As if Sealing, As if Closing (如封似閉)

As if Sealing, As if Closing (如封似閉)

Explanation and Usage of “As if Sealing, As if Closing” (如封似閉)

Meaning in the Tai Chi form:

“As if Sealing, As if Closing” is a movement often appearing at the end of a sequence or section in Tai Chi forms. On the surface, it looks like you're using both hands to slowly press forward. But in essence, it’s not just a push — it contains the internal principles of wrapping, neutralizing, containing, and then issuing energy.

Key ideas:

• “Sealing” (如封): Feels like using both hands to enclose and wrap the opponent’s arms or centerline, neutralizing their force and stopping their next action.

• “Closing” (似閉): After sealing, you slowly issue energy as if closing a door, pushing the opponent away using full-body integration and intention.

Usage in application:

1. Neutralizing and wrapping – When the opponent attacks, use circular motions to absorb and seal their power.

2. Contain and redirect – Seal their arms and body like gently enclosing them with a silk cocoon.

3. Issue energy – Then the energy rises from the feet, directed by the waist, expressed through the arms, gently yet powerfully pushing them away.

Martial intention hidden in stillness:

Though the movement looks soft and slow, it contains the power to issue force internally. If practiced correctly, it can neutralize and bounce the opponent with a calm and rooted structure.

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 Practice Process and Push Hands Application of “As if Sealing, As if Closing”

🔸 Part 1: Basic Practice Routine (Form/Internal Work)

🎯 Goal: Stabilize posture, unify body power, integrate energy and intention

1. Basic Standing Practice (3 minutes)

   • Stand naturally, shoulders relaxed, elbows hanging, hips loose and tailbone sunk.

   • Feel the breath sinking to the lower abdomen (dantian), breathing naturally.

2. Slowly Practice the Movement (10 reps)

   • Start from “holding the ball” posture, slowly arc both hands forward.

   • Intention flows from the dantian → spine → arms → palms, like a wave moving through the body.

3. Breakdown Practice (5 reps each)

   • “Sealing” part: Practice forming a round shape with the hands as if sealing the opponent’s hands or centerline.

   • “Closing” part: Practice how to issue energy by turning the hips, not pushing with the hands alone.

4. Static Awareness Practice (1 minute each x3)

   • After completing the movement, hold still and feel body structure and energy flow.

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🔸 Part 2: Push Hands Application (Partner Practice)

🎯 Goal: From defensive sealing to issuing energy, practicing “soft with inner strength”

1. Sealing Control Practice (Single-hand Push Hands)

   • Partner A attacks with a palm strike, Partner B uses “sealing” motion to make contact and contain the hand.

   • Maintain sticking and connection, don’t let the attacker withdraw easily.

2. Closing & Issuing Practice

   • After sealing, use the waist and hips to lead the hands and push the opponent.

   • Emphasis is on whole-body power, not muscular pushing — energy like a rising wave.

3. Full Application Simulation

   • Partner A attacks continuously; Partner B uses “As if Sealing, As if Closing” to defend, neutralize, and push.

   • Feel how to turn defense into counterattack naturally.

Teaching Tips & Analogies:

• Sealing: Like gently covering your opponent with silk — soft but firm.

• Closing: Like water gradually filling a container and pushing outward.

• Avoid errors: Don’t separate the arms from the body or rely on local strength.

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English Outline of a Teaching Script/Visual Guide for “As if Sealing, As if Closing”

📘 “As if Sealing, As if Closing” – Teaching Script Outline (for handout/slideshow/video)

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1. Name: As if Sealing, As if Closing

• Pinyin: rú fēng sì bì

• English: "As if Sealing, As if Closing"

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2. Movement Breakdown (with illustrations)

1. ✅ Start: Holding the ball, left hand on top, right hand below

2. ✅ Hands arc inward, body adjusts to maintain central axis

3. ✅ Hands form a rounded shape in front of the chest (seal)

4. ✅ Whole body drives the hands to slowly press forward (close)

5. ✅ End: Arms slightly curved, palms slightly outward, shoulders relaxed

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3. Inner Meaning & Energy Direction

• “Seal”: Neutralize the incoming force, prevent further attack
  ⮕ Imagine a lotus leaf floating up — soft but steady

• “Close”: Issue energy after sealing, like closing a door
  ⮕ Imagine water building up and gently overflowing

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4. Solo Practice Steps

1. ⏳ Standing practice – 5 minutes: Natural breathing, calm mind

2. 🌀 Slow form repetition – 10 times: Focus on body-mind integration

3. 🪞 Posture check in mirror: Correct arm angles, elbows down

4. 🧘 Stillness energy sensing – 3 reps: Feel internal fullness and structure

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5. Partner Push Hands Practice

Step	Explanation
A attacks	B seals and sticks to the attacking arm
B neutralizes	Shifts weight to disturb opponent’s balance
B closes	Uses full-body to push softly but effectively

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6. Common Mistakes

❌ Using arms without hip involvement

❌ Elbows raised, shoulders tense

❌ Pushing too hard, losing softness and structure

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7. Teaching Analogies

• “Like a lotus blooming and closing”

• “Wrap your opponent with a cloud”

• “Don’t strike; let energy rise like water flooding slowly”

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8. Advanced Suggestions

• 📈 Link to next move (e.g., Single Whip or Cross Hands)

• 🌊 Match breathing with the motion; exhale as energy issues

• 🧩 Practice with other energies: Peng, Lu, Ji, An

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「如封似閉」是太極拳中一個常見且重要的招式，通常出現在套路的結尾動作，屬於「收式」或過渡至收式的部分。但它不僅僅是結束的姿勢，更有實戰用法與內涵。以下是它的主要用法與理解：

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一、「如封似閉」的動作結構：

• 雙手由外往內合抱，形成一個圓形，然後向前推出。

• 動作看似溫和，但實際包含了防守與進攻的結合。

• 「封」是封住對手，「閉」是控制與鎖住對手。

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二、實戰應用解析：

1. 封閉對手的攻擊路線（防守）
   透過雙手圓合的動作，可以封住對手的來拳或來掌，使其攻擊無法再進。

2. 黏連控制（纏繞）
   如果雙手與對手手臂接觸，可以順勢「合圓」，產生黏黏連連的效果，將對方引入自己的節奏中。

3. 內收化解 + 推放結合（進攻）
   在「似閉」的階段，其實已完成了內收、控制、並開始向外推放，若有「發勁」需求，此處可瞬間發力。

4. 以柔克剛的代表
   透過圓柔的動作來達成封閉與反制，不硬碰硬，而是順勢化解後反制，符合太極的「引進落空」與「四兩撥千斤」原則。

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三、氣與意的運用：

• 意念上：如封似閉不是死動作，而是帶有意念的運行——意在封住對方，意在推開對方。

• 氣的流動：由丹田升起，運於臂膀，通過掌心發出，全身上下協調一致，外圓內方。

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四、教學或練習要點：

• 雙肘要有下沉感，不能外張。

• 推的動作不宜僵直，要保持「含胸拔背」與「沉肩墜肘」。

• 要練習如何在雙手圓合之間形成穩定的架勢與內部結構。

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總結：

「如封似閉」不只是套路的美麗結尾，而是集化、控、發、整體結構與內勁運行於一體的重要橋段。在實戰中，它能用於封閉對方攻擊、化去力量、再發勁擊退對方；在內功上，它則練習內外合一、氣沉丹田的綜合運用。

🔸第一部分：基礎練習流程（套路內功）

🎯 目標：穩定架勢、整體勁力貫通、氣意合一

1. 基本站樁（3分鐘）

   • 自然站立，沉肩墜肘，鬆胯垂尾。

   • 感覺氣沉丹田，呼吸自然。

2. 慢練「如封似閉」動作（10次）

   • 從「抱球」開始，緩緩將雙手如圓弧般向前推出。

   • 推出時意念從丹田→脊背→手臂→掌心，整體如波浪般帶動。

3. 拆解手法練習（各5次）

   • 「封」的動作：練習雙手合圓、交叉，想像封住對方雙手或中線。

   • 「閉」的動作：練習推掌時身體如何整體發力，不用手推，靠轉胯送勁。

4. 靜態感覺練習（1分鐘/次，共3次）

   • 完成「如封似閉」後保持動作不動，感覺身體架構與氣的流動。

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🔸第二部分：推手應用練習（雙人對練）

🎯 目標：從封閉防守到反擊發勁，練習「柔中帶剛」

1. 封手控制練習（單邊推手）

   • A方出掌，B方用「如封」動作接觸並封住A的來手。

   • 對練時保持黏黏連連，不讓對手抽手脫離。

2. 似閉推放練習

   • 當成功封住對手後，用身體（腰胯）帶動雙手，向前推出對方。

   • 強調不是用力推，而是整體發勁，如水波漲起。

3. 完整應用模擬

   • A方連續進攻，B方使用如封似閉防守、化解、推放。

   • B方體會如何在實戰中化去攻擊，順勢反制。

📘《如封似閉》圖文教學稿大綱（適用於教材/簡報/腳本）

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一、名稱：如封似閉

• 【拼音】：rú fēng sì bì

• 【英譯】："As if Sealing, As if Closing"

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二、動作結構圖解（可搭配圖片）

1. ✅ 起式：抱球站立，左手在上，右手在下（如太極球）

2. ✅ 雙手由外向內劃弧，同時腳步調整穩定中軸

3. ✅ 雙掌合圓於胸前，如封似閉

4. ✅ 身體整體帶動雙手向前緩緩推出（似閉）

5. ✅ 完成時，兩臂微彎、掌心微向外、肩鬆肘墜

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三、動作內涵與氣意引導

• 「封」： 封住對手來力，使其無法再進
  ⮕ 意念像水面浮起的蓮葉，柔中帶勁

• 「閉」： 控制後順勢推出或發勁
  ⮕ 意念像水滿則溢，推勁如波浪般漲起

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四、基本練習步驟（個人）

1. ⏳ 站樁五分鐘：自然呼吸，感覺氣沉丹田

2. 🌀 慢練動作十次：練意念貫通、身手合一

3. 🪞 鏡前對照身形：修正肘部高低、手型角度

4. 🧘 靜止感氣練習：完成動作後不動，體會內勁充實與平衡感

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五、推手應用練習（雙人）

操作步驟	用法說明
A出掌攻擊	B以如封動作黏住並封住手臂
B下沉化力	引導對方重心偏移
B似閉推出	以整體之力發勁，推回對方

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六、常見錯誤提醒：

❌ 只用手臂發力，沒有腰胯帶動

❌ 雙肘高張、肩聳身僵

❌ 推掌過猛，失去柔中有剛的太極精神

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七、語言引導與比喻（適合教學說明）

• 「像蓮花開合般的手法」

• 「用雲把對手包起來，不讓他逃」

• 「推掌不是撞人，而是水慢慢漫出堤壩」

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八、進階應用建議

• 📈 在推手中使用如封似閉連接下一式（如單鞭、十字手）

• 🌊 搭配呼吸，練習發勁時氣沉丹田，呼出而不急躁

• 🧩 可與「掤、履、擠、按」連貫練習

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  語言引導：

  • 封：像用棉布柔和地覆蓋住對方，封住但不死硬。

  • 閉：像水慢慢充滿容器，推而不猛，發而不僵。

• 錯誤提醒：

  • 若手與肩分離、肘翹起、手單獨發力，皆需糾正。

  • 若動作太快或太僵，容易失去「柔中帶剛」的意境。