失之於貴族化,故不足取也。且在同一之時間與地方,不能使全體同時練習,已失去練習機會均等之原則,至若歐美式體操,固能多數人同時練習,乃因其逕走直線,與生理諸多乖謬(詳見大東書局出版太極操中,)亦未能盡美盡善。倘自今以往,國人能全體一致,提倡國術,互相探討,加緊鍛練,不出十年,國民體質,均可强健,則健全之國家,亦可因之而產出,庶我中華民族,能與世界列强並駕齊驅,帝國主義自然聞風敗走,一切不平等條約,不待廢而自除。此非達到自由平等之地位也歟?
以此論之,國術之宜提倡,固不容緩。然國術種類繁多,何者有益於身心?何者合乎科學之原理?故於選擇一道,亦為當務之急。昔王漁洋先生曰:「少林為外家;武當張三丰為內家。」黃百家先生云:「自外家至少林,其術精矣,張三丰旣精於少林,復從而飜之,是名內家,得其一二者,已足勝少林。」於斯可見少林為外家之結晶;而內家又為少林之結晶。靑出於藍,冰寒於水。故吾提倡國術,自當取其晶英,去其糟粕。然則提倡內家拳似較外家為宜耳。誠以張三丰先生旣精於外家與少林,復能加意陶冶,融會貫通,斯為內家,實為上乘。予以為提倡國術,自應不尚險;不矜奇。簡而易學,用之不盡,庶易普及,而健康可期。夫內家拳者,固亦有多種焉。而今尚存於世者,惟有太極功耳。夫太極功者,養生之唯一良法也。以意氣為主,以骨肉為賓,身心兼顧,無過不及。至其練習旣久,則身體本乎天然優美之發育。非似其他拳法之偏於局部,作畸形發展。及其變化旣通,則週身之不隨意筋,亦能隨意活動,全體各部,均能發現一種反射運動。自頭至足,無一處不輕靈;無一處不堅韌;無一處不沉着;無一處不順遂。通體貫串,絲毫無間。自然心恬意靜,變化環生。故內家拳者,研究變化者也;外家拳者,研究方法者也。變化如循環之無端,方法有時而窮盡。兩者相比,自有天壤雲泥之別焉。且內家拳有神有形,形在外而神蓄其中。故其舉止靈敏,動作迅速,進退顧盼,無往不利者,其神全也。
孫子曰:「兵聞拙速,未睹巧之久也。」然則內家拳豈不然乎?其所以示人以慢者,惟恐初學者貪快,姿勢不易正確,動作不易自然。至其運用已熟,進退得體,攻守得當,敵速則速,敵慢則慢,所謂因敵變化,以示神奇。其內家拳之謂乎?
至於內家拳之源流與學理;姿勢與應用,已詳論於科學化的國術太極拳中,已在商務印書館出版。故不多述。惟刀劍諸法,世少其傳,曩昔攻城野戰,莫不恃器械以致勝。故研究國術者,對於刀劍諸法,亦不可不知。予陋甚,醉心國術,二十餘年,嘗思多所撰述,以廣流傳,無如每以事牽,時作時輟。民十八春,草創太極刀法,旋以憂於采薪,未能卒其業。今秋來滬,竟於公餘而草成之,亦一快事也。
予刀法旣成,適値同道諸公,函請付梓,督促甚急,予亦不揣愚陋,僅就管見所及,筆之於書,命名為內家拳太極功玄玄刀。蓋玄玄者,無窮之意也。又張三丰先師之道號也。以示後之學者,知刀法之傳,自三丰先師始,而其變化,玄之又玄,奧妙無窮也。且刀法之名目,久已失傳,無法可考。予乃按其各勢之形態,與應用之方法,互相參酌,為之一一擬訂,至其如何練習?如何應用?均分述之於後。聊備有志國術者,作為參考而已。
雖然,近世發明火器,攻堅射遠,勢足嚇人。然而酣戰之際,肉迫交綏,亦恆賴乎白刃。故玄玄刀者,仍能作火器之後盾也哉!是為論。
Our nation, the earliest to become civilized, has the vastest terrain, the largest population, and the most abundant resources in the world. We should be able to be prosperous and strong, and gain the respect of the world. But nowadays we are so enfeebled, how could we ever? Although there are a great many sources of our sickness, when we seek for the main cause, it is that the citizens are unhealthy in body and inactive in spirit.
     A saying goes: “Strengthening the spirit always lies in strengthening the body.” And so it is indeed the case that without strengthening the body, there is no strengthening of the spirit. Without strengthening our spirit so we can conduct the scientific research that will help us fix our circumstances, what chance will we have in the fight for survival in the modern world? The reason a sick nation always invites bullying by foreign countries is that a weakened populace can hardly defend itself. The enemy is the chopping blade while we are but the fish flesh on the chopping block. Alas.
     In view of this situation, I have firmly decided to promote Chinese martial arts so that we may “ceaselessly improve ourselves” [Book of Changes, hexagram 1] and awaken our fellow countrymen so they do not continue to idly sit back and allow the same things to happen over and over. We must work together, all with the same purpose, that of community-wide exercise in martial arts, to bring our people to a position of strength in both body and spirit. Then we will mightily create and build, and we will have success in our hopes. Westerners consider our nation to be lacking in vitality, and they are on the verge of giving a roar and leaping at us.
     In ancient times, the Yellow Emperor had his limbering arts, which were the beginning of martial arts. During the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, dancing, music, and skill with weapons were trained from boyhood, thereby strengthening the culture and the race, defending both self and nation. Thereafter, despotic rulers ceased to encourage it, for fear that if the citizenry had a means for strengthening body and spirit, they would resist the government when they were dissatisfied and there would be no way to deal with them, and thus was begun the elevating of literary pursuits above martial ones. Once the system was established of selecting men for government positions by means of literary training, citizens spent their whole lives buried in poetry and prose. As for the health of the body, there was no time to attend to it. This is what our nation encouraged.
     As for the citizens themselves, they were ignored by the nation, and even the virtuous disdained to do anything for them. Those who did do something for them were none of them a “valiant martial man” [Book of Poems, poem 7], but instead the oafs among the ordinary people, leading everyone along to drift in uneducated ignorance. Systems branched off into privately run schools. Within was the charm of having something to themselves, and by keeping it secret, they were under the impression they possessed some supreme truth.
     They feared that later generations of students would surpass them, and so they clearly had no awareness of these ideas [from Xia Zhirong’s “On Teachers”]: “In becoming enlightened, there is a process. In developing a skill, there is concentrated study… [The student is not necessarily inferior to the teacher] and the teacher is not necessarily superior to the student”. They were even more unaware that there is no end to learning. The more we study, the more details we notice. How can we close ourselves away from the world and hope to achieve anything? [“Making a cart behind closed doors, (you will have to come out to attach the wheels).” – from Zhu Xi’s Questions on the Zhong Yong, book 3] How can we really even see the world when looking at with such a limited scope? [“Peering at a leopard through a pipe, (all that will be seen is a spot.)” – from Liu Yiqing’s A New Account of Tales of the World, part 5]
     So constrained by sectarian bias, they “followed what they considered superior doctrines and rejected what they considered inferior” [from Han Yu’s “Original Way”]. These teachers looked upon each other as rivals and never discussed their arts with each other, and so they were unwilling to conduct public classes or record the material in books. When ordinary people see these things to be the case, why would they open their hearts to these arts and ask for guidance in them? This is the major reason our nation’s martial arts have been lost.
     How then are we to implement the current policy of promoting martial arts? We must do away with previous bad examples, get rid of sectarian bias, smash the corrupt habit of guarded secrecy, and give these arts to the public as something we all have in common. Presenting martial arts more scientifically will make it more understandable, thereby granting everyone the opportunity to practice. Martial arts themselves indeed should be conforming to mechanics and psychology, already based in physiology and health maintenance.
     There are no limits of time nor restrictions of space. No money is required and there is no need to put forth excessive effort. Regardless of old and weak, woman or child, all can practice. Thus the status of martial arts will daily improve, their principles will become gradually clearer, and their uses will increasingly manifest. Will this not make martial arts more scientific, more organized, and more popular?
     European and American styles of exercise are indeed also a way of strengthening the body. But the movements are strenuous and the equipment is complex, and so they really fail to ennoble people. Therefore they are not worth emulating. Furthermore, because people have to wait their turn to use athletic facilities, such exercise cannot enable the entire populace to practice simultaneously, already violating the principle of equal opportunity practice.
     In the case of European and American calisthenics, they certainly can be practiced by large numbers of people at the same time, but because they move in paths of straight lines, which is rather absurd physiologically (See [Chu Minyi’s] Taiji Calisthenics [which are more curved in movement than the Western version], published by Great East Bookstore.), they are thus incapable of being either entirely beautiful or entirely beneficial.
     If from now on our fellow countrymen can unanimously recommend martial arts, delving into them together, physical exercise will grow faster, and then within ten years, every citizen can have a healthy constitution, thereby strengthening the nation, and as a product of that, our Chinese nation can keep up with the world’s great powers. When empires hear of this [referring here particularly to Japan], they are sure to run away in defeat, and they will throw out all of their unfair treaties without even waiting for them to be rejected. By this means, we will achieve a position of freedom and equal standing.
     It is apparent therefore that martial arts should be promoted and that this truly must not be postponed. However, there is a great variety of martial arts. Which are best for body and mind? Which most conform to scientific principles? Selecting a method is therefore also a top priority.
     Wang Yuyang said: “Shaolin is the external school. Zhang Sanfeng of Wudang is the internal school.” It was said by Huang Baijia: “Shaolin is the peak of refinement for the external arts. Zhang Sanfeng was a Shaolin expert, but he turned the art on its head and thereby created the internal school. Obtaining just a little bit of it is enough to defeat Shaolin.” It can be seen from this that though Shaolin is the crystallization of the external school, the internal school is the fulfillment of Shaolin, just as lush hillside begins with younger grass and ice comes from the freezing of water.
     Therefore in the promoting of martial arts, we should of course select the best and ignore the worst, and thus we should recommend the internal school over the external school. Seeing as Zhang Sanfeng was actually an expert of the external school through Shaolin and achieved mastery after he was able with careful attention to mold it into something else, this indicates the internal school is indeed the better vehicle.
     I believe that in the promoting of martial arts, one should not admire the ones that are risky or look dramatic, but instead those that are simple and easy to learn, unexhausting to perform, easily spread to large numbers of people, and guarantee better health. It is the internal school that indeed has all of these qualities.
     Still surviving in the world is the Taiji skill. It is an excellent method for cultivating health. Intention and energy are in charge. Bone and flesh are subordinate. Body and mind are equally involved, neither being over-emphasized nor under-emphasized. After practicing it over a long period, your body will naturally develop gracefulness. This is different from other boxing methods that overemphasize certain sections of the body and lead to abnormal development.
     Once you have been transformed by it, the involuntary muscles throughout your body can become more subject to voluntary movement, and so every part of your body can realize heightened reflexes. From head to foot, there is no part that is not nimble, no part that is not resilient, no part that is not calm, no part that does not flow. There is a coursing through the entire body without the slightest discontinuity, naturally soothing the mind and quieting the intention, and change is endlessly generated.
     The internal school is a study in adaptability, whereas the external school is a study of techniques. Changes cycle without end, whereas techniques at some point finish. Comparing the two, they are as different in the world as cloud and mud. Furthermore, the internal school includes both spirit and posture. Posture is what is on outside, spirit stored within. Therefore your manner will be alert, your movement prompt, you will succeed whether advancing, retreating, going to the left or right, and it will all be a matter of spirit.
     Sunzi said [Art of War, chapter 2]: “Mindless speed has sometimes been heard to succeed, but skilled tactics have never been seen to draw out a conflict.” The internal school of boxing is no different, and thus students are given a demonstration of slowness. However, I fear that beginners will hanker for speed, and the postures will not then easily be corrected nor the movements easily feel natural. Once you are skillful at it, advancing and retreating will be done properly, and attacking and defending will be done appropriately. When the opponent moves quickly, act quickly. When the opponent moves slowly, act slowly. Thus it is said [Thirteen Dynamics Song]: “The magic lies in making adjustments based on being receptive to the opponent.” This is the voice of the internal school of boxing [based on an Art of War quote, chapter 6: “One who is able to seize victory because of the enemy’s changes can deservedly be described a magician.”].
     As for the origin and principles of the internal school of boxing, as well its postures and applications, I have already discussed this in detail in A Scientific Martial Art: Taiji Boxing, published by Commercial Press, LTD. I will therefore not go into very much of it here. However, the saber and sword methods have rarely been taught. In former times, when laying siege to cities or clashing on battlefields, victory always depended on weaponry. Therefore in studying martial arts, the saber and sword methods also have to be understood.
     Though I am untalented, I have been infatuated with martial arts for more than twenty years. I often thought about producing writings and having them widely spread. Unfortunately I was frequently being interrupted by life and so the work was very sporadic. In the spring of 1929, I made a manuscript of Taiji Saber Methods, which I then despondently threw on the fire, so incapable was I of finishing the task. This autumn, I came to Shanghai and eventually had spare time to write it, and it was now a pleasure to do so.
     My Saber Methods was completed just as other gentlemen had the same thoughts in mind. I received a letter inviting me to publish it and urging me to do it quickly. Though I am untalented and have only limited experience, I made the book, now titling it The Taiji Unfathomable Saber of the Internal School. The intention of “unfathomable” is that it is limitless. It is also one of the Daoist names of Zhang Sanfeng [“Xuanxuan” – indicating that we could think of the “Unfathomable Saber” also as the “Zhang Sanfeng Saber”]. This is to make later generations of students aware that the transmission of these saber methods came from Zhang. It is its quality of transformation that makes it so “unfathomable”, endlessly mysterious.
     The names of the saber techniques have long been lost to time and there is no way we can examine them. I have thus considered how the features of each posture are interrelated with the methods of their applications, then named them one after another according to how they are to be practiced and how they are to be applied. They are each described individually below. To provide for those who have an ambition for martial arts, I have done this simply for the sake of reference.
     Despite the invention of modern firearms which can attack fortifications from a great distance, their power alone enough to frighten people, nevertheless when battle so rages that bodies are compelled into closer quarters, it always comes down to the naked blade. Therefore the Unfathomable Saber can still have its place as a backup force to artillery, hence this discourse upon the subject.

第二章 各論
CHAPTER TWO: SPECIFICS

玄玄刀為口授之學,名目失傳已久矣。故姿勢應用,亦因人而不同。有以平易為貴者;有以險奇為能者。初學無所適從。予選其姿勢簡而易學與夫便于了解者存之,按勢各擬訂一名。並加姿勢應用等說明,使初學循序漸進,摹而倣之,旣有規矩之可循,又饒變化之興趣。果能玩索有得,不難達於神而明之,奧妙無窮也。謹將玄玄刀分勢作圖立說如下,以備有志刀法者,知所問津焉。
Because the Unfathomable Saber was taught by way of oral transmission, the original names of the postures were lost long ago, and thus the postures and their applications have varied from person to person. There are those who prefer to do what is simple and easy, there are those who are able to do what is risky and dramatic, and then there are beginners, who have no idea what to do. Electing to keep the postures simple to learn and easy to understand, I have made a name for each technique. I have also included posture and application explanations, enabling beginners to proceed step by step through imitation.
     There are principles to abide by and plenty of fascinating movement transitions. If you are able to ponder what you have learned, it will not be difficult to achieve a magical illumination, a level at which your movement is endlessly mysterious. Below I sincerely present the Unfathomable Saber, its individual postures with photographs and explanations, in order that those who have an interest in saber methods will know where to look for guidance.

方位圖
POSITIONING CHART:

右後   後   左後
Right Rear  Rear  Left Rear

右   太極勢   左
Right (Beginning Posture) Left

右前   前   左前
Right Front  Front  Left Front

【太極勢】
[1] TAIJI POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
身體直立,面向前方。頭正,頸直,涵胸,拔背,兩臂從容下垂,左手捧刀,刀柄置左胯旁邊,刀刃向前,刀尖向上,但刀背務須與左臂貼着。右手五指向前,掌心向下按,置於右胯旁邊。兩足平行分開,中間距離,以肩為度。目平視。
Your body stands straight, facing forward. Your head is upright, neck straight. Contain your chest and pluck up your back. Your arms hang down leisurely. Your left hand carries the saber, the handle placed beside your left hip, the edge facing forward, the tip pointing upward, and the back of the saber must be touching your left arm. The fingers of your right hand are forward, palm pushing downward, placed beside your right hip. Your feet are parallel at shoulder-width apart. Your gaze is level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 1

【攬雀尾一】
[2] CATCH THE SPARROW BY THE TAIL – Part 1

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足前上一步,膝前曲。右足不動,腿向下坐全體重心,均在右足。同時左手捧刀提至胸前,刀刃向上,刀尖向左,刀柄在右肩前。右手提起,至胸與刀之中間為止,五指向上,掌心向前。身體中正安舒,目平視。
Your left foot takes a step forward and the knee bends forward. Your right foot stays where it is and the leg squats down, the weight now fully on your right foot. At the same time, your left arm, carrying the saber, lifts up until in front of your chest, the saber edge facing upward, the tip pointing to the Left, the handle placed in front of your right shoulder, while your right hand lifts up until between the saber and your chest, fingers upward, palm forward. Your body is upright and comfortable, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 2

【攬雀尾二】
[3] CATCH THE SPARROW BY THE TAIL – Part 2

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足尖向右前方移動(卽四十五度角,)右足向右方上一步(卽九十度角,)足根着地,足尖翹起。身體轉向右方。全體重心,均在左足。同時左手捧刀向右方微移動,刀柄向右,刀刃向上,刀尖向左。右手垂肘立掌向右方伸出,大指約與鼻齊。目注右方。
Your left foot shifts its toes toward the Right Front (making an angle of forty-five degrees), your right foot takes a step to the Right (ninety degrees), heel touching down, toes lifted, your torso turning to the Right, the weight now fully on your left foot. At the same time, your left hand, carrying the saber, shifts slightly to the Right, the handle to the Right, the edge facing upward, the tip pointing to the Left, while your right hand, elbow dropping, palm standing, extends to the Right, thumb at about nose level. Your gaze is to the Right.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 3

【攬雀尾三】
[4] CATCH THE SPARROW BY THE TAIL – Part 3

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右手向左下方捋,然後向右方伸出,再由右而後而左轉一半圓,復向右方推出。左手捧刀與右手係同一之動作。刀柄置於右腕旁邊,刀刃向上,刀尖向左。同時右足尖下落,膝向右弓,左腿蹬直,全體重心,移在右足。身體向右方,目平視。
Your right hand does a rollback downward to the Left, then extends to the Right, [the weight shifting forward,] then goes from the Right to the Rear to the Left, turning in a semicircle, [the weight shifting back,] and goes again to the Right, pushing out. Your left hand, carrying the saber, does the same movement as your right hand, the saber handle placed beside your right wrist, the edge facing upward, the tip pointing to the Left. At the same time, your right toes come down, your right knee bends to the Right, and your left leg presses straight, the weight shifting to your right foot. Your torso is facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 4

【上步摟膝】
[5] STEP FORWARD, BRUSH KNEE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向左後方邁一步,膝向左弓。右腿蹬直。全體重心,均在左足。同時左手捧刀摟過左膝,刀柄置於左胯旁邊,刀刃向左,刀尖向上。右手向左方推出。面向左方,目平視。
Your left foot takes a step to the Left Rear, the knee bends to the Left, your right leg presses straight, and the weight is now on your left foot. At the same time, your left arm, carrying the saber, brushes past your left knee, and the saber handle is placed beside your left hip, the edge facing to the Left, the tip pointing upward, while your right hand pushes out to the Left. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 5

【分刀式】
[6] BRINGING THE SABER TO THE OTHER SIDE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右手下落至左膝前,然後向外旋轉一圓圈,左手捧刀亦至腹前,卽將刀柄交與右手,然後左手卽握右腕。刀柄置在左膝之左方,刀刃向左後下方,刀背與左臂相貼,刀尖向右後上方,面向左方,目平視。全體重心,均在左足。
Your right hand lowers until in front of your left knee, then circles outward as your left hand carries the saber until in front of your belly, whereupon the saber handle is switched to your right hand, and then your left hand grabs your right wrist. The saber handle is placed to the left [right] of your left knee, the edge facing downward to the Left Rear, the saber back touching your left arm, the tip pointing upward to the Right Rear. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level, and the weight is on your left foot.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 6

【閃展看刀式】
[7] IN A SUDDEN FLASH, SHOW THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左前方上一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀上提,刀柄約與鼻齊,刀刃向左方,刀尖向下垂直。左手立掌垂肘向上提至胸前。與刀背平行。身體向左方,目平視。
Your right foot takes a step forward to the Left Front, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up, the saber handle at about nose level, the edge facing to the Left, the tip hanging straight down, while your left hand, the palm upright, the elbow hanging, lifts up until in front of your chest, parallel with the back of the saber. Your torso is facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 7

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我胸間來刺,我卽提刀向外支開,以待其變。
An opponent uses a spear to stab to my chest, so I lift up my saber to prop it outward, and wait for what he will do next.

【左摘星式】
[8] PLUCKING THE STARS TO THE LEFT

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向左後方進一步,弓膝,右腿蹬直,全體重心,均在左足同時右手持刀自左而後繞頭一周,然後向左後上方撩出。左手掌撫右腕以助其勢。刀尖向左後上方,刀刃向右後上方。身體向左後方,目注刀尖。
Your left foot advances a step to the Left Rear, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, coils all the way around your head from the left, then goes upward to the Left Rear with a raising action, while your left palm touches your right wrist to assist the posture. The saber tip is pointing upward to the Left Rear, the edge facing upward to the Right Rear. Your torso is facing to the Left Rear, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 8

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我胸部,我用刀掛開,敵抽鎗後退,我乘勢進步以刀斬敵之頭。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my chest, so I use my saber in a hanging action to take it aside. He draws back his spear and retreats, so I take advantage of the moment by advancing and using my saber to do a slash to his head.

【右摘星式】
[9] PLUCKING THE STARS TO THE RIGHT

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左前方進一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀由左後方向右後方下劈,然後向左前方撩出,刀尖向左前上方,刀刃向右前上方。左手仍撫右腕以助其勢。身體向左前方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot advances a step to the Left Front, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes from the Left Rear to the Right Rear with a downward chop, then goes to the Left Front with a raising action, the saber tip pointing upward to the Left Front, the edge facing upward to the Right Front, while your left palm touches your right wrist to assist the posture. Your torso is facing to the Left Front, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 9

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我下部,我用刀將鎗向外撥開,然後用刀進斬敵人之頭。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my groin, so I use my saber to deflect his spear aside, and then while advancing, to slash to his head.

【卸步擄刀】
[10] WITHDRAWING STEP, CAPTURING WITH THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右方撤回半步,足尖點地,左腿下坐,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀下擄,刀柄在右膝旁邊,刀尖向左方,刀刃向下。面向左方,目平視。
Your right foot withdraws a half step to the Right, toes touching down, your left leg squatting down, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes downward in a capturing action, the saber handle beside your right knee, the tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing downward. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 10

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我腿部來扎,我卸半步,順鎗之扎力用刀擄敵之鎗。以待其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I withdraw a half step and follow his stabbing energy by using my saber to do a capturing action to his spear, then wait for what he will do next.

【分心刺】
[11] STAB THROUGH THE CENTER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方進半步,弓膝,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀向左方直刺,刀尖向左方,刀刃向下,左手向右方伸出,五指向右,掌心向下。面向左方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot advances a half step to the Left, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, does a stab to the Left with the blade vertical, the saber tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing downward, while your left hand extends to the Right, fingers pointing to the Right, palm facing downward. You are facing to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 11

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人之鎗,旣然被我擄着,敵卽撤鎗以圖變更方法,再來刺我。我乘敵抽鎗之際,進步刺敵之胸。
After the opponent’s spear gets captured, he looks for a new opening, which would be a stab to my head, so I take advantage of the moment he draws back his spear by advancing and stabbing to his chest.

【左掛金鈴】
[12] HANGING THE GOLDEN BELL TO THE LEFT

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右方撤回半步,足尖點地,左腿下坐。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀自左方向右後方反掛撤回,刀柄置左耳旁邊,刀刃向上,刀尖向左方,左手自右方抽回,掌撫刀柄以助其勢,面向左方,目平視。
Your right foot withdraws a half step to the Right, toes touching down, your left leg squatting down, the weight now fully on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes from the Left to the Right Rear, turning over and withdrawing with a hanging action, the saber handle placed beside your left ear, the edge facing upward, the tip pointing to the Left, while your left hand draws back from the right, the palm touching the handle to assist the posture. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 12

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我頭部,我用刀向外掛開,以觀敵變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my head, so I send my saber outward to take him aside with a hanging action, then watch for what he will do next.

【推窗望月】
[13] PUSH OPEN THE WINDOW TO GAZE AT THE MOON

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方進半步,左足再向左前方上一步,弓膝,右腿蹬直,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向左前方撩出,刀尖向左前下方,刀刃向左前上方,左手立掌垂肘在刀與胸之間。面向左前方,目注左前上方。
Your right foot advances a half step to the Left, then your left foot steps forward to the Left Front, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, raises out to the Left Front, the saber tip pointing downward to the Left Front, the edge facing upward to the Left Front, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is between the saber and your chest. You are facing to the Left Front, your gaze upward to the Left Front.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 13

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人抽鎗向我腹部扎來,我用刀撩開敵鎗,乘勢上步,順鎗而進,以撩敵之前手。
The opponent draws back his spear and stabs to my belly, so I use my saber in a raising action to take his spear aside, taking advantage of the moment by stepping forward, following his spear with an advance, and doing a raising action to his front hand.

【回身劈】
[14] TURN AROUND, CHOP

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
身體向右後方旋轉,右膝向右後方弓出,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀由左前方上提,向右後方劈下,刀柄置右膝前,刀尖向右後下方,刀刃向下。左手撫右腕以助其勢。面向右後下方,目注刀尖。
Your body turns around to the Right Rear, your knee bends to the Right Rear, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up from the Left Front and chops downward to the Right Rear, the saber handle placed in front of your right knee, the tip pointing downward to the Right Rear, the edge facing downward, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist the posture. You are facing downward to the Right Rear, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 14

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人自身後用鎗來刺,我轉身躱過敵鎗,用刀劈敵之頭。
An opponent from behind me uses a spear to attack me with a stab, so I turn around to prevent it, using my saber to chop to his head.

【回身撩陰刀】
[15] TURN AROUND, RAISE TO THE GROIN

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
身體由右後方向左前方旋轉,右足向左前方進一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直,同時右手持刀由右後方向左前方撩出,刀尖向左前下方,刀刃向左前上方。左手撫右腕以助之。目注刀尖,全體重心,均在右足。
Your body turns around from the Right Rear to the Left Front, your right foot advances a step to the Left Front, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, raises from the Right Rear to the Left Front, the tip pointing downward to the Left Front, the edge facing upward to the Left Front, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist. Your gaze is to the saber tip and the weight is now on your right foot.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 15

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人自我身後用鎗來扎,我轉身閃開敵鎗,乘勢上步,用刀斫敵腿部。
The opponent that is now behind me uses a spear to attack with a stab, so I turn around to suddenly take his spear aside, taking advantage of the moment by stepping in and using my saber to do cleaving raise to his leg [groin].

【左掛金鈴】
[16] HANGING THE GOLDEN BELL TO THE LEFT

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向前方撤回半步,足尖點地,左腿下坐。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀從左前方向右後方反掛撤囘,刀柄置左耳旁邊,刀刃向上,刀尖向左方,左手從左前方撤回,掌撫刀柄以助其勢。面向左方,目平視。
Your right foot withdraws a half step to the Front [Right Rear], toes touching down, your left leg squatting down, the weight now fully on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes from the Left Front to the Right Rear, turning over and withdrawing with a hanging action, the saber handle placed beside your left ear, the edge facing upward, the tip pointing to the Left, while your left hand draws back from the Left Front, the palm touching the handle to assist the posture. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 68

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我頭部,我用刀向外反掛,以待敵變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my head, so I send my saber outward [to take him aside] with a reverse hanging action, then wait for what he will do next.

【登山遠眺】
[17] CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN AND LOOK OUT AT THE VIEW

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向左前方上一步,弓膝,右腿蹬直。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向左前方撩出。刀尖向左前方,刀刃向左前上方,刀柄置右耳側。左手立掌垂肘撫刀柄以助之。面向左前方,目平視。
[Your right foot advances a half step to the Left,] then your left foot steps forward to the Left Front, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, raises out to the Left Front, the saber tip pointing to the Left Front, the edge facing upward to the Left Front, the handle placed beside your right ear, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, touches the saber handle to assist [and saber and left hand then stab forward together]. You are facing to the Left Front, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 17

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我下部,我用刀撩開敵鎗,乘勢向前進步,用刀刺敵之喉。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my groin, so I use my saber in a raising action to take his spear aside, taking advantage of the moment by advancing forward and using my saber to stab to his throat.

【鷂子翻身】
[18] HAWK TURNS OVER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右手持刀不動,身體由右臂下轉出,右足提起,足尖下垂,以左腿直立為軸,自左前方而右方,至面向左後方為止,旋轉三直角。然後右手持刀向右後方抱囘。刀尖向左前方,刀刃向上。左手撫刀柄以助之。面向左前方,目注刀尖。
With your right hand holding the saber and not changing its location, your torso turns from beneath your right arm, your right foot lifts up, toes hanging down, and using your straightened left leg as a pivot, goes from the Left Front to the Right until facing to the Left Rear, spinning around two hundred seventy degrees. Then your right hand, holding the saber, is withdrawn in an embracing action to the Right Rear, the saber tip pointing to the Left Front, the edge facing upward, while your left hand touches the handle to assist. You are facing to the Left Front, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 18

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我背部,我翻身躱開敵鎗,雙手抱刀,以觀其變。
An opponent uses a spear to stab to my back, so I turn around to prevent it by taking his spear aside, holding my saber with both hands, then watch for what he will do next.

【大鵬展翅】
[19] RUKH SPREADS ITS WINGS

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左前方上一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足,同時右手持刀向左前方刺出,刀尖向左前上方,刀刃向上,左手向右後方平伸,面向左前方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot takes a step forward to the Left Front, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, stabs out to the Left Front, the saber tip pointing to the Left Front, the edge facing upward, while your left hand extends level to the Right Rear. You are facing to the Left Front, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 19

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我胸部,我用刀順其鎗桿而進,斬敵之頭。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my chest, so I use my saber to follow along his spearshaft, advancing with a slash [stab] to his head.

【燕子入巢】
[20] SWALLOW ENTERS ITS NEST

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右腿向右後方平踢,右手持刀由左前方而下向右後方撩出,與右腿平行,刀尖向右後方,刀刃向上,左手撫右腕以助之。面向右後方,目平視。全體重心,均在左足。
[Using your left foot as a pivot, your body turns from the Left Front to the Right Rear, and] your right leg does a level kick to the Right Rear, while your right hand, holding the saber, goes downward from the Left Front, then raises to the Right Rear, to be parallel with your right leg, the tip pointing to the Right Rear, the edge facing upward, your left hand touching your right wrist to assist. You are facing to the Right Rear, your gaze level, the weight fully on your left foot.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 20

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗自身後來刺,我轉身用足踢開,乘勢以刀撩取敵人之手。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to attack me with a [low] stab, so I turn around and use my foot to kick it aside, taking advantage of the moment by using my saber to do a raising action to his hand.

【進步擄刀】
[21] ADVANCE, CAPTURING WITH THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右後方進一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀向下沉擄,刀柄置右胯旁邊,刀尖向右後方,刀刃向下。左手立掌垂肘置於胸前,面向右後方,目平視。
Your right foot advances a step to the Right Rear, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, sinks down with a capturing action, the saber handle placed beside your right hip, the tip pointing to the Right Rear, the edge facing downward, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is placed in front of your chest. You are facing to the Right Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 21

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我下部,我用刀向下擄着敵鎗,以觀其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my groin, so I send my saber downward to capture his spear, then watch for what he will do next.

【迎面刺】
[22] STAB TO THE FACE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向右後方進一步,弓膝,右腿蹬直,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向右後方平刺,刀尖向右後方,刀刃向下。左手撫右肱以助之。面向右後方,目平視。
Your left foot advances a step to the Right Rear, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, then goes to the Right Rear with a level stab, the saber tip pointing to the Right Rear, the edge facing downward, while your left palm touches your right forearm to assist. You are facing to the Right Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 22

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人向後抽鎗,我乘其抽力,用刀向敵面部刺去。
The opponent draws back his spear, so I take advantage of his withdrawing energy and use my saber to stab to his face.

【翻身藏刀式】    
[23] TURN AROUND, CONCEALING THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
身體轉向左方,右足向左前方邁半步,弓膝,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀由右後方而後方,而左方,而前方,乃復上提纏頭旋繞一周,然後刀柄置於右胯旁邊,刀尖向左方,刀刃向下。左手立掌垂肘置於胸前。面向左方,目平視。
Your torso turns around to the Left, your right foot taking a half step to the Left Front,
the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes from the Right Rear to the Rear, to the Left, to the Front, lifts up and coils a complete circle around your head, then the saber handle is placed beside your right hip, the tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing downward, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is placed in front of your chest. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 23

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人自身後用鎗刺我下部,我翻身用刀撥開,敵又用鎗刺我頭部,我用刀纏頭支開敵鎗,將刀藏於胯旁,以待敵變。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to stab to my groin, so I turn around, using my saber to deflect it aside. He again stabs, now to my head, so I use my saber in a coiling action around my head to prop his spear aside, then conceal my saber beside my hip and wait for what he will do next.

【指襠刀】
[24] SABER TO THE CROTCH

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右手持刀向左後下方刺出,刀尖向左後下方,刀刃向下,左手撫右肱以助之,面向左後方,目注刀尖。
Your right hand, holding the saber, stabs downward to the Left Rear, the saber tip pointing downward to the Left Rear, the edge facing downward, while your left palm touches your right forearm to assist. You are facing to the Left Rear, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 24

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人向後抽鎗,我乘其不備,用刀刺敵之襠。
The opponent draws back his spear, so I take advantage of his moment of unpreparedness and use my saber to stab to his crotch.

【打虎式】
[25] FIGHTING TIGER POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向左後方上一步,弓膝,右腿蹬直。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向左前方下劈,刀尖向左前下方,刀刃向下,左手橫於頂上,以助其勢。面向左前方,目注刀尖。
Your left foot takes a step to the Left Rear, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, [lifts up from downward in the Left Rear and] chops downward to the Left Front, the tip pointing downward to the Left Front, the edge facing downward, while your left hand is placed crosswise above your forehead to assist the posture. You are facing to the Left Front, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 25

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我腰部,我斜上一步以避其鋒,乘勢用刀劈敵。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my waist, so I take a step forward to evade his spear tip, taking advantage of the moment by using my saber to chop at him.

【燕子入巢】
[26] SWALLOW ENTERS ITS NEST

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左後方平踢,左腿直立,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向左後方撩出,刀與右腿平行,刀尖向左後方,刀刃向上。左手撫右肱以助之。面向左後方,目平視。
Your right leg does a level kick to the Left Rear, your left leg standing straight, the weight now fully on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, raises to the Left Rear to be parallel with your right leg, the tip pointing to the Left Rear, the edge facing upward, your left hand touching your right forearm to assist. You are facing to the Left Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 26

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗自旁邊來刺,我轉身用足踢開,乘勢以刀撩取敵人之手。
An opponent from the side uses his spear to attack me with a stab, so I turn around and use my foot to kick it aside, taking advantage of the moment by using my saber to do a raising action to his hand.

【進步擄刀】
[27] ADVANCE, CAPTURING WITH THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左後方進一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀向下沉擄,刀柄置於右胯旁邊,刀尖向左後方,刀刃向下。左手立掌垂肘置於胸前。面向左後方,目平視。
Your right foot advances a step to the Left Rear, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, sinks down with a capturing action, the saber handle placed beside your right hip, the tip pointing to the Left Rear, the edge facing downward, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is placed in front of your chest. You are facing to the Left Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 27

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我下部,我用刀向下擄着敵鎗,以觀其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my groin, so I send my saber downward to capture his spear, then watch for what he will do next.

【蒼龍出水】
[28] BLUE DRAGON LEAVES THE WATER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向左後方進一步,弓膝,右腿蹬直,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向左後方平刺,刀尖向左後方,刀刃向下,左手橫掌置於頂上。面向左後方,目平視。
Your left foot advances a step to the Left Rear, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, then goes to the Left Rear with a level stab, the saber tip pointing to the Left Rear, the edge facing downward, while your left palm is placed crosswise above your forehead. You are facing to the Left Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 28

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人向後抽鎗,我乘勢進步,用刀刺敵人之喉。
The opponent draws back his spear, so I take advantage of the moment by advancing and using my saber to stab to his throat.

【翻身藏刀式】
[29] TURN AROUND, CONCEALING THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右後方開一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀上提,然後向右方下落,刀柄置於右胯旁邊,刀尖向右方,刀刃向下。左手立掌垂肘置於胸前。面向右方,目平視。
[Your body turns around to the right and] your right foot steps out to the Right Rear, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up then lowers to the Right, the saber handle placed beside your right hip, the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is placed in front of your chest. You are facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 29

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人自身後用鎗刺我下部,我轉身用刀撥開,以待敵變。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to attack me with a low stab, so I turn around, using my saber to deflect it aside, then wait for what he will do next.

【上三開式】
[30] UPWARD WITH THREE SPREADINGS [i.e. the spreading out of the saber, the left hand, and the right knee]

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左腿直立,右膝上提,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向右方平刺,刀尖向右方,刀刃向下。左手立掌向左方推出。面向右方,目平視。
Your left leg stands straight and your right knee lifts up, the weight now fully on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, does a level stab to the Right, the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand, palm upright, pushes out to the Left. You are facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 30

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我腿部,我將膝上提以避之,然後用刀進刺敵人之喉。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I lift up my knee to evade it, then use my saber to stab forward to his throat.

【帶醉脫靴】
[31] HELPING A DRUNK REMOVE HIS BOOTS

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右腿向右方平踢,同時右手持刀向懷內抱回,刀柄置於胸前,刀尖向右方,刀刃向上。左手撫右腕以助之。面向右方,目平視。
Your right leg does a level kick to the Right. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, withdraws in an embracing action toward your chest, the saber handle placed in front of your chest, the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing upward, your left hand touching your right wrist to assist. You are facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 31

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我胸部,我用刀掛開,乘勢以足踢敵之前手。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my chest, so I use my saber in a hanging action to take his spear aside, taking advantage of the moment by using my foot to kick his front hand.

【推窗望月】
[32] PUSH OPEN THE WINDOW TO GAZE AT THE MOON

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右方下落,左足向右後方上一步,弓膝,右腿蹬直,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向右後方撩出,刀尖向右後下方,刀刃向右後上方。左手立掌垂肘置刀與胸之間。面向右後方,目平視。
Your right foot comes down to the Right and your left foot takes a step to the Right Rear,
the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, raises out to the Right Rear, the saber tip pointing downward to the Right Rear, the edge facing upward to the Right Rear, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is between the saber and your chest. You are facing to the Right Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 32

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我腹部刺來,我用刀撩開敵人之鎗,乘勢上步,順鎗而進,以取敵人之前手。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my belly, so I use my saber in a raising action to take his spear aside, taking advantage of the moment by stepping forward, advancing along his spear to seek his front hand.

【翻身藏刀式】
[33] TURN AROUND, CONCEALING THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左前方開半步,弓膝,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀上提,然後向左方下擄,刀柄置於右胯旁邊,刀尖向左方,刀刃向下,左手立掌垂肘置於胸前,面向左方,目平視。
[Your torso turning around to the Left,] your right foot takes a half step to the Left Front, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up and then comes downward to the Left with a capturing action, the saber handle placed beside your right hip, the tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing downward, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is placed in front of your chest. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 33

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗自身後刺我下部,我翻身用刀擄着敵人之鎗,以觀其變。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to attack me with a low stab, so I turn around, sending my saber downward to capture his spear, then watch for what he will do next.

【回身劈】
[34] TURN AROUND, CHOP

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向左方開一步,身體由左方轉向右方,右腿向右弓膝,左腿伸直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀上提,向右方下劈,刀柄置於右膝之右方,刀尖向右下方,刀刃向下。左手撫右腕以助之。面向右方,目注刀尖。
Your left leg steps to the Left, your body turns around from the Left to the Right, your right knee bends to the Right, and your left leg extends straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up and chops downward to the Right, the saber handle placed to the right side of your right knee, the tip pointing downward to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist. You are facing to the Right, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 34

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗自身後刺我腿部,我將腿撤回一步,以避其鋒,然後回身用刀劈取敵人之頭。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I withdraw my leg a full step to evade his spear tip, then turn around, using my saber to chop to his head.

【回身撩陰刀】
[35] TURN AROUND, RAISE TO THE GROIN

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方上一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀由右方向下,再向左方撩出,刀尖向左下方,刀刃向左上方。左手撫右腕以助之。面向左方,目注刀尖。
[Your body turning around from the Right to the Left,] your right foot steps forward to the Left, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, raises from downward in the Right to the Left, the tip pointing downward to the Left, the edge facing upward to the Left, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist. You are facing to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 35

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗自身後來刺,我轉身閃開敵人之鎗,乘勢上步,用刀撩取敵人之下部。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to attack me with a stab, so I turn around to suddenly take his spear aside, taking advantage of the moment by stepping in and using my saber in a raising action to his groin.

【横掃千軍】
[36] SWEEPING ASIDE A THOUSAND SOLDIERS

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左右腿下蹲,身居中央,全體重心,在兩足間之中點。同時右手持刀提至面前,然後橫刀向左方平掃。刀尖向左方,刀刃向前方。左手向右方平伸,面向左方,目視刀尖。
Squat down with both legs and center your torso, the weight now between your feet. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up until in front of your face, then sweeps across to the Left as a flat blade, the tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing to the Front, while your left hand extends to the Right. You are facing to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 36

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我胸部,我用刀掛開,敵抽鎗後退,我乘勢用刀橫掃敵人之頭。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my chest, so I use my saber in a hanging action to take his spear aside. He draws back his spear, so I take advantage of the moment by using my saber to sweep across to his head.

【左掛金鈴】
[37] HANGING THE GOLDEN BELL TO THE LEFT

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右方撤回半步,足尖點地,左腿下坐。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀從左方向右後方反掛撤回,刀柄置左耳旁邊,刀刃向上,刀尖向左方。左手自右方抽回,掌撫刀柄以助其勢,面向左方,目平視。
Your right foot withdraws a half step to the Right, toes touching down, your left leg squatting down, the weight now fully on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes from the Left to the Right Rear, turning over and withdrawing with a hanging action, the saber handle placed beside your left ear, the edge facing upward, the tip pointing to the Left, while your left hand draws back from the Right, the palm touching the handle to assist the posture. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 37

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我頭部,我用刀向外掛開,以觀其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my head, so I send my saber outward to take him aside with a hanging action, then watch for what he will do next.

【推窗望月】
[38] PUSH OPEN THE WINDOW TO GAZE AT THE MOON

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方進半步,左足再向左前方上一步,弓膝,右腿蹬直,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向左前方撩出,刀尖向左前下方,刀刃向左前上方。左手立掌垂肘置刀與胸之間。面向左前方,目注左前上方。
Your right foot advances a half step to the Left, then your left foot steps forward to the Left Front, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, raises out to the Left Front, the saber tip pointing downward to the Left Front, the edge facing upward to the Left Front, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is placed between the saber and your chest. You are facing to the Left Front, your gaze upward to the Left Front.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 38

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人抽鎗向我腹部刺來,我用刀撩開敵鎗,乘勢上步,順鎗而進,以取敵之前手。
The opponent draws back his spear and stabs to my belly, so I use my saber in a raising action to take his spear aside, taking advantage of the moment by stepping forward, advancing along his spear to get to his front hand.

【翻身藏刀式】
[39] TURN AROUND, CONCEALING THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右後方開半步,弓膝,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足,同時右手持刀由左前方上提,向右方下擄,刀柄置於右胯旁邊,刀尖向右方,刀刃向下。左手立掌垂肘置於胸前。面向右方,目平視。
[Your body turns around to the Right and] your right foot takes a half step out to the Right Rear, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up from the Left Front, then goes downward to the Right with a capturing action, the saber handle placed beside your right hip, the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is placed in front of your chest. You are facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 39

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人自身後用鎗來刺,我翻身用刀撥開,將刀藏於胯側,以待敵變。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to come at me with a stab, so I turn around, using my saber to deflect it aside, then conceal my saber beside my right hip and wait for what he will do next.

【回身劈】
[40] TURN AROUND, CHOP

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向右方上一步,右膝向左弓,左腿伸直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀由右方上提,向左方下劈,刀柄置於右膝之左方,刀尖向左下方,刀刃向下。左手撫右腕以助之。面向左方,目注刀尖。
[Your body turning around to the Left,] your left foot takes a step forward to the Right, your knee bends to the Left, and your left leg straightens, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up from the Right and chops downward to the Left, the saber handle placed in front of your right knee to the Left, the tip pointing downward to the Left, the edge facing downward, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist. You are facing downward to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 40

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗自身後來刺我腿,我上步以避之,然後囘身用刀劈取敵人之頭。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I step forward to evade it, then turn around, using my saber to chop to his head.

【探海式】
[41] SEARCHING THE SEA

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右方上一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀由左方向下,再向右方撩出,刀尖向右下方,刀刃向上。左手向左方伸出,面向右方,目注刀尖。
[Your body turning around from the Left to the Right,] your right foot steps forward to the Right, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, and the weight is now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes from downward in the Left by raising out to the Right, the tip pointing downward to the Right, the edge facing upward, while your left hand extends to the Left. You are facing to the Right, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 41

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗自身後刺我下部,我囘身閃過敵鎗,乘勢上步探取敵之腿部。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to attack with a low stab, so I turn around to prevent it, taking advantage of the moment by stepping in and [using my saber] to seek his leg.

【撈月式】
[42] SCOOPING THE MOON

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
身體向左方稍移動,然後還原,同時右手持刀由右方上提,向左方,下方,復向右下方反手撩出,刀尖向右下方,刀刃向上。左手撫右腕以助之。面向右方,目注刀尖。全體重心,仍在右足。
Your torso slightly shifts to the Left, then returns. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up from the Right, goes downward to the Left, and again downward to the Right, the hand turning over with a raising action, the tip pointing downward to the Right, the edge facing upward, your left hand touching your right wrist to assist. You are facing to the Right, your gaze to the saber tip, and the weight is again on your right foot.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 42

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我胸部刺來,我用刀向外掛開,乘勢用刀撩取敵之下部。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my chest, so I use my saber in a hanging action to take his spear aside, then take advantage of the moment by using my saber in a raising action to his lower body.

【卸步擄刀】
[43] WITHDRAWING STEP, CAPTURING WITH THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方撤回半步,足尖點地,左腿下坐。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀下擄,刀柄置於右膝之側,刀尖向右方,刀刃向下。左手撫右腕以助之。面向右方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot withdraws a half step to the Left, toes touching down, your left leg squatting down, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes downward in a capturing action, the saber handle placed beside your right knee, the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist. You are facing to the Right, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 43

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我腿部來刺,我卸半步,用刀擄敵之鎗,以待其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I withdraw a half step, using my saber to capture his spear, then wait for what he will do next.

【分心刺】
[44] STAB THROUGH THE CENTER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右方進半步,弓膝,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀向右方直刺,刀尖向右方,刀刃向下。左手向左方伸出,五指向左,掌心向下,面向右方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot advances a half step to the Right, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, does a stab to the Right with the blade vertical, the saber tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand extends to the Left, fingers pointing to the Left, palm facing downward. You are facing to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 44

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人之鎗,旣然被我擄着,敵卽抽鎗,再來刺我。我乘敵抽鎗之際,進步用刀直刺敵之胸部。
After the opponent’s spear is captured, he draws it back to stab at me again, so I take advantage of the moment he draws back his spear by advancing using my saber to stab to his chest with the blade vertical.

【玉環托刀式】
[45] JADE RINGS PROP UP THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右前方開半步,左足再向右前方進一步,弓膝,右腿蹬直。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀由右方抽回,向右前上方推出,刀柄置於頂之右前方,刀尖向右前下方,刀刃向右前上方,左手立掌垂肘置刀與胸之間。面向右前方,目平視。
Your right foot steps out a half step to the Right Front, then your left foot advances a full step to the Right Front, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, draws back from the Right and pushes out upward to the Right Front, the saber handle placed to the forward right of your forehead, the tip pointing downward to the Right Front, the edge facing upward to the Right Front, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is between the saber and your chest. You are facing to the Right Front, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 45

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我頭部刺來,我用刀向外掛開,乘勢上步,用刀撩取敵之腹部。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my head, so I send my saber outward in a hanging action to take his spear aside, then take advantage of the moment by stepping forward and using my saber in a raising action seeking his belly.

【七星刀】
[46] BIG DIPPER SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
身體由右前方轉向右後方,兩足不動,重心仍在左足。同時右手持刀向右後方直立下沉,刀柄置於胸前,刀尖向上,刀刃向右後方。左手立掌垂肘置於刀與胸之中間。面向右後方,目平視。
Your torso turns from the Right Front to the Right Rear, your feet staying where they are, the weight still on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes to the Right Rear, sinking down to stand it up straight, the saber handle placed in front of your chest, the tip pointing upward, the edge facing to the Right Rear, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is placed between the saber and your chest. You are facing to the Right Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 46

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗從側面刺我胸部,我將身體轉移方向,用刀撥開敵人之鎗,以觀敵之變化。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my chest from the side, so I shift the direction of my torso, using my saber to deflect his spear aside, then watch for what he will do next.

【臥虎跳澗】
[47] CROUCHING TIGER JUMPS OVER THE STREAM

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右前方收囘半步,未及落地,左足抬起,作一跳步,然後右足落地,右腿下坐,左足向右後方上半步,足尖點地,膝微曲,同時右手持刀由右後方而下,而左前方,而上方,仍向右後方沉擄,刀柄置右胯側,刀尖向右後方,刀刃向下。左手立掌垂肘置於胸前,面向右後方,目平視。
Your right foot withdraws a half step to the Right Front, but before it comes down, your left foot lifts up, making a hopping step, then your right foot comes down, the leg squats down, and your left foot steps forward a half step to the Right Rear, toes touching down,
the knee slightly bent [the weight now on your right foot]. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes downward from the Right Rear, then to the Left Front, upward, and again to the Right Rear, sinking down with a capturing action, the saber handle placed beside your right hip, the tip pointing to the Right Rear, the edge facing downward, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is placed in front of your chest. You are facing to the Right Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 47

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我腿部,我跳步以避之,幷用刀向外掛開,以待敵之變化。
The opponent uses his spear to stab toward my [right] leg, so I hop a step to evade it while sending my saber outward in a hanging action to take his spear aside, then wait for what he will do next.

【迎面刺】
[48] STAB TO THE FACE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向右後方邁半步,弓膝,右腿蹬直,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向右後方刺出,刀與臂成一直線,刀尖向右後方,刀刃向下。左手撫右腕以助之。面向右後方,目注刀尖。
Your left foot advances a step to the Right Rear, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, then goes to the Right Rear with a level stab, the saber making a line with the arm, the tip pointing to the Right Rear, the edge facing downward, while your left palm touches your right wrist [forearm] to assist. You are facing to the Right Rear, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 48

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人向後抽鎗,我乘勢上步,用刀直刺敵人之面。
The opponent draws back his spear, so I take advantage of the moment by stepping in and using my saber to stab to his face with the blade vertical.

【臥虎式】
[49] CROUCHING TIGER POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
身體由右後方轉向左方,左腿下坐,右腿伸直,重心仍在左足。同時右手持刀由右後方向右前方繞頭半周,至左前下方為止,然後向右後上方橫掃,刀柄置於左脅旁邊,刀尖向右上方,刀刃向右後方,左手橫掌置於頂上,面向左方,目平視。
Your torso turns from the Right Rear to the Left, your left leg squats down, and your right leg presses straight, the weight still on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes from the Right Rear to the Right Front, coiling a half circle around your head, until downward to the Left Front, then sweeps across upward to the Right Rear, the saber handle placed beside your left ribs, the tip pointing upward to the Right, the edge facing to the Right Rear, while your left hand is placed crosswise above your forehead. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 49

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗自我背後刺來,我囘身用刀撥開,敵又用鎗刺我腹部,我用刀橫掃敵人之鎗,以待其變。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to attack me with a stab [to my head], so I turn around, using my saber to deflect it aside. He again stabs, now to my belly, so I use my saber to sweep aside his spear, then wait for what he will do next.

【藏刀式】
[50] CONCEALING THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左前方邁半步,弓膝,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀由右後方向左前方下劈,然後將刀上提,繞頭一周,由前方向右方經過左方仍到前方,刀柄置於右胯旁邊,刀尖向左方,刀刃向下。左手立掌垂肘置於胸前,面向左方,目平視。
Your right foot takes a half step to the Left Front, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes from the Right Rear to the Left Front with a downward chop, then lifts up the saber and coils it all the way around your head, from the Front to the Right, passing around to the Left and again forward, the saber handle placed beside your right hip, the tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing downward, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is placed in front of your chest. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 50

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我腿部,我用刀撥開,敵又用鎗刺我頭部,我用刀纏頭支出敵鎗,將刀藏於腿旁,以觀敵變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I use my saber to deflect it aside. He again stabs, now to my head, so I use my saber in a coiling action around my head to prop his spear away, then conceal my saber beside my leg and watch for what he will do next.

【盤龍式】
[51] COILING DRAGON POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向右後方撤半步,左腿下坐,右足向右後方抽回半步,足尖點地。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向右後方立刀橫掛,刀尖向上,刀刃向左後方,左手立掌垂肘與刀背相貼,面向左方,目平視。
Your left foot withdraws a half step to the Right Rear, the leg squats down, and your right foot withdraws a half step to the Right Rear, toes touching down, the weight now fully on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes to the Right Rear with the saber upright in a crossing action to hang his weapon aside, the tip pointing upward, the edge facing to the Left Rear, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, sticks to the back of the saber. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 51

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我面部,我用刀外掛敵人之鎗,向後退步,以待其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my face, so I send my saber outward to hang his weapon aside while retreating, then wait for what he will do next.

【趕步盤龍式】
[52] CHASING STEP, COILING DRAGON POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左前方開半步,弓膝,腿向下坐,左足亦隨右足上半步,足尖點地。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀不動,左手仍貼刀背,面向左前方,目平視。
Your right foot steps out a half step to the Left Front, the knee bends, the leg squats down, and your left foot follows the right foot forward a half step, toes touching down, the weight now fully on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, does not move, while your left hand still sticks to the back of the saber. You are facing to the Left Front, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 52

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人之鎗,旣然被我掛着,敵卽向後抽鎗,另用方法,我乃順敵人之抽力,向前趕步,仍舊掛着敵鎗,靜以待變。
After his spear has been hung aside, he draws it back to try a different attack, so I follow his withdrawing energy, chasing forward to again hang his weapon aside, then calmly wait for what he will do next.

【雲刀藏刀式】
[53] CLOUDING SABER, CONCEALING THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左前方上一步,左足再向左前方上一步,身體轉向後方,右手持刀向左前方下劈,然後橫刀向右方後方掃去,同時右腿下坐,左足向後方上半步,足尖點地。右手持刀下擄,刀柄在右胯旁邊,刀尖向後方,刀刃向下,左手立掌垂肘置於胸前,面向後方,目平視。
Your right foot takes a step to the Left Front and then your left foot takes a step to the Left Front, your torso turning to the Right Rear, as your right hand, holding the saber, chops downward to the Left Front, then sweeps across to the Right Rear as a horizontal blade. At the same time, your right leg squats down and your left foot takes a half step to the Right Rear [Rear], toes touching down, as your right hand, holding the saber, captures downward, the saber handle placed beside your right hip, the tip pointing to the rear, the edge facing downward, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is placed in front of your chest. You are facing to the Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 53

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我腿部,我進步用刀撥開,忽然身後鎗到,我轉身雲刀以禦之。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I advance, using my saber to deflect it aside. Suddenly an opponent’s spear appears behind me, so I turn around and use my saber in a clouding action to ward it away [then conceal my saber beside my right leg and wait for what he will do next].

【護膝劈刀式】
[54] PROTECT THE KNEE, CHOP

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向後方開半步,右足再向後方上一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀由左膝旁邊外掛,然後向後方下劈,刀尖向後下方,刀刃向下,左手向前方平伸,面向後方,目平視。
Your left foot steps out a half step to the Rear, then your right foot takes a step to the Rear, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes from beside your left knee, going outward in a hanging action, then chops downward to the Rear, the tip pointing downward to the Rear, the edge facing downward, while your left hand extends Forward. You are facing downward to the Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 54

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我膝部,我用刀向外掛開,乘勢上步,用刀下劈敵人之頭。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my knee, so I send my saber outward in a hanging action to send his spear aside, then take advantage of the moment by stepping in and using my saber to chop to his head.

【左掛金鈴】
[55] HANGING THE GOLDEN BELL TO THE LEFT

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向前方撤半步,足尖點地,左腿下坐,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向右前方反掛撤回,刀柄在左耳旁邊,刀尖向後方,刀刃向上,左手撫右腕以助之。面向後方,目平視。
Your right foot withdraws a half step to the Front, toes touching down, your left leg squatting down, the weight now fully on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes to the Right Front, turning over and withdrawing with a hanging action, the saber handle placed beside your left ear, the tip pointing to the Rear, the edge facing upward, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist. You are facing to the Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 55

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我頭部,我用刀向外掛開,以觀敵變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my head, so I send my saber outward to take him aside with a hanging action, then watch for what he will do next.

【臥魚式】
[56] FLOPPING FISH POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向後方上一步,右足再向右後方背一步,雙腿下坐。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向下沉擄,刀柄在左膝下,刀尖向後方,刀刃向下。左手撫右腕以助其勢。面向後方,目平視。
[Your right foot takes a half step to the Rear,] your left foot takes a full step to the Rear, then your right foot steps to the Rear, behind your left foot, and both legs squat down, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, sinks down with a capturing action, the saber handle below your left knee, the tip pointing to the Rear, the edge facing downward, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist. You are facing to the Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 56

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我腿部刺來,我用刀擄着敵鎗,以待其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I use my saber to capture his spear, then wait for what he will do next.

【藏刀式】
[57] CONCEALING THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
身體由後方向左方前方右方旋轉一圓週。然後左足向後方開半步,足尖點地,足根翹起,右足不動而腿下坐。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀向上提起,而後向下沉擄。刀柄置右胯旁,刀刃向下,刀尖向後方。左手立掌垂肘向後方伸出。面向後方,目平視。
Your body goes from the Rear to the Left, to the Front, to the Right, spinning all the way around, then your left foot takes a half step to the Rear, toes touching down, heel lifted,
your right foot not leaving its location, the leg squatting down, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up, then sinks down to the Rear with a capturing action, the saber handle placed beside your right hip, the edge facing downward, the tip pointing to the Rear, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, extends to the Rear. You are facing to the Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 57

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我頭部刺來,我提刀撥開。將刀藏於腿旁,以待其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my head, so I lift up my saber to deflect it aside, [spinning my body around,] then conceal my saber beside my leg and wait for what he will do next.

【迎面刺】
[58] STAB TO THE FACE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向後方邁半步,弓膝。右腿蹬直。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向後方平刺,刀與臂成一直線。刀尖向後方,刀刃向下。左手撫右腕以助其勢。面向後方,目注刀尖。
Your left foot takes a half step to the Rear, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, then goes to the Rear with a level stab, saber and arm making a straight line, the saber tip pointing to the Rear, the edge facing downward, while your left palm touches your right wrist to assist the posture. You are facing to the Rear, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 58

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人向後抽鎗,我乘勢上步,用刀直刺敵人之面。
The opponent draws back his spear, so I take advantage of the moment by stepping in and using my saber to stab to his face with the blade vertical.

【臥虎式】
[59] CROUCHING TIGER POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向前方退一步,腿向下坐,右足向右方上一步,足尖點地,足根翹起,膝微曲。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀由後方向右向前繞頭一週。然後向左腋下揮出,刀尖向左上方,刀刃向左前下方。左手橫掌置於頂上,面向右方,目平視。
Your left foot retreats a step to the Front, the leg squats down, and your right foot takes a step to the Right, toes touching down, heel lifted, knee slightly bent, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes from the Rear to the Right, then to the Front, coils all the way around your head, then waves outward to the Left below your armpit, the tip pointing upward to the Left, the edge facing downward to the Left Front, while your left hand is placed crosswise above your forehead. You are facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 59

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我之頭,我用刀撥開,敵又用鎗刺我腹部,我用刀橫掃敵人之鎗,以待敵人之變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my head, so I use my saber to deflect it aside. He then uses his spear to stab to my belly, so I send my saber to sweep aside his spear, then wait for what he will do next.

【臥魚式】
[60] FLOPPING FISH POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右方進半步,左足再向右方邁一步。然後右足向右前方背一步,雙腿下坐。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向右下方沉擄,刀尖向右方,刀刃向下。左手撫右腕以助其勢。面向右方,目平視。
Your right foot advances a half step to the Right, your left foot then takes a full step to the Right, then your right foot steps to the Right Front, behind your left foot, both legs squat down, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, sinks down to the Right with a capturing action, the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist the posture. You are facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 60

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我腿部來刺,我用刀擄着敵鎗,以待其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I use my saber to capture his spear, then wait for what he will do next.

【藏刀式】
[61] CONCEALING THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:    
身體由右方向後方左方前方旋轉一圓週,右足不動而腿下坐,左足向右方進半步,足尖點地,足根翹起。全體重心,均在右足,同時右手持刀向下沉擄,刀柄置於右胯旁邊,刀尖向右方,刀刃向下。左手立掌垂肘向右方伸出,面向右方,目平視。
Your body goes from the Right to the Rear, to the Left, to the Front, spinning all the way around, your right foot not leaving its location, the leg squatting down, and your left foot advances a half step to the Right, toes touching down, heel lifted, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, sinks down with a capturing action, the saber handle placed beside your right hip, the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, extends to the Right. You are facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 61

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我腿部,我用刀擄着敵人之鎗,以待其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I use my saber to capture his spear, then wait for what he will do next.

【分心刺】
[62] STAB THROUGH THE CENTER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向右方進半步,右足再向右方進一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀向右方平刺,刀尖向右方,刀刃向下。左手向左方伸出。面向右方,目注刀尖。
Your left foot advances a half step to the Right, then your right foot advances a full step to the Right, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, does a level stab to the Right, the saber tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand extends to the Left. You are facing to the Right, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 62

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人之鎗,旣然被我擄着,敵卽撤鎗以圖變更方法,再來刺我。我乘敵抽鎗之際,進步刺敵之胸。
Once his spear has been captured by me, he draws it back and looks for a new opening to again stab at me, so I take advantage of the moment he draws back his spear by advancing and stabbing to his chest.

【轉身截刀式】
[63] TURN AROUND, BLOCKING

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方背一步,左腿弓膝。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀由右方向下方向左下方截去,刀尖向左下方,刀刃向右下方。左手撫右腕以助之。面向左下方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot takes a step to the Left, behind your left foot, and your left knee bends,
the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes downward from the Right, blocking downward to the Left, the tip pointing downward to the Left, the edge facing downward to the Right, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist. You are facing downward to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 63

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人自身後用鎗向我腿部刺來,我轉身用刀截着敵人之鎗。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I turn around and use my saber to block his spear.

【靑蛇伏地】
[64] GREEN SNAKE HIDES ON THE GROUND

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向左方邁一步,右足再向左方進一步,雙腿下坐。全體重心,在兩足間之中點。同時右手持刀向左方扎出,然後向下方沉擄,刀柄置於小腹旁邊,刀尖向左方,刀刃向下。左手按刀柄以助其勢,面向左方,目平視。
Your left foot takes a step to the Left, your right foot then advances a step to the Left, [your torso spinning around,] and both legs squat down, the weight now between your feet. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, pokes out to the Left [along with the left step], then sinks down with a capturing action [along with the right step and the spin], the saber handle placed beside your abdomen, the tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing downward, while your left hand touches the saber handle to assist the posture. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 64

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人抽鎗,又用鎗向我胸部刺來,我用刀擄着敵人之鎗,以待其變。
The opponent draws back his spear, then stabs to my chest, so I use my saber to capture his spear, then wait for what he will do next.

【分心刺】
[65] STAB THROUGH THE CENTER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足不動弓膝,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀向左方平刺,刀尖向左方,刀刃向下。左手向右方伸出,面向左方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot staying where it is, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, does a level stab to the Left, the saber tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing downward, while your left hand extends to the Right. You are facing to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 65

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人之鎗,旣然被我擄着,敵卽抽鎗以圖變更方法,再來刺我。我乘敵抽鎗之際,進步刺敵之胸。
After the opponent’s spear has been captured, he draws it back to look for a new opening to again stab at me, so I take advantage of the moment he draws back his spear by advancing and stabbing to his chest.

【回馬提鈴】
[66] TURN THE HORSE, LIFTING THE BELL

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右方邁一步,弓膝。左足向左下方抬起。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀由左方提起,然後反手向左下方撩出。刀尖向左下方,刀刃向左上方。左手按右腕以助其勢。面向左下方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot takes a step to the Right, the knee bends, and your left foot lifts up to be downward to the Left, the weight now fully on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up from the Left, then with the hand turning over, does a raising action downward to the Left, the tip pointing downward to the Left, the edge facing upward to the Left, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist the posture. You are facing downward to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 66

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵用鎗向我腿部刺來,我假作敗勢,乘敵之不備,用刀撩取敵之下部。
The opponent uses his spear to stab my leg, so I feign a bad position, then take advantage of the moment of his unpreparedness by [using my foot to kick his spear aside and] using my saber to do a raising action to his lower body.

【斜飛式】
[67] DIAGONAL FLYING POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向右方進一步,弓膝。右腿蹬直。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀由左下方上提向上方右方下方繞一圓週,然後仍向左下方反手撩出。左手向右上方伸出。面向左下方,目注刀尖。
[Your left foot comes down,] your left [right] foot advances a step to the Right, your [left] knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up from downward in the Left, goes to the Right, downward, making a complete [vertical] circle, then again with the hand turning over, goes downward to the Left with a raising action, while your left hand extends upward to the Right. You are facing downward to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 67

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人抽鎗向我胸部刺來,我提刀向外撥開,乘勢用刀撩取敵人腿部。
The opponent draws back his spear and stabs to my chest, so I lift up my saber and send it outward to deflect him aside, then take advantage of the moment by [advancing and] using my saber to seek his leg with a raising action.

【金針指南】
[68] GOLDEN NEEDLE POINTS SOUTH

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右方撤回半步,足尖點地,足根翹起,膝微曲,左腿下坐。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向懷內撤回,刀柄置於胸前刀尖向左,刀刃向上。左手按右手以助之。面向左方,目平視。
Your right foot withdraws a half step to the Right, toes touching down, heel lifted, knee slightly bent, your left leg squatting down, the weight now fully on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, withdraws toward your chest, the saber handle placed in front of your chest, the tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing upward, while your left hand touches your right hand to assist. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 16

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我胸部刺來,我用刀掛開敵鎗,以待其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my chest, so I use my saber in a hanging action to take his spear aside, then wait for what he will do next.

【懷中抱月】
[69] EMBRACING THE MOON

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方上半步,左足再向左方進一步,雙腿下坐。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀向懷內抱,刀尖向左方,刀刃向上。左手按刀柄以助之。面向左方,目平視。
Your right takes a half step to the Left, then your left foot advances a full step to the Left, [stepping over your right leg,] and both legs squat down, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, [goes downward in a capturing action, then] embraces toward your chest, the tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing upward, while your left hand touches the saber handle to assist, You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 69

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人向後抽鎗,我乘勢進步,擄着敵鎗,以觀敵變。
The opponent draws back his spear, so I take advantage of the moment by advancing and [using my saber to] capture his spear, then [draw it back and] wait for what he will do next.

【順水推舟】
[70] GOING WITH THE CURRENT TO PUSH THE BOAT

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方進一步,弓膝。左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀向左方平刺,刀尖向左方,刀刃向上。左手按刀柄以助其勢。面向左方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot advances a step to the Left, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, does a level stab to the Left, the tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing upward, while your left hand touches the saber handle to assist the posture. You are facing to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 70

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人向後抽鎗,我順其力向前進步,用刀直刺敵人之喉。
The opponent draws back his spear, so I follow his withdrawing energy and advance, using my saber to stab to his throat.

【斜飛式】
[71] DIAGONAL FLYING POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右後方撤一步,左膝向左弓,右腿蹬直。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向右下方反手撩出,刀尖向右下方,刀刃向右後上方,左手向左上方伸出,面向右下方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot withdraws a step to the Right Rear, your left knee bends to the Left, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes downward to the Right Rear with a raising action, the hand turning over, the tip pointing downward to the Right, the edge facing upward to the Right Rear, while your left hand extends upward to the Left. You are facing downward to the Right, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 71

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人由身後用鎗刺我下部,我回身閃開敵鎗,乘勢上步,用刀撩取敵人之膝。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to stab to my lower body, so I turn around to suddenly take his spear aside, taking advantage of the moment by stepping in and using my saber to seek his leg with a raising action.

【提刀探海式】
[72] LIFTING THE SABER, SEARCHING THE SEA

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右前方上一步,左足再向右方開一步,弓膝,右腿蹬直。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀由右下方向下方再向左方提起,然後向右方下劈,刀尖向右方,刀刃向下。左手作鈎反向左方上提,面向右下方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot takes a step to the Right Front, then your left foot takes a step out to the Right, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes downward from the Right, lifts to the Left, then chops downward to the Right, the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand makes a hook, turning over and lifting up to the Left. You are facing downward to the Right, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 72

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我腿部,我閃身用刀掛開敵鎗,乘勢上步用刀劈敵人之頭。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I dodge with my body, using my saber to take his spear aside with a hanging action, then take advantage of the moment by stepping in and using my saber to chop to his head.

【卸步閃展式】
[73] WITHDRAWING STEP, SUDDEN SPREADING

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右腿向左弓,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀反手向左後方抽囘,刀尖向右前下方,刀刃向右後上方,左手按刀柄以助其勢。面向右前方,目注刀尖。
Your right leg bends to the Left and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, the saber in your right hand, the hand turning over, draws back to the Left Rear, the tip pointing downward to the Right Front, the edge facing upward to the Right Rear, while your left hand touches the saber handle to assist the posture. Your torso is facing to the Right Front [Right Rear], your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 73

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人抽鎗向我腿部刺來,我將身閃開,用刀掛着敵鎗,以待敵變。
The opponent draws back his spear and stabs to my leg, so I dodge with my body and use my saber in a hanging action to take his spear aside, then wait for what he will do next.

【進步劈刀式】
[74] ADVANCE AND CHOP

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向右後方進一步,右足再向右方進一步、弓膝,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀由右前方向左後方上提,然後再向右方下劈。刀尖向右方,刀刃向下。左手按右腕以助其勢,面向右下方,目注刀尖。
Your left foot advances a step to the Right Rear, then your right foot advances a step to the Right, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, the saber in your right hand lifts up from the Right Front to the Left Rear [in a deflecting action, coordinated with the left step], then chops downward to the Right [coordinated with your right step], the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist the posture. You are facing downward to the Right, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 74

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我頭部,我用刀撥開,向前進步劈敵人之頭。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my head, so I use my saber to deflect it aside, then advance with a chop to his head.

【左掛金鈴】
[75] HANGING THE GOLDEN BELL TO THE LEFT

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方撤回半步,足尖點地,足根翹起。左足不動而腿下坐。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向左前方反手掛回,刀柄置於左耳旁邊,刀尖向右方,刀刃向上,左手撫右腕以助其勢。面向右方,目平視。
Your right foot withdraws a half step to the Left, toes touching down, heel lifted, your left foot staying where it is but the leg squatting down, the weight now fully on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes to the Left Front, the hand turning over, with a hanging action, the saber handle placed beside your left ear, the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing upward, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist the posture. You are facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 75

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我頭部,我用刀向外掛開,以觀敵變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my head, so I send my saber outward to take him aside with a hanging action, then watch for what he will do next.

【推窗望月】
[76] PUSH OPEN THE WINDOW TO GAZE AT THE MOON

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右方開半步,左足再向右後方進半步,弓膝,右腿蹬直,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向右後方撩出,刀尖向右後下方,刀刃向右後上方。左手立掌垂肘置於刀與胸之間。面向右後方,目平視。
Your right foot steps out a half step to the Right, then your left foot advances a half step [full step] to the Right Rear, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, raises out to the Right Rear, the saber tip pointing downward to the Right Rear, the edge facing upward to the Right Rear, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, is placed between the saber and your chest. You are facing to the Right Rear, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 76

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人抽鎗向我腹部扎來,我用刀撩開敵鎗,乘勢上步,順鎗而進,以撩敵之前手。
The opponent draws back his spear and stabs to my belly, so I use my saber in a raising action to take his spear aside, taking advantage of the moment by stepping forward, following his spear with an advance, and doing a raising action to his front hand.

【靑龍獻爪】
[77] BLUE DRAGON SHOWS A CLAW

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向右前方上一步,右足再向右前方進一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀向右前上方撩出,刀尖向右前上方,刀刃向左後上方。左手按右腕以助其勢。面向右前方,目注刀尖。
Your left foot takes a step to the Right Front, then your right foot advances a step to the Right Front, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, the saber in your right hand, [the hand turning over,] does a raising action upward to the Right Front, the tip pointing upward to the Right Front, the edge facing upward to the Left Rear, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist the posture. You are facing to the Right Front, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 77

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我胸部刺來,我用刀向外支開,乘勢進步撩取敵人之頭。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my chest, so I send my saber outward to prop aside his spear, taking advantage of the moment by advancing with a raising action to his head.

【横掃千軍】
[78] SWEEPING ASIDE A THOUSAND SOLDIERS

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向左前方上一步,雙腿下蹲,全體重心,在兩足間之中點。同時右手持刀向左方下劈至面前,然後橫刀向右方平掃,刀尖向右方,刀刃向後方。左手向左方平伸。面向右方,目注刀尖。
Your left foot takes a step to the Left Front and both legs squat down, the weight now between your feet. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, chops downward to the Left until in front of your face, then sweeps across to the Right as a flat blade, the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing to the Rear, while your left hand extends to the Left. You are facing to the Right, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 78

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我胸部,我用刀掛開,敵抽鎗後退,我卽乘勢用刀橫掃敵人之頭。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my chest, so I use my saber in a hanging action to take his spear aside. He draws back his spear and retreats, so I take advantage of the moment by using my saber to sweep across to his head.

【流星趕月】
[79] METEOR CHASES THE MOON

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方進半步,足尖點地,足根翹起。左足不動而腿下坐。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向左上方平削,刀尖向左上方,刀刃向右後上方,左手按右腕以助其勢,面向左方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot advances a half step [full step] to the Left, toes touching down, heel lifted, your left foot not leaving its location but the leg squatting down, the weight now fully on your left foot. At the same time, the saber in your right hand, [the hand turning over,] does a level paring action upward to the Left, the tip pointing upward to the Left, the edge facing upward to the Right Rear, while your left hand touches your right wrist to assist the posture. You are facing to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 79

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗由身旁刺來,我用刀削開敵鎗,進步直取敵人之頭。
An opponent from beside me uses his spear to attack me with a stab, so I use my saber in a paring action to deflect it aside, advancing to seek his throat.

【斜飛式】
[80] DIAGONAL FLYING POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方伸半步,左腿弓膝,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向左下方反手撩出,刀尖向左下方,刀刃向前方,左手向右上方伸出,面向左下方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot extends a half step to the Left, your left knee bends, [and your right leg presses straight,] the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, the saber in your right hand, the hand turning over, does a low raising action to the Left, the tip pointing downward to the Left, the edge facing to the Front, while your left hand extends upward to the Right. You are facing downward to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 80

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人抽鎗向我胸部刺來,我提刀向外撥開,乘勢用刀撩取敵人腿部。
The opponent draws back his spear and stabs to my chest, so I lift up my saber and send it outward to deflect him aside, then take advantage of the moment by [advancing and] using my saber to seek his leg with a raising action.

【抱月式】
[81] EMBRACING THE MOON

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右方撤回半步,足尖點地,足根翹起,左足不動而腿下坐。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向右方抱回,刀背架於右肘上。刀尖向左方,刀刃向上。左手按刀柄以助其勢,面向左方,目平視。
Your right foot withdraws a half step to the Right, toes touching down, heel lifted, your left foot staying where it is but the leg squatting down, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, withdraws embracing to the Right, the back of the saber propped up on your right elbow, the tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing upward, while your left hand touches the saber handle to assist. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 81

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我頭部刺來,我用刀掛開敵人之鎗,以待其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my head, so I use my saber in a hanging action to take his spear aside, then wait for what he will do next.

【乘風破浪】
[82] BRAVING THE WIND AND WAVES

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方進半步,左足再向左方進一步,膝微曲,右腿蹬直。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手抱刀不動,左手立掌向右方伸出,面向右方,目平視。
Your right foot advances a half step to the Left, then your left foot advances a full step to the Left, the knee slightly bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, the saber in your right hand does not move and your left hand, palm upright, extends to the Right. You are facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 82

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人抽鎗欲逃,我抱刀進步直刺敵人之胸。
The opponent draws back his spear wanting to flee, so I embrace my saber and advance to stab to his chest with the blade vertical.

【分心刺】
[83] STAB THROUGH THE CENTER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方進一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀向左方平刺,刀尖向左方,刀刃向下方,左手向右方伸出,面向左方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot advances a step to the Left, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, does a level stab to the Left, the saber tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing downward, while your left hand extends to the Right. You are facing to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 83

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人之鎗,旣然被我擄着,敵卽撤鎗以圖變更方法,再來刺我,我乘敵抽鎗之際,進步刺敵之胸,
After the opponent’s spear gets captured, he looks for a new opening [which would be a stab to my head], so I take advantage of the moment he draws back his spear by advancing and stabbing to his chest.

【右摘星式】
[84] PLUCKING THE STARS TO THE RIGHT

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左前方進一步,弓膝,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀交與左手,然後向左前上方撩出,刀尖向左前上方,刀刃向右前上方,右手按左腕以助其勢,面向左前方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot advances a step to the Left Front, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, the saber in your right hand switches to your left hand, then goes upward to the Left Front with a raising action, the tip pointing upward to the Left Front, the edge facing upward to the Right Front, while your right hand touches your left wrist to assist the posture. You are facing to the Left Front, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 84

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我下部,我用刀將鎗向外撥開,然後用刀進斬敵人之頭。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my groin, so I use my saber to deflect his spear aside, and then while advancing, to slash to his head.

【左摘星式】
[85] PLUCKING THE STARS TO THE LEFT

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向左後方進一步,弓膝,右腿蹬直,全體重心,均在左足。同時左手持刀向左後上方撩出,刀尖向左後上方,刀刃向右後上方,右手按左腕以助其勢。面向左後方,目注刀尖。
Your left foot advances a step to the Left Rear, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, the saber, still in your left hand, [goes from the Left Front to the Right Front with a downward chop,] then goes upward to the Left Rear with a raising action, the tip pointing upward to the Left Rear, the edge facing upward to the Right Rear, while your right palm touches your left wrist to assist the posture. You are facing to the Left Rear, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 85

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我胸部,我用刀掛開,敵抽鎗後退,我乘勢進步以刀斬敵之頭。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my chest, so I use my saber in a hanging action to take it aside. He draws back his spear and retreats, so I take advantage of the moment by advancing and using my saber to do a slash to his head.

【卸步擄刀】
[86] WITHDRAWING STEP, CAPTURING WITH THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向右方撤回半步,足尖點地,足根翹起。右足不動而腿下坐。全體重心,均在右足。同時左手持刀下擄,刀柄置左膝旁邊,刀尖向左,刀刃向下,右手按左腕以助其勢,面向左下方,目注刀尖。
Your left foot withdraws a half step to the Right, toes touching down, heel lifted, your right foot staying where it is but the leg squatting down, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, the saber, still in your left hand, goes downward with a capturing action, the saber handle placed beside your left knee, the tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing downward, while your right hand touches your left wrist to assist the posture. You are facing downward to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 86

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗向我腿部來扎,我卸半步,順鎗之扎力用刀擄敵之鎗,以待其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I withdraw a half step and follow his stabbing energy by using my saber to do a capturing action to his spear, then wait for what he will do next.

【進步崩刀】
[87] ADVANCE, FLICK WITH THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向左方進半步,弓膝,右腿蹬直,全體重心,均在左足。同時左手持刀向左下方崩撩,刀尖向左下方,刀刃向下,右手按左腕以助之。面向左下方,目注刀尖。
Your left foot advances a half step to the Left, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, the saber, still in your left hand, goes downward to the Left and does a raising flick [using the back of the blade], the tip pointing downward to the Left, the edge facing downward, while your right hand touches your left wrist to assist. You are facing downward to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 87

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人之鎗旣被我用刀擄着,乃欲向後抽鎗,我乘敵抽鎗之機會,進步用刀崩取敵人之下部。
When the opponent’s spear has been captured by my saber, he wishes to draw back his spear, so I take advantage of the opportunity of his withdrawing by advancing and using my saber to do a flicking action to his groin.

【反臂插秧】
[88] TURNING OVER THE ARM TO PLANT SEEDS

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方進一步,左足再向左方背一步,雙膝下曲。全體重心,均在右足。同時左手持刀反手向左下方下插,刀尖向左下方,刀刃向左上方,右手按刀背以助之。面向左下方,目注刀尖。
Your right foot advances a step to the Left, then your left foot steps to the Left behind it, and both legs squat down, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, the saber, still in your left hand, the hand turning over, [rises with a hanging action and] inserts downward to the Left, the tip pointing downward to the Left, the edge facing upward to the Left, while your right hand touches the back of the saber to assist. You are facing downward to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 88

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我胸部,我用刀掛開敵鎗,乘勢用刀直刺敵人腿部。
The opponent uses his spear to stab my chest, so I use my saber in a hanging action to take aside the opponent’s spear, then take advantage of the moment by using my saber to stab to his leg.

【靑蛇伏地】
[89] GREEN SNAKE HIDES ON THE GROUND

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
身體由左方向後方右方旋轉之,右足再向右方開半步。雙腿下蹲,全體重心,均在兩足間之中點。同時左手持刀上提,再向左方下劈,將刀交與右手,刀尖向右方,刀刃向下,左手按刀柄以助之。面向右方、目注刀尖。
Your torso spins around from the Left to the Rear, to the Right, then your right foot steps out a half step to the Right, and both legs squat down, the weight now between your feet. At the same time, the saber, still in your left hand lifts up, then chops downward to the Left [Right], the saber switching to your right hand, the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand touches the saber handle to assist. You are facing to the Right, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 89

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人自身後用鎗刺我頭部,我轉身用刀撥開,敵又刺我胸部,我用刀擄着敵人之鎗,以待其變。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to stab to my head, so I spin around and use my saber to deflect it aside. He again stabs, now to my chest, so I [switch hands and] use my saber to capture his spear, then wait for what he will do next.

【分心刺】
[90] STAB THROUGH THE CENTER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右膝向右方弓出,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀向右方平刺,刀尖向右方,刀刃向下,左手向左方伸出,面向右方,目平視。
Your right knee bends to the Right, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, does a level stab to the Right, the tip pointing to the Right, the edge facing downward, while your left hand extends to the Left. You are facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 90

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人之鎗旣被我刀擄着,卽向後抽鎗,以便再來刺我,我用刀順敵之抽力,直刺敵人之胸。
Once the opponent’s spear has been captured by my saber, he draws it back to stab at me again, so I use my saber to follow his withdrawing energy, stabbing to his chest with the blade vertical.

【轉環提籃式】
[91] ROTATING THE CRANK TO LIFT THE BASKET

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左方退一步,左足再向左方撤半步,足尖點地,足根翹起。右腿下坐,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手將刀抽回,由右前方下落,向右後方橫掃,然後向背後上提,刀尖下垂,刀刃向左方,左手立掌向右方伸出,面向右方,目平視。
Your right foot retreats a full step to the Left, then your left foot withdraws a half step,
toes touching down, heel lifted, your right leg squatting down, the weight now fully on your right foot. At the same time, the saber in your right hand draws back, lowers from the Right Front, sweeps across to the Right Rear [Left Rear], then lifts up behind your back, the tip hanging down, the edge facing to the Left, while your left hand, palm upright, extends to the Right. You are facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 91

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我下部,我用刀橫掃敵人之鎗,幷將我刀伏於背後,以觀其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my groin, so I use my saber to sweep aside his spear, then hide my saber behind my back and wait for what he will do next.

【進步提籃式】
[92] ADVANCE, LIFTING THE BASKET

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向右方進半步,弓膝,右足亦向右方進一步,足尖點地,足根提起。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手提刀,仍在背後上提。左掌向右方推出,面向右方,目平視。
Your left foot advances a half step to the Right, the knee bends, then your right foot also advances a step to the Right, toes touching down, heel lifted, the weight now fully on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand keeps the saber lifted up behind your back, while your left palm pushes out to the Right. You are facing to the Right, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 92

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我胸部,我進步用左掌推開,以待其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my chest, so I advance using my left hand to push it aside, then wait for what he will do next.

【雲龍戲水】
[93] CLOUD DRAGON PLAYS IN THE WATER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向右方進一步,右足再向右方進一步,然後左足向右方背一步。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向右下方下劈,然後向左方上提,再向右下方探出,刀尖向右下方,刀刃向左下方。左手橫掌置於頂上。身體向右方探出,面向右下方,目注刀尖。
Your left foot advances a step to the Right, your right foot advances a step to the Right, then your left foot takes a step to the Right behind your right foot, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, chops downward to the lower Right, then lifts up to the Left, then reaches out to the lower Right, the tip pointing to the lower Right, the edge facing to the lower Left, while your left hand is placed crosswise above your forehead, and your torso reaches out to the Right. You are facing downward to the Right, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 93

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我下部,我進步用刀劈敵之前手,敵抽敵後退,我乘勢用刀掛開敵鎗,直取敵之腿部。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my groin, so I advance and use my saber to chop to his front hand. He draws back his spear, so I take advantage of the moment by using my saber in a hanging action to take his spear aside and seek his leg with the blade vertical.

【翻身劈】
[94] SPIN AROUND, CHOP

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
身體由右方向前方左方後方旋轉一圓圈,左膝向右弓出,右腿蹬直,全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀由右下方向左方提起,然後向右方下劈,刀尖向右下方,刀刃向左下方,左手按刀柄以助之。面向右下方,目注刀尖。
Your torso goes from the Right to the Front, to the Left, to the Rear, spinning all the way around, then your left knee bends to the Right and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up from the lower Right to the Left, then chops downward to the Right, the tip pointing downward to the Right, the edge facing downward to the Left, while your left hand touches the saber handle to assist. You are facing downward to the Right, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 94

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我背部,我急轉身用刀劈擄敵人之鎗。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my back, so I quickly turn around, chopping downward with my saber to capture his spear.

【回身刀】
[95] TURN AROUND, CHOP

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
身體由右方向後方左方旋轉之,右膝向左弓出,左腿蹬直,全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀由右下方上提,再向左方下劈,刀尖向左下方,刀刃向右下方,左手向右方伸出,面向左下方,目注刀尖。
Your torso spins around from the Right to the Rear, to the Left, your right knee bends to the Left, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up from the lower Right, then chops downward to the Left, the tip pointing downward to the Left, the edge facing downward to the Right, while your left hand extends to the Right. You are facing downward to the Left, your gaze to the saber tip.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 95

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗自身後向我來刺,我回身用刀擄着敵鎗,以觀其變。
The opponent behind me uses his spear to attack me with a stab, so I turn around, using my saber to capture his spear, then watch for what he will do next.

【臥虎式】
[96] CROUCHING TIGER POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向右方撤回半步,足尖點地,足根翹起。左足不動而腿下坐。全體重心,均在左足。同時右手持刀向左腋下揮出,刀尖向右後上方,刀刃向左後下方。左手橫掌置於頂上。面向左方,目平視。
Your right foot withdraws a half step to the Right, toes touching down, heel lifted, your left foot staying where it is but the leg squatting down, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, waves outward until under your left armpit, the tip pointing upward to the Right Rear, the edge facing downward to the Left Rear, while your left hand is placed crosswise above your forehead. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 96

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我胸部,我用刀向外撥開,以觀其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my chest [belly / groin], so I send my saber outward to deflect it aside, then wait for what he will do next.

【藏刀式】
[97] CONCEALING THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
右足向左前方進半步,弓膝,左腿蹬直。全體重心,均在右足。同時右手持刀由右後方向左前方下劈,然後沉擄,刀尖向左方,刀刃向下。左手立掌垂肘向左方伸出,面向左方,目平視。
Your right foot advances a half step to the Left Front, the knee bends, and your left leg presses straight, the weight now on your right foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, goes from the Right Rear to chop downward to the Left Front, then sinks in a capturing action, the tip pointing to the Left, the edge facing downward, while your left hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, extends to the Left. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 97

應用說明
Explanation of the application:
敵人用鎗刺我腿部,我用刀掛開敵鎗,以待其變。
The opponent uses his spear to stab to my leg, so I use my saber in a hanging action to take his spear aside, then wait for what he will do next.

【進步交刀式】
[98] ADVANCE, EXCHANGING THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左足向左方進一步弓膝右腿蹬直全體重心均在左足同時右手持刀上提,由前而左而後而右繞頭一週,然後將刀交與左手,刀背與左臂相貼,刀尖向右後上方刀刃向左後上方,面向左方,目平視。
Your left foot advances a step to the Left, the knee bends, and your right leg presses straight, the weight now on your left foot. At the same time, your right hand, holding the saber, lifts up, goes from the Front to the Left, to the Rear, to the Right, coils a complete circle around your head, then switches the saber to your left hand, the saber back touching your left arm, the tip pointing upward to the Right Rear, the edge facing upward to the Left Rear. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 98

【摟膝拗步】
[99] BRUSH KNEE IN A CROSSED STANCE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
左手捧刀由左膝蓋之前方向後方摟出,刀柄置於左胯旁邊,刀尖向上,刀刃向左方,右手立掌垂肘向左方平推。面向左方,目平視。
Your left arm, carrying the saber, goes from in front of your left knee, brushing away to the Rear, and the saber handle is placed beside your left hip, the tip pointing upward, the edge facing to the Left, while your right hand, palm upright, elbow hanging, pushes out to the Left. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 99

【退步收刀式】
[100] RETREAT, GATHERING IN THE SABER

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
身體由左方轉向前方,左足向右方併步,全體重心,在兩足間之中點。同時左手捧刀向左方提起,然後向上向右在身體之前方作一圓圈,再將刀柄置於左胯旁邊,刀尖向上,刀刃向前。右手由左方向下向右橫掌置於頂上。面向左方,目平視。
Your torso turns from the Left to the Front, your left foot stepping toward your right foot to stand next to it. The weight is now between your feet. At the same time, your left hand, carrying the saber, lifts to the Left, then upward, to the Right, in front of your body, making a circle, then places the saber handle beside your left hip, the tip pointing upward, the edge facing to the Front, while your right hand goes downward from the Left, to the Right, and is placed crosswise above your forehead. You are facing to the Left, your gaze level.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 100

【合太極】
[101] RETURN TO THE TAIJI POSTURE

姿勢說明
Explanation of the posture:
頭由左方轉向前方,身體直立,面向前方,目平視。全體重心,在兩足間之中點。同時左手捧刀不動,右手由頂上從容放下,置於右胯旁邊。掌心下按,並不用力。動靜歸一,復還原始。
Your head turns from the Left to the Front, your body stands straight, facing to the Front, your gaze level. The weight is between your feet. At the same time, your left hand, carrying the saber, does not move, and your right hand goes from above your headtop to hang down leisurely, placed beside your right hip, the palm pushing downward, but without exertion. Movement and stillness blending together, you have returned to your original position.

《內家拳太極功玄玄刀》 吳圖南 (1934) - photo 101

第三章 結論
CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSION

以上之姿勢應用,學者業已循序練習,姿勢能否正確?動作能否自然?應用是否純熟?身心能否一致?此為當務之急,果能正確,自然純熟一致矣,則可進一步研究刀法運用之變化。
夫刀法者,無運用不足以顯其妙,無變化焉能以明其神。當我應敵之際,敵之優劣,吾不知也。至於手法如何?身法如何?工夫如何?傳授如何?運用如何?變化如何?吾亦不得而知也。欲免張皇失措之弊,必須靜以待之,守而候之,注目而視之,平心而察之。見其神形是否合一?舉止是否敏捷?方法是否靈活?變化是否精通?所持之器械為何?欲攻之目的安在?虛實宜分淸楚!進退宜分緩急!則我攻守之計劃,可有成竹於胸矣。然後或攻,或守,或急,或徐,莫不皆有主張。旣能避實而擊虛,又能攻其所不備。再用出其不意之手段,輕靈奇巧之步法,閃展騰挪之身法,出入莫測之刀法。則利刃在手,妙算於心,外窺敵之變化,內蓄百倍之精神。形如搏兔之鷙;神似捕鼠之貓,舉動玲瓏,身心兼顧。至於與敵交手之際,刀之出入,大有雲龍見首不見尾之勢,使敵應付為艱,虛實難辯,有如陷入一團混沌初開之玄氣中。當此之時,敵欲攻而不得逞,敵欲逃而不得脫;黃百家先生所謂:『得內家拳之一鱗一爪,不用顧盼擬合,信手而應,縱橫前後,悉逢肯綮』者,其玄玄刀之謂乎?
夫如是,或劈,或刺,或托,或探,或提,或撩,或沉,或擄,或橫,或掃,或截,或斬,或崩,或删,或削,或砍,或刴,……使敵百計旣窮,進退維谷,其奈終不能出於太極功之範圍何!此玄玄刀之所以玄而又玄,奥妙無窮也。
雖然刀法之妙用三丰先師已論之詳矣!數百年來,能繼道統之傳,而為之闡明其旨者,誰乎?要之,後有好事者,庶可因是而得之也。
As to the postures and applications above, once you have got the whole sequence, examine yourself: are you able to do the postures correctly, the movements naturally, the applications skillfully, and with your body and mind unified? These points are vitally important, for if it can be correct, natural, skillful, and unified, then you can progress to studying how the saber methods are applied adaptively.
     If the saber methods are not applied, you will not be able to discover their subtleties, and if they are not adaptive, you will not be able to understand its spirit. Right at the moment that I have to face an opponent, I do not know if he is better than me or worse. How well does he use his hands, or maneuver his body? What is his skill level, and how well has he been taught? How is he at applying techniques, and at adapting?
     I will not come to know such information by obtaining it. Avoiding the mistake of falling apart with panic, I calm myself and wait for him, keeping guard and letting the situation unfold. I fix my eyes upon him and quietly observe. I watch to see whether or not his spirit and posture are united. And does his manner exhibit quick reflexes? Does he perform techniques nimbly? Is his adaptability proficient? How well does he grasp his weapon? What target does he want to attack? I must distinguish clearly where he is empty and full. I must notice the speed of his advance and retreat.
     I will thus have a plan of attack and defense, and will be the one holding all the cards. That way, whether he attacks or defends, however fast or slow, I will always be in charge of the situation. I can “avoid his fullness and attack his emptiness” [Art of War, chapter 6], and I can also “attack where he is unprepared” and then use a trick to “appear where he has not anticipated” [both from chapter 7]. My footwork is agile and cunning, my body maneuverings are sudden and surprising, my saber techniques come and go without being comprehended.
     Thus with a sharp blade in hand and a superb strategy in mind, I outwardly spy on the opponent’s changes while inwardly concealing my spirit under countless layers. [from Understanding How to Practice:] “The shape is like a falcon capturing a rabbit. The spirit is like a cat pouncing on a mouse.” The movements are exquisite, body and mind equally involved. As when I am crossing hands with opponents, the comings and goings of the saber is mostly like the posturings of a “cloud dragon” – the head is seen, but not the tail. This makes it very hard for the opponent to deal with, so difficult to differentiate between my emptiness and fullness that it is as though he is falling into that mass of murky energy at the beginning of the universe.
     At this time, if the opponent wants to attack, he cannot get in, and if he wants to escape, he cannot get away. As Huang Baijia said when pointing out that although one may obtain every little aspect of the internal school of boxing, “it is not necessary to seek for someone to copy, only to respond to opponents with whatever works, up or down, left or right, forward or back, and to notice the correct moment to engage.” Does this not describe the Unfathomable Saber?
     Its techniques are: [1] CHOPPING, [2] STABBING, [3] PROPPING, [4] SEARCHING, [5] LIFTING, [6] RAISING, [7] SINKING, [8] CAPTURING [equivalent of and somewhat similar pronunciation to the boxing set’s ROLLBACK], [9] CROSSING, [10] SWEEPING, [11] BLOCKING, [12] SLASHING, [13] FLICKING, [14] ERASING [never mentioned throughout the set], [15] PARING, [16] CLEAVING, [17] HACKING [never mentioned throughout the set]. [HANGING ought to be included in this list too, since it is frequently mentioned throughout the set.] The opponent is made to find nothing in his attempts to read me, and he can get nowhere, forever unable to get around the Taiji skill. This is the “un” of the “unfathomable” saber. It is endlessly mysterious.
     The subtleties of the saber methods were already determined in detail by Zhang Sanfeng. But after so many centuries, can anyone pass on the correct teachings and clarify his intentions? Yes, there have through the succeeding generations been charitable people, and we can all obtain the art because of this.

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