Double Weight (雙重) from Tai Chi Chuan Teaching Notes (太極拳講義)

雙重

雙重者，無虛實之謂也。雙重之病，有單方，與雙方及兩手兩足之分。經云，偏沉則隨，雙重則滯。又云，有數年純功而不能運用者，率為人制，雙重之病未悟耳。故雙重之病，最難自悟自覺。非知虛實之理，不易避免。能解此病，則聽勁、感覺、虛實、問答，皆能融會貫通焉。

吳公藻

"Double weight means there is no discrimination of substantial and insubstantial. The problem of double weighting can be distinguished as single side or double sides and the differentiation of the two hands and two feet. The classic says: “When the opponent presses sideward or downward, then follow. When there is double weighting, then there is stagnation.” It also says: ‘There are those that train seriously for several years and cannot put to (Tai Chi) use and is controlled by the opponent. They do not have yet a proper understanding of the problem of double weighting.” Therefore the problem of double weighting is the most difficult problem for someone to become aware and comprehend. Without knowing the theory of insubstantial and substantial, it is not easy to avoid this problem. Being able to solve this problem one will be able to develop the Listening Jin, touch and feel, insubstantial and substantial, question and answer thoroughly."

腳踏車之所以能行動彎轉自如者，均力學也。人坐於車上，手拂之，足踏之，目視之，身隨之，其重心在腰，而司顧盼，以手輔助之，其輪盤置於車之中心，兩足踏於腳蹬之上，一踏一提，則輪齒鉸鏈而帶動前進矣。若使兩足同時用力踏之，則車即行停止前進。此蓋雙重之病耳。

"The reason why a bicycle can move and turn freely is mechanics. A person sits on a bicycle, the hands are on the handles and the feet are stepping on the pedals, the eyes are looking, and the body is following, the center of gravity is on the waist, which allows to take care of the surroundings and to use the hands to assist. The stepping wheel is located at the center of the bicycle and the two feet are stepping on the pedals, one presses and one lifts, then the wheel turns the chain to provide impulse to move the wheels. If both feet presse the pedals at the same time, then the bicycle will stop going forward. This is because of the problem of the double weighting."

夫推手亦然。對方用力推我，吾若仍以力相抵抗之，因而相持，則謂之滯。此即雙方之雙重也。若我或彼，各順其勢，不以力抵抗，而順對方來力之方向撤回，引之前進，然須不丟不頂，則必有一方之力落空。此即偏沉所致。

"It is the same in pushing hands. If the opponent uses force to push me and I also use force to resist, then both are locked in a stalemate. This is called stagnation. This is called double weighting of both sides. If I follow the coming force, do not resist with force, and retreat by following the arriving force and lead it farther by withdrawing, with the skills of no losing and not resisting, then there must be one side’s force lost into emptiness. This is accomplished because of following and leading it sideward or downward."

如我擬攻對方之側面，使其倒也，若以兩手直接推之，而對方氣力強大，不可挫其鋒，須以虛實之法，雙手撫其肩，我左手由彼之右肩下捋，同時我右手擊其左肩，此時我之兩手作交叉之勢，同主一方，而發勁成一圓形，則彼可側斜而倒。因彼同時不能上下相顧，而失利也。此即吾發勁偏沉所致也。學者悟一而知十，所謂由著熟，而漸悟懂勁也。

"If I wish to attach the opponent’s side and make him fall, If I use both hands to push directly and the opponent’s power is strong, I would not be able to defeat him. I must use the method of insubstantial and substantial. Use both of my hands to touch his shoulder lightlys, my left hand rolling smoothly downward his right shoulder while my right hand attacks his left shoulder. At this moment, my hands are in the posture of mutual support and are together in the same direction to send Jin into a circle. In this case, the opponent’s body will tilt and fall. This is because the opponent cannot take care both on the top and the bottom simultaneously and has lost his advantageous position. This is also caused by my Jin’s emitting sideward and downward. Once the practicioner comprehends he will know ten, this is called maturing on one’s own way and gradually comprehending the Understanding Jin."

By Wú Gōngzǎo (吳公藻), based on the translation by by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu Style (太極拳吳氏先哲秘要).

Borrowing Qi (借行氣) from the Chang Family Comprehensive Theory of Martial Arts (萇氏武技全書)

借行氣

借行氣者，借人之氣方行而打之也。蓋彼之勢既發，已近我身，尚未落點，我即趁此機會，發我之勢，彼欲退不能，欲攔不及，再無不妙之理。若稍前，則彼尚可退回；稍後，則我已吃虧。所謂後發先至者，此也。如此，則迎機赴節，隨時得宜，不患技之不高矣。諸家所謂將計就計，借力使力，不外此訣。所謂驚戰計，正於此時用之。

萇乃周

"« Borrowing Qi » refers to borrowing the opponent’s Qi to strike the opponent. When the opponent’s strike is just about to land on my body, I take advantage of this to develop my posture, leaving the opponent no opportunity to retreat or to block. There is no mysterious principle. If I make my move prematurely, this allows the opponent time to retreat; if I make my move too late, then we have already been beaten. This is called of “strike second but land first”. In this way, seize opportunities and go into action. If you act at the right time, you need never worry about your lack of skill. This is what is meant by beating somebody at its own game and borrowing strength to apply strength. This is what is called by striking by stratagem at the right opportunity."

From the book Chang Family Comprehensive Theory of Martial Arts (萇氏武技全書), by Cháng Nǎizhōu (萇乃周), based on the translations by Douglas Wile in "T'Ai Chi's Ancestors: The Making of an Internal Art" and Marnix Wells in "Scholar Boxer: Chang Naizhou's Theory Of Internal Martial Arts And The Evolution of Tàijíquán"

The Study of the Water Lizard Form (鼉形學) from The Study of Xing Yi Quan (形意拳學)

鼉形學

鼉形者，水族中之身體最靈者也。此形有浮水之能，在腹內則為腎，而能清散心火，又能化積聚，消飲食。在拳中則為鼉形。其形能活潑周身之筋絡，又能化身體之拙氣拙力。其拳順，則筋骨弱者能轉而為強；柔者能轉而為剛；筋縮者易之以長；筋弛者易之以和，則謂順天者存也。其拳謬，則手足肩胯之勁必拘束矣。拘束則身體亦必不輕靈，不活潑矣。不活潑，即欲如鼉之能與水相合一氣而浮於水面難矣。

孫祿堂

"From the group of water, the body of the water lizard is the most agile in the water. Its form has the ability to float, in the abdomen it belongs to the kidney, it can calm and disperse heart fire, it can also eliminate indigestion. In the boxing, it belongs to the water lizard form. This for can activate the tendons and sinews of the entire body; it can also transform the body’s clumsy energy and clumsy force. When performed appropriately, weak muscles and bones can be strengthened; the frail can be enforced; contracted tendons can be extended; and all slackened tendons can be adjusted; this is the meaning of following heaven. When performed erroneously, the strength of hands and feet, shoulders and hips will be restrained. The body will also be akward, not agile and not lively. “Not lively” means that if one desires to do replicate the water lizard’s ability of floangti and uniting with the surface of the water and unite with the qi, one will have difficulty."

From the book The Study of Xing Yiquan (形意拳學), by Sūn Lùtáng (孫祿堂), based on the translation by Albert Liu and Dan Miller

Excerpt from The Great Treatise (繫辭上) an appendix to the Book of Changes (周易)

一陰一陽之謂道，繼之者善也，成之者性也。

"One time Yin, one time Yang, this is what is called the Dao. Those that go on with it are virtuous, those that accomplish it are natural."

Unless noted otherwise, all quotations of classical texts come from the Chinese Text Project

Loose the waist (鬆腰) from The Ten Important Points of Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳十要)

鬆腰

腰為一身之主宰，能鬆腰然后兩足有力，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»。

楊澄甫

"The waist is the master of the entire body. If one is able to loosen the waist then the his two feet have power and the lower disk is steady and firm. The variations of insubstantial and substantial all originate from the waist's turning and movement. Therefore, it is said: «the origin of the life and intention (Yi) is in the waist.», «If one is in a place where it is not possible to use force (Li), then a solution must come from the the waist and the legs»."

By Yáng Chéngfǔ (楊澄甫), based on the translation by by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Yang Style (太極拳楊氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet