Magical Revolution and Rotation

by Sun Zhonghua on 2010/11/16

“太极拳,缠法也。”陈鑫这一句话把太极拳的缠绕的重要性普遍性说到位了。陈、
杨、吴、武、孙各家的螺旋缠绕含露有别,而以陈式太极拳表现得最为明显。陈式太极拳
实用拳法对于缠法有独到的研究和见解。

太极拳离不开螺旋缠绕,对此不少书上有不少论述,有的不谈缠,只谈划圆圈,容易
让人产生划圈与螺旋缠绕分离的错误。也有人描述缠的功能,却说“顺缠是化,逆缠是发
”。我看不尽然,掩手肱捶就可顺缠发人,野马分鬃也如是,例子多了去了。认为只有逆缠
发人,是个误解,写到书上,出于师口,就谬种流传,耽误人了。

那么缠法的作用应该怎么说呢?洪先生认为,“螺旋缠绕分为公转和自转”。以手臂为
例,公转指的是手臂划的正圈和反圈;自转指的是手臂的顺缠和逆缠。把螺旋缠绕分为公
转和自转,一如地球在自转的同时还围绕太阳作公转,非常形象易懂,这还不是洪先生高
超之处,以笔者水平之低,也曾用过这个比喻。他老人家的下一句话是“自转为化,公转为
发”。

“自转为化,公转为发。”乍听陈中华一说,我心里就是一震。每当我初次听到某条至
理铭言,还没来得及动脑子推敲就先有这么一震。大凡是真道理,是规律的东西,都经得
住琢磨。先得看,既然说的是缠法在技击作用,是不是推手技击时的所有的攻防动作都概
括在里头了,再看是不是凡是概括进来的动作都符合所说的规律。如果是,就是真道理,
是规律;否则就不是。我琢磨来,琢磨去,从记忆到想象,企图找个例外,最终承认,除
了一方水平太差或者别的拳种也有的不那么太极的动作,还真找不出例外来。这是迄今为
止我所见到的关于“缠”的最科学的阐发。

公转和自转是同时的,所以练好了使对了就可以做到“连化带发”,“连消带打”,“化就
是发”。

有一回,有人突然以拳直击洪先生的前胸,其力也巨(出手的是练家),其节也短
(本来就是袭击),洪公只一伸手,就将对方弹出数步。这一伸手,就含着公转(正圈)
和自转(逆缠),二合一了。无怪洪公常说:“别人是二,咱们是一。”

既然是一,我们一举一动都得公自两转合一,无论盘架还是推手都得这么练。不能只
有公转而没有自转,那不是太极;也不能只有自转而没有公转,那只能化而不能发,除非
对方是力巴,你一化,他自己就趴下了。

说得复杂,其实简单。公转只有两种选择,正圈和反圈;自转也只有两种选择,顺缠
和逆缠。再往简单了说,就归到正圈和反圈。您也许会纳闷,怎么说了一大篇,又说回来
到正反圈来了(笔者在《陈中华与实用拳法》一文中曾提及)?其实,这正显出实用拳法
理论的严密,各种规矩和规律都有紧密的内在联系,基本规律(公转自转)和基本构成元
素(正圈反圈)自然不能两张皮。

动作简单,但不容易。得多练正反圈,不断提高质量,功夫离不开积累。当然,要出
手赢人,还得练其它东西,容另文讨论。

最后,请各位牢记,洪公的全话是:“螺旋缠绕分为公转和自转;自转为化,公转为
发。”

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Kelvin Ho November 16, 2010 at 10:09 pm

I have to admit I don’t understand much of this article, however, I will try to remember Grandmaster Hong’s statement:
“螺旋缠绕分为公转和自转;自转为化,公转为发。”
Maybe one day I will be enlightened.

Reply

Wilkin Ng November 17, 2010 at 9:48 am

Kelvin, you should ask Master Chen next time you see him. At DQS he mentioned about this. My understanding is : in rotation the object doesn’t move in space, in revolution the object move in a circular path.

Our taiji combine both, so it is like the earth orbiting around the sun. For example the forearm, it rotate at the same time it orbits around the shoulder joint.

Orbit might not be the correct term, but it give me a better visual than revolve.

—————— here is my first draft translation of the last paragraphs —

It may sound complicated, but it is straightforward. There are two types of orbital rotation in the body, positive and negative circle. In the same way there are two types of static rotation, sun and ni. It can be further reduced to doing circles. You may wonder how come after saying all these, it all come back to doing circle (as described in my previous essay ‘Chen Zhong Hua and Practical Method’)? In fact this shows the efficacy of parctical method training. Theory and application are intimately intertwined, and the foundation of tai ji training naturally lead to the function of spiral movement

The movement is simple, but not easy to do. By doing lots of positive and negative circles, you will increase your skill, kung fu only develop by practicing. This only covers the fundamental, for application in push hand, will wait for another essay.

Finally, please keep in mind what GM Hong said: “Spiral movement can be distinguished between orbit and rotation”, rotate is to neutralize, orbit to attack

Reply

KT November 18, 2010 at 12:32 am

孙老师,

好文章,却也启人疑情。

下次见面,得好好向您请教这口诀的运用。

Reply

Leave a Comment
Leave a comment on the content only. For admin issues, please click the "contact" button on the top left.

Previous post:

Next post: