太極拳十要 楊澄甫
一、虛靈頂勁 頂勁者。頭容正直。神貫于頂也。不可用力。用力則項強。氣血不能流通。須有虛靈自然之意。非有虛靈頂勁。則精神不能提起也。
二、含胸拔背 含胸者。胸略內涵。使氣沉于丹田也。胸忌挺出。挺出氣挪胸際。上重下輕。腳根易于浮起。拔背者。氣貼于背也。能含胸則自能拔背。能拔背則能力由脊發。所向無敵也。
三、鬆腰 腰為一身之主宰。能鬆腰然後兩足有力。下盤穩固。虛實變化皆由腰轉動。故曰。命意源頭在腰隙。有不得力必于腰腿求之也。
四、分虛實 太極拳術以分虛實為第一義。如全身皆坐在右腿。則右腿為實。左腿為虛。全身坐在左腿。則左腿為實。右腿為虛。虛實能分。而後轉動輕靈。毫不費力。如不能分。則步重滯。自立不穩。而易為人所牽動。
五、沉肩墜肘 沉肩者。肩鬆開下垂也。若不能鬆垂。兩肩端起。則氣亦隨之而上。全身皆不得力。墜肘者。肘往下鬆墜之意。肘若懸起。則肩不能沉。放人不遠。近于外家之斷勁矣。
六、用意不用力 太極論云。此全是用意不用力。練太極拳身鬆開。不使用分毫之拙勁。以留滯于筋骨血脈之間以自縛束。然後能輕靈變化圓轉自如。或疑不用力何以能長力。蓋人身之有經絡。如地之有溝洫。溝洫不塞而水行。經絡不閉而氣通。如渾身僵勁充滿經絡。氣血停滯。轉動不靈。牽一髮而全身動矣。若不用力而用意。意之所至。氣即至焉。如是氣血流注。日日貫輸。周流全身。無時停滯。久久練習。則得真正內勁。即太極論中所云。極柔軟然後能堅剛也。太極功夫純熟之人。臂縛如綿裹鐵。分量極沉。練外家拳者。用力則顯。有力不用力時。則甚輕浮。可見其力乃外勁浮面之勁也。外家之力最易引動。不足尚也。
七、上下相隨 上相隨者。即太極論中所云。其根在腳。發于腿。主宰于腰。形于手指。由腳而腿而腰。總須完整一氣也。手動、腰動、足動。眼神亦隨之動。如是方可謂之上下相隨。有一不動。即散亂矣。
八、內外相合 太極所練在神。故云。神為主師。身為軀使。精神能提起。自然舉動輕靈。架子不外虛實開合。所謂開者。不但手足開。心意亦與之俱開。所謂合者。不但手足合。心意亦與之俱合。能內外合為一氣。則渾然無間矣。
九、相連不斷 外家拳術。其勁乃後天之拙勁。故有起有止。有續有斷。舊力已盡。新力未生。此時最易為人所乘。太極用意不用力。自始至終。綿綿不斷。周而復始。循環無窮。原論所謂如長江大河。滔滔不絕。又曰。運勁如抽絲。皆言其貫串一氣也。
十、動中求靜 外家拳術。以跳躑為能。用盡氣力。故練習之後。無不喘氣者。太極以靜御動。雖動猶靜。故練架子愈慢愈好。慢則呼吸深長。氣沉丹田。自無血脈憤張之弊。學者細心體會。庶可得其意焉。
太極拳十要 楊澄甫
Ten Basic Rules of Practicing Tai Chi
1. Relax. Avoid any nervous or muscular tension. Relax facial muscles as well. The result will be a look of serenity.
2. Empty your mind of thought and allow it to become wholly concerned with and aware of each movement of the body.
3. Perform the actions as slowly as possible.
4. Keep the same tempo throughout. Some actions lend themselves to a faster tempo, but avoid any such temptation to hurry.
5. Breathe easily and naturally through the nose.
6. Every action should be comfortable. If it is not comfortable, it is not correct.
7. Never push any action to the utmost. Never stop as far as possible. Always reserve the end of the action to become the beginning of the next one.
8. Every action should be performed with careful deliberateness. Nothing is unimportant. Perform each action as though for the first time.
9. No conscious strength or force should ever be exerted.
10. Action is continuous from the beginning of Tai Chi to the end of Tai Chi. Never stop an action. Never be completely still.
2. Empty your mind of thought and allow it to become wholly concerned with and aware of each movement of the body.
3. Perform the actions as slowly as possible.
4. Keep the same tempo throughout. Some actions lend themselves to a faster tempo, but avoid any such temptation to hurry.
5. Breathe easily and naturally through the nose.
6. Every action should be comfortable. If it is not comfortable, it is not correct.
7. Never push any action to the utmost. Never stop as far as possible. Always reserve the end of the action to become the beginning of the next one.
8. Every action should be performed with careful deliberateness. Nothing is unimportant. Perform each action as though for the first time.
9. No conscious strength or force should ever be exerted.
10. Action is continuous from the beginning of Tai Chi to the end of Tai Chi. Never stop an action. Never be completely still.