我的太極

我的太極﹣就是氣功

這半年來由於天氣涼快，我到外打太極的時間也多了。這每天個多小時的獨自鑽研，所得良多。我一直強調太極就是氣功的論調；在過去二十多年當中教導太極時，不斷地督促學生們把太極做得要柔要慢，務求達到用意不用力的先要條件。因此在這一段獨自練拳的時光裡，我能作再深一層的推進，追求太極就是氣功的體會。

一套楊家傳統八十五式一般需時二十至廿五分鐘；在我試驗時間中，盡量把整個身體達到連綿，靜，柔及沉的境界。以腰帶動全身而作不動聲色的轉移，我曾對學生談到太極的招式猶如一棵大樹，要穩，要柔，要健，還要看似動，卻又未動的感覺；這就是我要求的一個重要的目標。幸好我練拳的地方隱蔽，前有一牆阻擋外人騷擾，因此我便能如願的尋求答案。

Blackie Community Gallery in Liverpool

第一次的試證，全套八十五式是四十分鐘，比前是多出了二十分鐘。第二天練出了四十五分鐘，較前多了二十五分鐘。練完後，那感覺是無可言喻的完整，通透，穩沉，鬆柔，還有極端的快樂。太極十要最後一要，也是最難做到的一環，便是「動中求靜」。意思是指雖在轉動中卻又保留靜之意。能把太極拳鍛練到最慢，有如氣功的靜止，便能做到「若動若不動，看似不動卻又動」的境界。

這種發見當是個別的感受，然而，我不會再作他想，太極就是氣功，是我肯定的事實。太極是中國的精粹，是文化的結晶，更是養生之道。能把太極拳做到慢，沉，鬆，柔，穩，並符合太極十要的要求，那就有助健身健心健腦，更能體會生活的樂趣，從小事中尋求快樂的真源。

My Tai Chi

23 December 2012

The weather is just superb for practising Tai Chi outdoor. After my teaching Tai Chi in the UK for the past twenty years, I treasure the opportunity to work on Tai Chi by myself without any disturbances. 

I always maintain that Tai Chi is Qigong. I kept on urging my class to pursue the ultimate goals of loosening the body, sinking but with flexibility, balancing in all movements and slowing down to get to the Qigong state of mind. 

The normal duration of the Yang Traditional 85 movements is 20 - 25 minutes. During this experiment, I deliberately slowed down, moved with the waist to sink, relaxed, meditate to bring out the gentle, elegant and delicate movements. I wanted to achieve 'meditation within movements' as if I was at a still position but in fact, I was moving. At the end, I have completed the 85 movements in 45 minutes which is almost double of its usual required time. I felt complete and elated. It is indescribable. I was in a state of bliss. 

I am in no doubt that Tai Chi is Qigong and should be practised this way. Tai Chi is the essence of Chinese culture and is the route for nurturing our Qi. It also keeps our body and mind healthy. If one aims to practise Tai Chi with the ten rules in mind, do it as if you are practising Qigong, one will experience the ultimate happiness that Tai Chi brings.