【專氣致柔的鬆柔太極拳】

孩童因為涉世未深，保有上天賦予的天真，具備無知、無用及無心等三種心理特質，這也是老莊的「無為」之道，如老子第第十章：專氣致柔能嬰兒乎？因為，無知而能致專、無能而能致柔、無心而不執著，年紀漸增後，如何放下成長過程中所累積的塵垢，是人生境界提升的要素，也鬆柔太極拳法必須具備的心理素質。

（1）  無知而能致專：「知」有境界認知的問題，要能放下個人的認知，成長背景知識，傾聽跟自己不同的聲音，學習新的知識與文化。在太極拳推手互動中，要能放下人為的拙力與企圖心，才能感應對手的意圖，才能訓練聽勁及懂勁，也才能施展「以柔克剛」的技藝。

（2）  無能而能致柔：「無能」是要在接觸拳法動作的當下，忘記過去的行為動作與技巧，使身手保持柔和與平靜，如拳法之「由腿而腰而行於手指」、「走化」及「吃虧即是佔便宜」等要訣，這是促進身體筋骨、肌肉及韌帶大鬆大柔的門徑。

（3）  無心而不執著：不執著而能傾聽，放下個人的身段，以謙恭及敬畏的態度面對事物，才能深入理解事物的本質。透過無知、無能及無心等修養功夫，而能回到孩童的天真，而能在拳架與推手應用上，致鬆致柔！

孩童天真無邪的心理特質，鬆柔太極拳架與推手技藝的修練功夫。如何放下身段及人為的企圖心，才能回到孩童的天真？

Teachings from Laozi’s tenth chapter in relation to Supple Taichi

In the tenth chapter of the Daodejing, Laozi writes : “By focusing one's efforts to attain suppleness, can one become like a baby again?” To become like a baby is to recover a child-like innocence. In this way, people over 50 years old can nurture their health and cultivate their mind, but it is also a training method for supple Taichi and pushing hands. Perhaps by letting go of one’s egotistic attitude and intentions, only then will one recover the innocence of a child? A child still retains his original innocence because he is inexperienced and naïve. He has no knowledge, no skill and no intention. These are not only three psychological qualities, but also philosophies for dealing with worldly affairs. Therefore, the wisdom of Laozi and Zhuangzi reads : no knowledge leads to concentration, no skill leads to flexibility, and no intention leads to detachment.

(1)  No knowledge leads to concentration :  The problem with “knowledge” is that it dampens one's curiosity. Because of our upbringing, education, past experience, we may believe we already “know” and have no interest to concentrate on new things. It is only by letting go of one's knowledge that one can listen attentively to another voice, and thereby acquire new knowledge and learn about other cultures. While practicing pushing hands with a partner, it is only by abandoning the idea of using force that one can feel and respond appropriately to the intentions of the opponent. Only then can one train tingjing (listening to the opponent) and dongjing (understanding the opponent). Only then can one reveal the skill of “softness overcoming hardness”.

(2)  No skill leads to flexibility : To show “no skill” is to forget whatever postures, movements and techniques one has learned in the past. If we have no skill, how do we deal with our pushing hands partner? The only solution is to focus on neutralizing his attacks by making the body light and nimble. All the better, as neutralization is a key skill to practice. It trains the ligaments, tendons and muscles of the body to be very relaxed and supple. It is the philosophy of “losing to gain”.

(3)  No intention leads to detachment : When letting go off one's egotistic attitude and not obsessing about an outcome, when facing events with a polite, modest and respectful attitude, then one can start to listen attentively, then one can deeply comprehend the essence of things. By literally doing nothing, anything becomes possible.

By cultivating the wisdom of no knowledge, no skill, and no intention, and thereby recovering the innocence of a child, and while applying it to the Taichi form and pushing hands, be relaxed and be supple!