Category Archives: Taiji

TAIJI BOXING ACCORDING TO SHI DIAOMEI

– 太極拳譜啚説 A TAIJI BOXING HANDBOOK 施調梅 by Shi Diaomei [published June, 1959] [translation by Paul Brennan, March, 2019] – 一 總説 PART ONE: INTRODUCTION 或問:子曩言:「太極無法,動即是法,」並引易傳曰:「變動不居,周流六虛,上下無常,剛柔相易,不可為典要,唯變㪽適,」今子又作啚説,舉凡一臂之髙低,一步之大小,身向之正隅,莫不斤斤以繩墨相示,不與前義適相反耶?予曰:不然,無法者,乃不變之義,不變者:太極之「體」也,動者,變也,變者:太極之「用」也,法本無法,故始雖有法而終於無法,「不可為典要」者:不可抱泥於繩墨而不知變也,故曰:「唯變㪽適,」是以手之㪽指,足之㪽蹈,身之㪽向,必先合於繩墨而後繩墨可廢,㪽謂「由著熟而後懂勁,」著―繩墨也,懂勁―則可不拘繩墨矣,故曰:「變動不居,周流六虛,」無往而不從心㪽欲矣,是與前義並不相反而實相成,且太極拳之拳架,以節節貫串,刻刻變化為苐一義,故其動也,曲中求直,如環之無端,泯斷續之跡,其變也,由漸而微,如白雲之為蒼狗,斯須無變化之痕,是安得以繩墨可求耶?故是啚之作乃不得已為初學入門引路之需,閱是啚者,當如視空中飛鳥,水上作畫然,祇可以會於心,而不可泥於跡,則庶幾可得筌蹄之用而無刻舟求劍之誚矣。 然則著如何而能熟耶?曰:在初學,每學一勢,或一名式,必反覆繼續練習,至純熟而後再加一手或一式,如是雖全套名目數十式,亦不難式式皆綿密周到,貫串一氣也,㪽謂日計不足,月計有餘矣,若練完全套,每日兩遍,能使純熟,三遍能增功夫,若每日一遍,僅不忘而已。 至於換氣轉勁工夫:如攬雀尾一式,有掤捋擠按四法之勁,由上掤向前之勁,一換氣而變為下捋向後之勁,再換氣而變為前擠之勁,更換氣而變鬆化下按之勁,一式一勢,一開一合,交接之間,換式換勢,換勢換法,換法換意,由換意而換氣,由換氣而換勁,此種變換之中,內部之意氣運用,與外部之四肢開合,有密切關係,譜云:意氣須換得靈,乃有圓活之趣,又云:勁以曲蓄而有餘等,諸如此類,指示綦詳,學者務照譜中㪽示細心體驗,善自存養增長,但勿有絲毫做作,一切純任自然,則無氣喘身搖之病,迨至功夫漸純,手足日漸輕靈,腰腿日漸柔順,掌心足底日漸盈滿,精神充足,發聲洪亮,耐飢耐寒,耐勞耐久,皆可證驗得之。 專練拳架,是為築基,工夫之深淺,全視築基之是否合乎理法,此乃練體脩己之事也,既得其體,須兼達其用,始成名家,用―運用變化之謂,㪽謂體不離用,用不離體,一切學問藝術,莫不皆然,故練拳外,須兼學推手,更進而練散手,則拳術之能事畢矣,然而欲完成此一大段工夫,非有十年以上之勤習苦練,難望有成,是故學者如牛毛,成名者則代不數人,此無他,蓋堅忍有恆者,實不可多得耳。 Someone once asked me: “A previous master [Chen Weiming, in his 1925 … Continue reading

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THE INSIGHTS OF WU GONGZAO

– 太極拳講義 TAIJI BOXING EXPLAINED 著作者 吳公藻 by Wu Gongzao 校正者 吳公儀 text proofread by Wu Gongyi [published by the 湖南國術訓練所 Hunan Martial Arts Training Institute, June, 1935] [translation by Paul Brennan, Dec, 2018] – 吳公藻編 by Wu Gongzao: 太極拳講義 Taiji Boxing … Continue reading

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TAIJI BOXING ACCORDING TO XU ZHIYI

– 太極拳(吳鑑泉式) TAIJI BOXING (WU JIANQUAN STYLE) 徐致一編著 by Xu Zhiyi [published July, 1958] [translation by Paul Brennan, July, 2018] – 目錄 CONTENTS 第一章 太極拳的優點 Chapter One: The Merits of Taiji Boxing 第二章 太極拳在行功時的心理作用 Chapter Two: Psychological Function in the Practice of … Continue reading

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THE TAIJI MANUAL OF LONG ZIXIANG

– 太極拳學 A STUDY OF TAIJI BOXING 龍子祥 by Long Zixiang [published Jan, 1952] [translation by Paul Brennan, March, 2018] – 龍子祥先生著 by Long Zixiang: 太極拳學 A Study of Taiji Boxing 謝伯昌題 – calligraphy by Xie Bochang – 龍子祥先生大作太極拳學付梓奉題 in … Continue reading

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TAIJI BOXING ACCORDING TO TIAN ZHENFENG

– 太極拳講義 TAIJI BOXING EXPLAINED 田鎮峰 by Tian Zhenfeng [1931] [translation by Paul Brennan, Jan, 2018] – 編者例言 田鎭峯 AUTHOR’S INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 一,是書以闡揚國術,溶化門派為主旨,其虛誕之說,盡皆删去,因編時倉卒,未遑校正,疎漏之虞,槪所難免,故定名曰,太極拳講義草本,擬從事審核,再為出版, – The purpose of this book is to promote martial arts and melt away bias between styles. All … Continue reading

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TAIJI WRITINGS FROM THE SHANGHAI YMCA

– 青年會太極拳班週年特刋 THE YMCA TAIJI BOXING CLUB’S ANNIVERSARY BOOK 民國十八年十二月 上海靑年會太極拳班贈 A Present from the Shanghai YMCA Taiji Boxing Club, Dec, 1929 [translation by Paul Brennan, Xmas, 2017] – 青年會太極拳班週年特刋 The YMCA Taiji Boxing Club’s Anniversary Book 姜乾題 – calligraphy by … Continue reading

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TAIJI BOXING ACCORDING TO CHEN ZIMING

– 陳氏世傳太極拳術 THE INHERITED CHEN FAMILY TAIJI BOXING ART 著作者 溫縣陳子明 by Chen Ziming 審定者 中央國術館 河南省國術館 authorized by the Central Martial Arts Institute and the Henan Martial Arts Institute 校閱者 沁陽劉丕顯 定興朱國福 proofread by Liu Pixian of Qinyang and Zhu Guofu of Dingxing 發行處 中國武術學會 … Continue reading

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