太極拳學上下冊 Tai Chi Study, Volumes I and II

 太極拳學上下冊

Tai Chi Study, Volumes I and II

宋志堅老師所著太極拳學上下冊，內涵易理之陰陽變化的哲理，及鬆柔拳法之訓練要訣。尤其是自然運動八法中的「原空位」，是訓練身體九大環節：肩、肘、腕、頸、背脊、腰、髖、膝、踝等關節動與靜、虛與實、剛與柔、輕靈與貫串的門徑。

原空位：身體位置和方向移動時，手掌或手腕仍然保持在身體移動前原來空間的位置不變。

例如易簡太極拳

第一段單鞭後提手，

右勾手保持原空位。

第二段斜單鞭後肘底看捶，右勾手腕保持原空位

第四段單鞭後玉女穿梭，右勾手保持原空位。

「原空位」是訓練身體各部位放鬆的門徑，如九字訣「敬、靜、定、慢、勻、柔、鬆、圓、整」，第一個字「敬」乃慎重其事，例如，單鞭後勾手或腕部保持「原空位」，定位不動後，身體各部位就必須放下各自的堅持與拙力，以確保腕關節的定位點不被動搖，讓肩、肘、腕依序放鬆，自然進入沉肩墜肘、涵胸拔背、氣沉丹田的境界。在心境上具有捨己、謙讓、放下與吃虧的念頭。

「原空位」的定位點在鬆柔拳法上，可謂神聖不可侵犯的精神標竿，具有穩定身、心、靈的作用，讓身體各部依循各自的軌道運行，自然產生太極拳架與推手技藝。

如靈貓捕捉老鼠前，為了不驚擾獵物，身手必須虛靜與輕靈，沒有出現任何的拙力，以避免造成局部力量，而驚動獵物，這乃培養身體整體運動的訓練法，所謂：極柔軟，然後能極堅剛」，身體先求放鬆，而後能瞬間整合成一股強大的能量。

Tai Chi Study, Volumes I and II

The Tai Chi Study, authored by Master Song Zhijian, encompasses the philosophy of yin-yang changes in the principles of the I Ching, as well as the training essentials of supple martial arts. Notably, the concept of "Original Space Position" within the eight methods of natural movement serves as a pathway to train the nine major joints of the body: shoulders, elbows, wrists, neck, spine, waist, hips, knees, and ankles, addressing the interplay of movement and stillness, emptiness and fullness, hardness and softness, as well as lightness and connection.

Original Space Position refers to the condition in which, during movement of the body's position and direction, the palms or wrists maintain their original space position in front of the body without changing.

For example, in Yi Jian Tai Chi:

• After the first section's Single Whip, the right hook hand maintains the Original Space Position.
• After the diagonal Single Whip in the second section, the right hook hand's wrist remains in the Original Space Position.
• After the Single Whip in the fourth section, during the movement of the Maiden Weaving the Shuttle, the right hook hand again holds the Original Space Position.

The Original Space Position serves as a method for training relaxation throughout the body's various parts. The nine-character principle—"Respect, Stillness, Stability, Slowness, Evenness, Softness, Relaxation, Roundness, Wholeness"—begins with the character "Respect," which emphasizes the importance of careful practice. For instance, after the Single Whip, maintaining the hook hand or wrist in the Original Space Position means that once the positioning is stabilized, each part of the body must relinquish its own insistence and tension to ensure that the wrist joint remains stable. This allows the shoulders, elbows, and wrists to relax in sequence, naturally leading to the states of sinking the shoulders and dropping the elbows, encompassing the chest and lifting the back, and sinking the qi to the dantian. This mindset embodies the thoughts of selflessness, humility, letting go, and accepting setbacks.

The positioning of the Original Space Position in the practice of supple martial arts can be regarded as a sacred and inviolable spiritual benchmark, providing stability to the body, mind, and spirit. This enables the various parts of the body to follow their own trajectories, naturally generating the techniques of Tai Chi forms and push hands.

Just like a cat quietly stalking a mouse, it must be still and light to avoid startling its prey, demonstrating no signs of clumsiness to prevent the generation of localized force that might scare off the target. This method cultivates overall body movement, epitomizing the idea that "extreme softness leads to extreme firmness." The body first seeks relaxation, enabling it to instantly coalesce into a powerful force.