On Taiji Quan by Wang Zhongyue
Translated by Tai Chi Academy of Los Angeles
Taiji, being born of infinity, is the origin of the dynamic and the static and the mother of Yin and Yang. When moving, it divides. At rest, it reunites. There should be neither excess nor deficiency. Following the opponent, compress or extend. When the opponent is hard, I become soft, which is called yielding. Then, when the situation turns around in the favor of me, I follow the opponent, which is called adhering. To the opponent’s fast move I follow fast. To his slow movement I follow slowly. Although the changes are various and infinite, the principles remain the same. The first step is to get familiar with the moves and applications, then gradually master the art of knowing and applying energy, finally, to approach the intuitive understanding of this art. However, without long diligent practice, one will not be able to have such a sudden and thorough enlightenment.
The crown of the head is suspended from above and Qi sinks to the Dantian. No tilting, no leaning. Suddenly appearing, suddenly disappearing. When the left feels weight, then the left has become insubstantial. When the right feels pressure, then the right has become empty.
When the incoming force is upward, I follow and become higher. When the incoming force is downward, I still follow and become deeper. When the opponent advances, let him feel the increasing distance. When he retreats, let him feel the urgent chasing. I become so light and alert that even a feather cannot be added and a fly cannot land. The opponent does not know me but I do know him. A real hero is born and has no equal because of all of this.
There are many other styles of martial arts. Although their forms are distinct from one another, more or less they are the same nature. The strong beats the weak, the slow yields to the fast. Those who are stronger and faster prevail. But all this is natural born ability and not related to the study of martial arts. Studying the saying “ Four ounces repel one thousand pounds”, it is apparent that this cannot be accomplished by strength. From observing the elder fighting multiple opponents, it cannot be the matter of speed.
Stand straight like a dropping scale. Move as lively as a cartwheel. To have only one side heavy, so the other side can follow. If double heaviness occurs, then there is stagnation. The reason why those with years of training still cannot apply neutralization and applications is that they have not comprehended the issue of double heaviness and restrained themselves. To avoid this fault, one must understand Yin Yang. To adhere means to yield. To yield means to adhere. Yin is not separate from Yang, and Yang is not separate from Yin. Yin and Yang are mutually cooperated and dependent on each other, which is the understanding of Jin. Only after understanding Jin, the more practice, the more refinement. Practice with your heart and mind, gradually you will be able do at will. The basic principle is to give up oneself by following and yielding to the opponent. It is unfortunate that most practitioners cannot understand this and work on something far less important. Remember the slightest aviation error can cause a thousand mile divergence. The learner, therefore, must discriminate precisely.
On Taiji Quan By Wu Yuxiang
Translated by Tai Chi Academy Of Los Angeles
Once in motion, the entire body should be light, agile and, especially, threaded together.
Qi should be stimulated and spread outwardly.
Shen should be calm and retained inwardly.
No part should be defective or incomplete.
No part should be concave or convex.
No part should be broken or disconnected.
The rooting is at the feet.
The power is generated from the legs by pushing off the ground.
The movement is dominated in the waist.
The Yi is manifested from the fingers.
From the feet to the legs to the waist, the whole body is integrated and coordinated with one breath.
Then no matter if moving forward or backward, you will always be able to take the advantage of the opportunity and position.
Whenever you feel awkward with your movement or posture, your body is then dispersed and disordered.
The problem must be considered and resolved from the waist and legs.
Up and down, back and forth, left and right, it is all the same.
All of this is of Yi, not manifested outwardly.
If there is a top, there is a bottom.
If there is a front, there is a back.
If there is a left, there is a right.
If you want to go up, going downward first.
If you want to lift up something, shake it first.
Thus the root will be severed and the balance will be destroyed immediately without doubt.
Substantial and insubstantial must be clearly distinguished.
Each part has its substantial and insubstantial. It is always substantial and insubstantial.
The entire body works as one with all joints threaded together and there are no slightest break and hindrance.
Chant of the Thirteen Kinetic Movements
Translated by Tai Chi Academy Of Los Angeles
Any of the thirteen key movements1 must not be treated lightly,
The life and liveliness of each of the movements originates at the waist2.
Be attentive to the changes of void and solid,
And have Qi circulate the entire body without any stagnation or hindrance.
Stillness initiates movement, and in motion there is stillness,
Vary and change according to your opponent’s movement, and then comes the marvelous result.
If you do each movement and posture with all your heart and your mind,
It won’t take you too long to accomplish.
Always search for the feeling of the waist,
The low abdomen is relaxed and calm, only the Qi is vibrating there.
The tailbone is tucked in and centered, and the head is up with spirit,
The entire body becomes light and agile when the crown of the head is suspended from above.
Pay great attention to what we have just talked,
Bending and stretching, opening and closing should become natural and effortless.
To enter the gate and be shown the way, one needs oral instructions from a real master,
But the achievement of high-level Gongfu requires life-long self searching and practice.
If asked, what are the standard criteria for exercising for health and martial applications?
Yi(mind) and Qi are masters, bones and muscles are servants.
If asked the real purpose of all these thirteen movements,
It is to achieve longevity and never-aging youthfulness.
The song is composed of one hundred and forty words, each one is true to its meaning.
If you don’t seek in this direction, your efforts will be in vain and you will sigh in regret.
1.Thirteen key movements: refers to Pen, Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zou, Kao, Jin, Tui, Gu, Pan, Ding.
2.waist: here refers to waist and Kua(hips)
On Taiji Push-Hands
Narrated By Yang Cheng Fu/Recorded By Chen Wei Ming
Translated by Tai Chi Academy Of Los Angeles
Those in the world who have practiced Taijiquan are not few in number.
To distinguish the real good from the mediocre is to see if there is the flavor of Taiji.
Pure Taiji, is such that the arms are like cotton wrapping iron, soft outside and heavy inside. You can tell by pushing-hands.
When applying Qin Na, the hands are extremely light but one cannot escape.
When throwing a person, it is like shooting a bullet, fast and crisp, not feel any struggling.
The person, who falls, feels only a single movement, and before feeling any pain, is already meters away on the ground.
When adhering to a person, there is no grabbing nor seizing, just lightly sticking, like being stuck to glue and not being able to discard it, causing the person's arms to be unbearably sore and numb.
This then is real Taiji.
If using great force to press and push a person, although one can control a person and throw him out, it will definitely entail greater effort than necessary. The submitted will feel pain and the throwing is not of clean and crisp.
In reverse, if one wants to use strength to seize and control a real Taiji master, it’s like chasing the wind and catching shadows, everywhere falling into emptiness. Or like standing on a gourd in water, one just cannot seem to find the solidness.
Push-Hands Song
Revised by Wang Zongyue/Translated by Tai Chi Academy Of Los Angeles
In Ward-off, Rollback, Press and Push,You must be very conscientious.
Up and down follow one another, make it difficulty for your opponent to enter.
Let him attack me with great force,
I use my four ounces to redirect his thousand pounds.
Guide him into my emptiness, neutraize and then counterattack.
Adhere-connect, stick-follow, neither losing him nor resisting.
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