张勇涛老师央视纪录片《杨式太极拳：“推手”之间见中和》

这就是杨式太极拳。

Tai Chi combines Taoism with fist positions.The movements are slow and the energy breaks outward from the inside with every move. This is called Yang’s Style Tai Chi.

76岁的张勇涛，是杨式太极拳第五代传人，习武岁月已近一个甲子。

Zhang Yongtao, 76, is the fifth-generation inheritor of Yang’s Style Tai Chi. He has been practicing the martial art for almost six decades.

太极拳起源于河北永年县，由古代哲学和一些呼吸引导术发展而来，沿袭至今成为一套完整的体系。

Tai Chi, which originated in Yongnian County, north China’s Hebei Province, was developed from ancient Chinese philosophies and breathing techniques. Over the centuries, it has evolved into a sophisticated system.

“外面摸着很柔软，但是里头有一个钢筋一样，好像在里头穿着”，张勇涛形容说。

“The fist feels like a hard rebar wrapped in something soft,” Zhang described.

弧线贯穿在太极拳的动作和步法中。发力时，弧线带直线，从腿开始上来，然后经过腰，背，肩膀，手，最后到手指，调动全身对外散发力量。

The gestures and moves of Tai Chi are smooth like an arc. The arc turns into straight lines as the inner strength explodes. The strength travels up from the legs to the waist, then the back, shoulders, hands and finally, finger tips. It flows through the whole body and breaks outward.

推手，是太极拳的技击，包括“掤捋起按，採挒肘靠”。

As for the offensive moves of Tai Chi, “push hand” stands out. It requires the practice of eight principles: ward off, roll back, press forward, push downward, pull down, split, elbow stroke, and shoulder stroke.

它依靠练习者的直觉，感受进力的来路和进路撤回后的跟进，讲究粘连黏合，知行合一。

It depends on how you feel about your opponent’s moves and follow his tempo. Tai Chi is about connection and reaction.

意念为先，不轻易发力。正面的迎击时，将受力引开，进而化解，然后再发力，强调柔中带刚，后发制人。

Use your brain, not your brawn. When facing an opponent, you distract the frontal attack to other directions. The strength is hidden beneath, always wait to react.

张勇涛的姥爷和母亲生前常年在中山公园教拳，如今，他延续这一传统，每周日都去中山公园给学生们规整套路，辅导拳法。而他从不收取任何费用。

Zhang’s grandfather started giving Tai Chi lessons at Zhongshan Park in 1945. Then his mother took the baton. After she passed away, Zhang Yongtao carried on the family tradition, passing on his skills to his pupils every Sunday, absolutely free of cost.

“好的东西，我觉得值得传承，讲求金钱，我觉得人情就薄了“，张勇涛这样说道。

“I believe the good stuff is worth passing on. If you always put money first, it detours from what Tai Chi is actually meant to be,” Zhang said.

对他而言，太极不仅让他收获了健康，更影响了他的人生理念。

For him, Yang’s Style Tai Chi means both physical and mental strength.

“太极讲究中和，就是以诚相待，在练习的过程中你要照顾到别人，因此在中和和谐这方面，我觉得受益匪浅。

“Tai Chi is all about harmony, for me it is to be sincere to others. You need to take care of other people among practices. I benefit a lot in seeking harmony via push hand,” he explained.

练拳教拳的日子还会继续，而他，希望更多的人参与其中，让杨式太极拳不仅得以传承，更能成为大众健康养生的方式。

Zhang hopes to continue practicing and teaching Tai Chi. He wants more people to join him in his mission of passing on Yang’s Style Tai Chi as a healthy practice for common people.