Broken energy Taiji

[johnwang]

This is not “my definition” but one given by Chen Yanlin in the text translated by Brennan.

So broken energy is not you break your own energy. It's someone who breaks your energy.

[robert]

Brendan’s translations, which are quoted above without references, are great at spreading awareness about old texts but should be taken with caution for what specific technicalities concerns. What Brennan renders here as “broken energy” is ‘Duanjin’ 斷勁 which is one of the many Jin/Energies of Taijiquan.
Duanjin is described in various texts and Brennan himself has it rendered as “interrupting Energy” in one of his other translations, probably because that text gives him context.
(https://brennantranslation.wordpress.co ... en-yanlin/)

Thanks for that. I think it's interesting to note that it's not uncommon for Brennan to translate 勁 (jin) as energy, and he often translates qi as energy as well. Luckily Brennan provides the Chinese so if I'm reading a text and see energy I scan the Chinese to see if it's qi or jin.

[robert]

Also, “Shaking Jin/Energy” is another of the various Jin/Energies of Taijiquan, again translated from the same text above for your perusal:

“Beyond these, there is also shaking. While sticking to the opponent’s energy with your own energy, use power from your hips to shake. He will pop up with both feet, which will come down clapping the ground with a sound like slapping a ball. Those who are particularly good at this will issue with extending energy before the opponent comes clapping down, and then once he has been shot away, he will also bounce up and down with several hops. This energy is therefore very subtle.”

Another note on translation. I've been taught how to shake and what is translated here is incorrect, so I looked at the Chinese and it explains it the way I was taught. Again, kudos to Brennan for providing the Chinese text. Here's a fairly literal translation.

卽用腰腿勁抖拍之。
That is, use the yao (waist/lumbar spine) and legs' jin (strength) to shake and slap them.

[Yuen-Ming]

Thanks for that. I think it's interesting to note that it's not uncommon for Brennan to translate 勁 (jin) as energy, and he often translates qi as energy as well. Luckily Brennan provides the Chinese so if I'm reading a text and see energy I scan the Chinese to see if it's qi or jin.

As I always say we should all be thankful for the precious gift that Brennan is generously giving.

When translating from a different culture there are always areas where a straightforward, single word fails to convey the original meaning and only a scholarly approach - with notes and all that - can bring about clarity. That’s why I tend to use ‘Jin/Energy’ as a fast substitute for a longer “coordinated, trained energy” kind of translation