Training Method by Dong Ying Jie

[origami_itto]

Before the Brennan Translation of "Taiji Boxing Explained" was available, the Dong Family "Red Book" was about the only way I know to get ahold of Dong Ying Jie's personal thoughts on the topic of Taijiquan.

Alex Dong translated a lot of it into English and published it as his first book. You can buy it here directly from him: https://alexdongtaichi.com/store/

He's given me permission to share some pieces, so I made this video to get started.



This is the original Chinese Text
練法
不強用力
以心行氣
步如貓行
上下相隨
呼吸自然
一線串成
變換在腰
氣行四肢
分淸虛實
圓轉如意

This is 練法 (Liànfǎ) TRAINING METHOD as published in The Red Book (c) 2006 Used with permission

Do not use forceful energy.
Use your heart to move your Qi.
Step like a cat.
Upper and lower body work together.
Breathing is natural.
The body must be treated together.
Changes come from the waist.
Qi circulates to the four limbs.

I was curious about some of the wording so I looked into Brennan's Translation:

TRAINING PRINCIPLES
Avoid using exertion.
Use mind to move energy.
Step like a cat.
Above and below coordinate with each other.
Breathe naturally.
Move in a continuous flow.
Changes occur primarily at the waist.
Energy flows into the limbs.
Clearly distinguish between emptiness and fullness.
Rounded postures mean effortless techniques.

I was interested in the differences between them like heart/mind, which of course I'm thinking must be Xin, but don't want to assume AGAIN, so I translated the Chinese characters individually and tried to emphasize the words that have become more common jargon for students.

練法 (Liànfǎ) TRAINING PRINCIPLES
from TAIJI BOXING EXPLAINED 太極拳釋義 by Dong Yingjie 董英傑

不強用力 (Bù qiáng yòng lì)
Avoid using 力 (Lì) – Strength.

以心行氣 (Yǐ xīn xíng qì)
Use 心 (Xīn) – Mind/Heart to move 氣 (Qì) – Energy/Qi

步如貓行 (Bù rú māo xíng)
Step like a cat.

上下相隨 (Shàngxià xiāngsuí)
Above and below coordinate with each other.

呼吸自然 (Hūxī zìrán)
Breathe naturally.

一線串成 (Yīxiàn chuàn chéng)
Movements are strung together and continuous.

變換在腰 (Biànhuàn zài yāo)
Changes occur primarily at the 腰 (Yāo) – Waist.

氣行四肢 (Qì xíng sìzhī)
氣 (Qì) – Energy/Qi flows into the limbs.

分淸虛實 (Fēn qīng xū shí)
Clearly distinguish between emptiness and fullness.

圓轉如意 (Yuán zhuàn rúyì)
Rounded postures turn effortlessly.

[charles]

I appreciate your efforts to try to bring important writings to the public. Honestly, I do.

I had the fortune to study a little with one of Tung/Dong senior's disciples. The disciple was a man of very high skill: I've met no one with higher Taiji skills. (I'd probably still be studying with him if he hadn't died suddenly some years ago. The closest I've found in skill level and method has been within the Practical Method.)

The challenge is not in accurately translating Chinese language jargon into English language jargon. The issue is that the original language is not a detailed how-to. Instead, it is rather vague generalities, each statement of which can be interpreted in many different ways - and often is.

The REAL challenge is in how one implements what is written about. For example, the instruction, "Clearly distinguish between emptiness and fullness." How, EXACTLY, in what you are learning/have learned do you implement that? In my experience, very few teachers, regardless of style, have an explicit method for how that is done, yet all will repeat the instruction that you should do so.

[origami_itto]

Thank you. I appreciate that.