圓直二勁

 圓直二勁

《楊式太極拳老譜三十二目》第二十一篇「太極正功解」寫道：「太極者，圓也。無論內外、上下、左右，不離此圓也；太極者，方也。無論內外、上下、左右，不離此方也。圓之出入，方之進退，隨方就圓之往來也。方為開展，圓為緊湊。」

陳微明先生著《太極答問》一書中寫道：「圓直二勁，要曲中求直，圓勁之中，必須有直勁；直勁之中，必須有圓勁……故圓直二勁，能融合為一，則善矣。」

祖父也教導我說：動作以圓弧形為主，但圓中有直，有些動作直線進擊，不走弧形；而直線進攻之時，又不能臂腿完全伸直，其勁易僵易斷，其力不整。勁以曲蓄而有餘，此謂直中寓曲，方圓相濟。(https://kknews.cc/life/pypbe8p.html)

Text 1: From the 21st chapter of "Thirty-Two Volumn of Yang Style Taijiquan Old Manual," titled "Explanation of Taiji Correct Practice":

Taiji is round. Whether inside or outside, above or below, left or right, it does not depart from this roundness. Taiji is also square. Whether inside or outside, above or below, left or right, it does not depart from this squareness. The entering and exiting of roundness, the advancing and retreating of squareness, follow the coming and going of square adapting to roundness. Squareness is for expansion, roundness is for compactness.

Text 2: From Mr. Chen Weiming's book "Taiji Questions and Answers":

There are two kinds of force, round and straight. Straightness should be sought within roundness. Within round force, there must be straight force; within straight force, there must be round force... Therefore, if the two forces of round and straight can be merged into one, it is good.

Grandfather's Teaching:

Movement is primarily in the form of an arc, but there is straightness within the round. Some movements are straight-line attacks, not following an arc; but when attacking in a straight line, arms and legs cannot be fully extended, as the force will become stiff and break easily, and the power will not be integrated. Force is stored in curvature with surplus, which is called "straightness within curvature" and the mutual assistance of square and round.

Note: The terms "roundness" and "squareness" here are metaphorical and refer to the qualities of the movements, rather than literal shapes.