Anthony Yung
從小在電視與小説中知道有太極拳，又見到長者在公園練拳，因而對太極拳産生好奇。長者在公園練的就是太極拳的全部？看似緩慢柔弱的太極拳是否武術？太極拳能否以柔克剛借力打力？現代人能否學到？怎樣學？
在生活中這些問題都不易找到明確的答案。電影小說當然是虛構，各種太極拳書籍也隱晦難明，成年後參加過不同的太極班，學一些太極拳套路和推手，但亦未能解答這些問题。
過了若干年，因朋友介绍去了彭老師趙堡太極拳介绍會，繼而報名参加彭老師的太極課。在彭老師的課堂上有很多機會觀看和體驗老師親身示範，從而認識太極拳是全面和高深的武術，又知道學會套路是太極拳的起點而不是終點，再而理解太極拳作為武術真實的一面，同時分辯出渲染和虛構的一面。通過老師教授各種訓練的方法，逐步知道怎様去練習各種技術。當然，凡是做學問和學習技術，要掌握熟練需要天資，時間，和勤練，但能看到起點和路徑令我深感興趣。
此外，在彭老師課堂上學到太極拳和別武術和運動不同的一面。太極拳技術需要思考和推理，是腦部加上身體配合的運動，也需要用意志改變本能條件反射。因此，太極拳同時提供如下棋般的腦部鍛鍊和像打球般的身體協調和心血管運動鍛鍊，再加上太極拳可單獨練習套路和站椿，亦可和同道互練推手，參加一種活動可以獨自冥想，養生鍛鍊，也可作社交活動，一舉多得，比打球和跑步等有彈性。
由於以上種種，我覺得彭老師教授的趙堡太極拳可使人樂此不疲， 是很好的終生興趣。
In my childhood days, I saw taijiquan on TV and seniors practicing taijiquan in parks. I became curious about taijiquan. Is there more to the taijiquan form practiced by the seniors? Is the seemingly soft and slow taijiquan a martial art that can be effective in combat? Can the weak really defeat the strong with taijiquan? Can we in the modern world learn taijiquan martial art? How do we learn it?
It has been hard for me to seek answers to all these questions. Popular cultures such as TV series and novels on taijiquan are merely fictional. Serious books on taijiquan are archaic and almost incomprehensible. When I started working, I took some taiji classes, in which I learned some basic forms and push hands, but I was still unable to answer these questions.
Some years later, I joined a friend in attending an introductory talk on Zhaobao taiji by Master Peng and signed up for Master Peng’s class. In Master Peng’s class, I had many opportunities to watch and experience demonstrations of taiji techniques by Master Peng. As a result, I started to realize that taijiquan is an advanced and comprehensive martial art system. I also learned that mastering the taiji forms is a starting point instead of the end point of learning the taiji system. Over time, I was able to tell taijiquan myths from reality. By learning different drills taught in class, I gradually found out how to practice taijiquan techniques. Of course, learning any advanced skill takes time, effort, and perseverance, but I got captivated by seeing some light at the other end of the tunnel.
Another insight I gained from Master Peng’s class is how taijiquan is different from other sports or martial arts. Taijiquan requires logical thinking. It takes perfect coordination of the mind and the body. It also requires the use of one’s will power to overcome mindless reflexes. Therefore, taijiquan is akin to chess in terms of training one’s brain. At the same time, it is similar to basketball and running in terms of training one’s coordination and cardio-vascular system. In addition, taiji forms and stance can be practiced alone, whereas taiji push hands is practiced with a partner, making taijiquan an ideal activity in solitude as well as in social settings.
Based on these observations, I view taijiquan taught by Master Peng as an excellent and interesting lifelong hobby.
從小在電視與小説中知道有太極拳，又見到長者在公園練拳，因而對太極拳産生好奇。長者在公園練的就是太極拳的全部？看似緩慢柔弱的太極拳是否武術？太極拳能否以柔克剛借力打力？現代人能否學到？怎樣學？
在生活中這些問題都不易找到明確的答案。電影小說當然是虛構，各種太極拳書籍也隱晦難明，成年後參加過不同的太極班，學一些太極拳套路和推手，但亦未能解答這些問题。
過了若干年，因朋友介绍去了彭老師趙堡太極拳介绍會，繼而報名参加彭老師的太極課。在彭老師的課堂上有很多機會觀看和體驗老師親身示範，從而認識太極拳是全面和高深的武術，又知道學會套路是太極拳的起點而不是終點，再而理解太極拳作為武術真實的一面，同時分辯出渲染和虛構的一面。通過老師教授各種訓練的方法，逐步知道怎様去練習各種技術。當然，凡是做學問和學習技術，要掌握熟練需要天資，時間，和勤練，但能看到起點和路徑令我深感興趣。
此外，在彭老師課堂上學到太極拳和別武術和運動不同的一面。太極拳技術需要思考和推理，是腦部加上身體配合的運動，也需要用意志改變本能條件反射。因此，太極拳同時提供如下棋般的腦部鍛鍊和像打球般的身體協調和心血管運動鍛鍊，再加上太極拳可單獨練習套路和站椿，亦可和同道互練推手，參加一種活動可以獨自冥想，養生鍛鍊，也可作社交活動，一舉多得，比打球和跑步等有彈性。
由於以上種種，我覺得彭老師教授的趙堡太極拳可使人樂此不疲， 是很好的終生興趣。
In my childhood days, I saw taijiquan on TV and seniors practicing taijiquan in parks. I became curious about taijiquan. Is there more to the taijiquan form practiced by the seniors? Is the seemingly soft and slow taijiquan a martial art that can be effective in combat? Can the weak really defeat the strong with taijiquan? Can we in the modern world learn taijiquan martial art? How do we learn it?
It has been hard for me to seek answers to all these questions. Popular cultures such as TV series and novels on taijiquan are merely fictional. Serious books on taijiquan are archaic and almost incomprehensible. When I started working, I took some taiji classes, in which I learned some basic forms and push hands, but I was still unable to answer these questions.
Some years later, I joined a friend in attending an introductory talk on Zhaobao taiji by Master Peng and signed up for Master Peng’s class. In Master Peng’s class, I had many opportunities to watch and experience demonstrations of taiji techniques by Master Peng. As a result, I started to realize that taijiquan is an advanced and comprehensive martial art system. I also learned that mastering the taiji forms is a starting point instead of the end point of learning the taiji system. Over time, I was able to tell taijiquan myths from reality. By learning different drills taught in class, I gradually found out how to practice taijiquan techniques. Of course, learning any advanced skill takes time, effort, and perseverance, but I got captivated by seeing some light at the other end of the tunnel.
Another insight I gained from Master Peng’s class is how taijiquan is different from other sports or martial arts. Taijiquan requires logical thinking. It takes perfect coordination of the mind and the body. It also requires the use of one’s will power to overcome mindless reflexes. Therefore, taijiquan is akin to chess in terms of training one’s brain. At the same time, it is similar to basketball and running in terms of training one’s coordination and cardio-vascular system. In addition, taiji forms and stance can be practiced alone, whereas taiji push hands is practiced with a partner, making taijiquan an ideal activity in solitude as well as in social settings.
Based on these observations, I view taijiquan taught by Master Peng as an excellent and interesting lifelong hobby.
