Characteristics of Tai Ji Chuan

Tai Ji Chuan runs through Yin and Yang and virtual reality from beginning to end in the whole movement process, which is manifested in Tai Ji Chuan's movements such as opening and closing, circle and square, rolling and releasing, virtual and real, light and heavy, soft and rigid, slow and fast, etc. This is the basic principle that constitutes Tai Ji Chuan.

Tai Ji Chuan is not only unique in appearance, but also has its own special requirements in internal work. When you are practicing Tai Ji Chuan, you should first try not to be forced. So Tai Ji Chuan is an emotional exercise, and he is an external arrogance exercise. In other words, it is necessary to cultivate both the mind and the spirit. This kind of emotional movement is the essence of Tai Ji Chuan, which dominates other characteristics of Tai Ji Chuan. In addition, when practicing Tai Ji Chuan, when the whole body is stretched and twisted in two directions, it is required to be flexible and elastic. Its dynamic needs all actions, continuous inheritance, continuous connection, and one go. Its speed requires slow and fast, fast and slow. Its strength requires both hard and soft. Its position and action require impartiality, virtual reality, virtual reality, and openness combined with openness. With these conditions, Tai Ji Chuan can give full play to its special role. In sports health care, we can not only strengthen the motor organs and internal organs, but also exercise and enhance the command ability of consciousness, that is, the ability of "unintentional exertion", which can successfully command Qi to move throughout the body. In this way, I not only trained my spirit, but also my mind. My spirit grows stronger with each other, and my body naturally grows stronger. Similarly, it also plays a unique role in the battle: it can control the heavy with the light, control the fast with the slow, control the nature and master the nature. You can move all the time when you move, and you can achieve mastery of kung fu as a family.

The first feature is the emotional movement under the control of the brain.

The second feature is the elastic movement of the body and limbs.

The third feature is the forward and backward spiral motion of the winding wire.

The fourth feature is the virtual and real movement that follows up and down.

The fifth feature is the continuous movement of the waist and spine, and the combination of internal and external.

The sixth feature is the continuous and endless one-stop movement.

The seventh feature is the combination of rigidity and softness, from softness to hardness, from rigidity to softness.

The eighth feature is the alternating movement from slow to fast and from fast to slow.

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The first feature is the emotional movement under the control of the brain.

Boxing rules:

1) "move qi with the heart and gather bones with static energy";

2) "It is convenient to use qi to recuperate the body and make things smooth";

3) "Mind is the command, Qi is the flag" and "Qi is harmless by direct cultivation";

4) "The whole body is focused on God, not on Qi, but on Qi, which is stagnant".

As can be seen from the above four provisions, Tai Ji Chuan is a kind of boxing that is intended to be practiced, and it is also a kind of boxing that practices qi. But when practicing boxing, you should "act with your heart": the heart is the starter, and the spirit is the "standard bearer" who acts according to orders; Every movement should be done without exertion, with intention and shape first, so as to achieve "meaning to qi". When qi is strong, the movement can be calm, and after a long practice, it can converge to the bone and achieve the deepest kung fu of "moving qi". Therefore, it can be said that Tai Ji Chuan is an emotional movement. Tai Ji Chuan's first characteristic is "with the heart" and "with the pneumatic body", meaning but not clumsy.

The essentials of practicing boxing are summarized as follows:

(1) When practicing boxing, you should focus on the movements and get angry purposefully, instead of just thinking about how the internal qi works.

(2) When practicing boxing, the movements should be smooth and steady, and when the strength is delivered to the finish line, the strength should be displayed. These are three measures to boost the spirit.

(3) firmly grasp the external restless air, so as not to be stupid or foolish, which in turn promotes the inner emotional movement.

(4) Be good at using the other seven characteristics, so as to cooperate with them to improve emotional movement.

The second feature is the elastic movement of the body and limbs.

Boxing rules:

(1) "Need to push the top to sink the abdomen";

(2) "Including chest pull-back, shoulder sinking and elbow drooping";

(3) "Loose waist and bend knees";

(4) "God gathers his strength and broadens his skills".

As can be seen from the above four regulations, the abdomen that needs to be propped up and deflated is to lengthen the body and lengthen the back with the chest as the pillar; Shoulder sinking and elbow lowering are arm lengthening; The waist is relaxed, the crotch is open, the knees are bent, and the legs are rotated in a circle, all of which are the results of the legs being elongated in this particular posture. Therefore, in Tai Ji Chuan's footwork, it is necessary to turn ankles and legs in the posture of loosening the waist and bending the knees to reverse the reality. Externally, it is a manifestation of the strength of the legs, but internally, it promotes the elongation of the legs. This series of elongation has promoted the elongation of the whole body; It makes the body and limbs flexible, forming a kind of reluctance, and because the whole body is elongated, the spirit can be naturally lifted. Therefore, as long as the posture is long, it is not easy to overexert, which provides conditions for natural relaxation and long skills. Therefore, the elastic movement of limbs is the second characteristic of Tai Ji Chuan.

The essentials of practicing boxing are summarized as follows:

(1) Tai Ji Chuan mainly practiced Sheli, which is born of elasticity, and elasticity is born of the extension of limbs, so we should pay attention to the extension of limbs.

(2) The stretching of the body and upper body must be empty-necked, suffocating and chest-pulling.

(3) The elongation of hands and feet must be the rotation of shoulder sinking, elbow sinking, waist loosening, hip loosening and knee bending.

(4) When practicing shed force, first seek softness to get rid of the old force (clumsy force), and at the same time stretch it to grow new elastic force.

(5) Only concentrating on practicing boxing is the internal factor to strengthen the tension.

The third feature is the forward and backward spiral motion of the winding wire.

Boxing rules:

(1) "as energetic as spinning";

2 "golden luck is like winding silk";

(3) "To develop, to converge and not to leave Tai Chi";

(4) "A wonderful hand holds the pool, and the miracle goes up in smoke".

As can be seen from the above four provisions, the Tai Ji Chuan movement must be spinning. Rotation is separated from rotation, because the straight pull in rotation naturally forms a spiral shape, which is the unity of opposites between straight and straight. As for the winding strength or drawing strength, that's what it means. Because stretching your limbs in the process of entanglement will also produce a spiral image, it is said that no matter what big movements or compact little moves you make, you must never leave this Tai Chi strength of unity of opposites. After skilled practice, the winding circle becomes smaller and smaller, reaching the state of having a circle but not a circle, and then you will know it with pure meaning, so the spiral movement of the winding wire in the opposite direction and in the opposite direction becomes the third characteristic of Tai Ji Chuan.

The essentials of practicing boxing are summarized as follows:

(1) The origin of Tai Chi's power of winding silk. Without it, it is impossible to rise around the body and limbs and achieve integrity.

(2) It should be noted that the requirement of "continuity" is that the movement must not only pass through the joint part, but also pass through the muscle parts above and below the whole joint, which is the function of spiral winding.

(3) Tai Ji Chuan has a pair of basic windings and five opposite windings, which is the best tool for teaching and learning Tai Ji Chuan.

(4) Luck is like winding silk, which can only be achieved under the condition of lightness; At the same time, air must be swaying and restrained.

(5) The application of fiber winding strength cannot produce defects, bulges and discontinuities.

The fourth feature is the virtual and real movement that follows up and down.

Boxing rules:

(1) "The spirit needs to be changed, but it has a round and lively taste. You should pay attention to the so-called changes in reality. "

(2) "Virtual reality should be clearly distinguished, where there is a virtual reality, there is this virtual reality everywhere".

(3) "healthy and comfortable, supported on all sides"; "It is difficult to get up and down with people."

(4) "tail in the top" and "next line".

The above four provisions can explain that all actions of Tai Ji Chuan must distinguish between reality and reality. Action can be transformed from reality to reality, so it can last. This is the most economical power activity. Therefore, to practice Tai Ji Chuan, you should be empty-handed, solid-handed, empty-handed and solid-handed. It is particularly important that the left hand and the left foot, the right hand and the right foot should be separated up and down, that is to say, the left hand should be empty and the right hand should be empty. This is the central link to adjust internal strength and keep upright. In addition, there must be something that forms a landing point in the virtual, and there must be something in the real, so that there is this virtual and real everywhere, so that the inner power can be balanced everywhere. At first, the action can be big and empty, then gradually become small and empty, and finally reach the realm of virtual reality inside and outside. This is the deepest adjustment of virtual reality.

The essentials of practicing boxing are summarized as follows:

(1) Distinguish three main kinds of virtual reality, namely, virtual reality of feet, virtual reality of hands and virtual reality of one hand and one foot.

(2) Pay attention to adjusting the left foot of the left hand and the right foot of the right hand-the virtual reality of hands and feet, which is the main key to "people are hard to invade".

(3) According to the principle of light and heavy ups and downs, we should always check our own shortcomings in the division of reality and excess.

(4) To achieve "double lightness, double lightness, half lightness and half heaviness" and "no disease", we should always pay attention to it and take a long time to cultivate it.

(5) Don't forget the principle of "corner hand governs corner hand" when pushing hands. Four forehands and four corner hands should be converted to each other and practiced.

The fifth feature is the continuous movement of the waist and spine, and the combination of internal and external.

Boxing rules:

(1) "Behind is the first master, and nothing moves";

(2) "the whole body runs through without any interruption";

(3) "If you want to be a family, you must first have no defects in your whole body";

(4) "Qi is like a zigzag bead, and it is meticulous."

As can be seen from the above four regulations, in order to achieve full exercise, we must take the waist and spine as the center, because the waist is the central axis of left-right parallel rotation, and the spine is the basis of up-and-down bending. Tai Ji Chuan's movements should be full, and he can't simply rotate left and right, nor can he bend up and down and swing back and forth. Instead, it is necessary to combine the waist and spine to form a spatial curve that gives consideration to the left and right, runs up and down, and runs through the front and back, thus establishing the foundation of full motion. That is to say, only with the lumbar spine as the center, can the nine main joints (neck, spine, waist, hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow and wrist) run through in turn. In addition, it is necessary to make the whole body flawless and run through it like a nine-curved round bead, so that kung fu can progress to the point of getting married. Therefore, Tai Ji Chuan's fifth characteristic is that the lumbar spine comes first and the internal and external movements are consistent.

The essentials of practicing boxing are summarized as follows:

(1) The waist and spine are combined as the central axis, and the arm movements should be inclined (about 45 degrees);

(2) The "dynamic separation" and "static combination" produced by the central axis are the key points to realize continuity by centrifugal force;

(3) The combination of opening and closing is the concrete manifestation of continuous free rotation;

(4) The continuity of strength is a means to strengthen the continuity of strength;

(5) Reducing the range of motion of wrist joint is a necessary means to improve posture effect.

The sixth feature is the continuous and endless one-stop movement.

Boxing rules:

(1) "Reciprocating must be folded, advancing and retreating must be converted";

(2) "release as soon as you receive it, and release as soon as you receive it";

(3) "The meaning is constantly broken, and the meaning has been broken."

(4) "Like the Yangtze River, endless, in one go".

As can be seen from the above four regulations, Tai Ji Chuan is not satisfied with moving all the time, but also requires that he can further achieve the same goal when practicing the whole frame. This is another way to increase the amount of exercise. The specific methods are as follows: when encountering reciprocation in technique, it is necessary to embed folds; When you encounter advance and retreat in footwork, you should embed transformation; When opening and closing, you should have the intention and strength to receive and release. Of course, this feature, like the fifth feature, is realized by spiral winding motion. If there is a phenomenon of broken energy after enthusiasm, it is necessary to continue the lingering significance of this enthusiasm. In case the meaning is broken, we should continue with the residual spirit of meaning and strength. In order to do this, the strength should be folded and changed, and the action should be intentional without exertion, so that the unified posture is like the Yangtze River, and there is no room for unloading the force in the middle, and there is no intention of rushing, so that the requirements can be achieved in one go. Therefore, the continuous and gushing one-stop action can be regarded as the sixth characteristic of Tai Ji Chuan.

The essentials of practicing boxing are summarized as follows:

(1) When there is reciprocating motion, folding must be embedded-this is a necessary measure to realize continuous connection technically.

(2) When the body moves forward and backward, the transformation must be embedded-this is a necessary measure for the continuity of footwork.

(3) When the force is broken, be intentional, surprise, and have a god. This is the way to remedy the broken strength.

(4) Being able to strut on the shelf can prove that you absorbed ideas in your actions. Meaning, as a constant sign of internal strength.

(5) Fiona Fang, which is full of vitality, is produced from "calling for development and being square" and "sucking tightly and roundly".

The seventh feature is the combination of rigidity and softness, from softness to hardness, from rigidity to softness.

Boxing rules:

(1) "as strong as steel, so indestructible", "extremely soft, and then extremely strong".

(2) "Soft outside, firm inside. It will always be soft outside and rigid inside, and it will take a long time to get firm from the inside; It is not the firmness of the heart, but the softness of the heart. "

(3) "Taiji Chuan must not be soft. The whole body is reciprocating, based on God and Qi, and it will naturally last for a long time. "

(4) "The hard work is to turn hard into soft first, and then practice soft into hard. Extreme, soft and rigid. You can only see yin and yang by combining rigidity with softness. Therefore, boxing can't be just a name, nor a soft name, but named after Tai Ji Chuan's nameless name.

As can be seen from the above four provisions, Tai Ji Chuan's study should first destroy the original hardness of human movements and make them soft. This is a period of softening, and the longer this period, the more rigid it can be completely destroyed. At this time, the focus is still on softness, and under softness, it is more elastic and compact. This rigidity is not the "pig iron" rigidity produced by hard work and encouragement, but the elastic rigidity produced by looseness and elongation. This elasticity can be produced because the limbs are spirally elongated and twisted. Therefore, it can also be called "Jinpeng Gang". Only this kind of elasticity and rigidity can meet the requirements of "softness on the outside and rigidity on the inside". This kind of rigid-flexible transformation is mastered by the implicit and explicit spirit. The so-called "concealment is soft" and "manifestation is rigid" is the truth. After kung fu is tempered, the strength can be hidden deeply, making the appearance extremely soft, making people feel as if they have returned to softness, but the inner quality is actually more rigid. Therefore, the combination of rigidity and softness, from softness to rigidity and from rigidity to softness, has become the seventh characteristic of Tai Ji Chuan.

The essentials of practicing boxing are summarized as follows:

(1) In the initial stage, the original rigidity should be removed, and the softer the better; The longer this period, the better. It usually takes a year or two.

(2) After the whole body is soft, you can further practice the stretching of the whole body and practice rigidity.

(3) Qi should be both rigid and flexible, which is the boundary of Tai Ji Chuan's rigid and flexible division.

(4) The principle of combining rigidity with softness in Taiji is to combine ideas with flickering breath.

(5) The combination of rigidity and softness has reached an advanced level, which is the standard of Tai Ji Chuan's question.

* Chen Xin's "General Invention" said: "Pure Yin without Yang is a soft hand, and pure Yang without Yin is a hard hand; One yin and nine yang is the root stick, and one yin and eight yang is Sanshou; Three yin and seven yang are still hard, and four yin and six yang are good players; Only when the five yin and five yang are combined, the impartiality of yin and yang is called a wonderful hand; The wonderful hand is the pool, and the miracle has gone. " This is Chen's standard of combining rigidity with softness for Tai Ji Chuan.

The eighth feature is the alternating movement from slow to fast and from fast to slow.

Boxing rules:

(1) "If it is urgent, it is urgent, and if it is slow, it should be slow";

(2) "Don't move, don't move; He takes small steps, and he moves first ";

(3) "Beginners should be slow and slow without dementia; Learn quickly and don't be confused ";

(4) "Form resistance to the five mountains, potential pressure three peaks, from Xu to disease, from shallow to deep".

As can be seen from the above four regulations, in the initial practice of Tai Ji Chuan routine (a shelf trip), the movement should be as slow as possible and the time can be extended. If the action is slow, you will have the opportunity to make corrections and check out the unsatisfactory places. However, with the improvement of proficiency, it can be gradually accelerated, shortening the time required for a trip to the shelves. However, from slow to fast, there is a limit, that is, we must follow fast, but we can still take our time and show our strength without being erratic and confused. This refers to the length of time required to practice a shelf. On the premise of being slow first and then fast, when using each boxing method, the opposite of this speed must be unified in one boxing method, that is, customs clearance should be slow, customs clearance will gradually accelerate, and it will be the fastest when it arrives at the landing point, then slow down, and so on. Therefore, Tai Ji Chuan should practice every boxing slowly and quickly, so as to achieve "micro-motion, first move" and "rush is urgent, slow is slow" when pushing hands, and create favorable conditions for himself to achieve the unity of slow and not slow. Therefore, the alternating action from slow to fast and from fast to slow has become the eighth characteristic of Tai Ji Chuan.

The essentials of practicing boxing are summarized as follows:

(1) If you study slowly, you will have a chance to check and correct.

(2) To be slow, we must take spiritual promotion and spiritual communication as the premise.

(3) With the improvement of proficiency, the time required for a trip to the shelves will be gradually shortened. But to be quick, we must be calm and have strength.

(4) The principle of alternating speed and speed is that the turning point of customs clearance is slow, and it gradually accelerates after customs clearance, and then slows down after passing the square point. At the same time, customs clearance should be slow, and the terminal landing point should be fast.

(5) In the whole shelf, the change range of fast and slow phases should be uniform and clear.

conclusion

Tai Ji Chuan's eight characteristics were selected from Tai Ji Chuan's boxing score after repeated refining. The valuable experience of practicing boxing left by predecessors has long been the principle of practicing Tai Ji Chuan, and it is also the principle of people's persistent practice of Tai Ji Chuan.

In addition, it should be pointed out that there are eight characteristics, but its essence is one. Therefore, when practicing walking or pushing hands, you can't look at these characteristics in isolation, and every movement should be gradually consistent. Because any boxing or movement must use concentrated consciousness to direct the whole movement process (feature 1), the body and limbs are elastic under the premise of spiritual improvement (feature 2), and the combination of inside and outside is promoted in the flexible transformation of reality (feature 4) and the winding of positive and negative spirals (feature 3), so as to achieve continuous movement (feature 5) and continuous integration (feature 6).

From the above analysis, we can see that these characteristics are interdependent, mutually restrictive, mutually promoting and transforming. Therefore, if we look at it in isolation, trying to realize one feature and giving up another will not only damage the latter, but also affect the former. Therefore, these characteristics are not unique to a specific action, not to mention that an action has only one characteristic, but the characteristics that each boxing should have to form the whole Tai Ji Chuan routine.

Tai Ji Chuan, which is popular now, no matter what style it is, whether it is well-developed or compact, or whether there are more or less punches on this shelf, as long as we look closely, these Tai Ji Chuan shelves with different shapes all have more or less the same characteristics. The only difference is that some are obvious on the outside and some are hidden in the dark. This also shows that the popularity of Taiji Chuan has not been assimilated by other martial arts for hundreds of years, but it can still be unique, which is the mainstay of these similarities. So when studying Tai Ji Chuan, we can't take it for granted.