二、太极拳的运动特点 Movement Characteristics of Taiji Quan

（一）体松心静 Relax Body and Quiet Heart

体松心静是太极拳的运动特点之一。“体松”是指在练拳时，身体肌肉处于一种放松状态，使身体自然舒展，不得用僵力。“心静”是指练拳时要排除一切杂念，注意力要集中。

“The relaxed body and quiet heart”is one of the movement characteristics of Taiji Quan.The“relaxed body”means that the body muscles are in relaxation status during practice and the body is naturally stretched without the rigid force.The“quiet heart”means that you shall remove all the distracting thoughts and pay attention.

（二）缓慢柔和 Slow and Gentle Strength

缓慢柔和也是太极拳的运动特点。一套简化太极拳，二十四个动作，按正常速度需要在5～6分钟完成，缓慢还需要连贯，即动作连绵不断。而柔的前提是要放松，在此基础上，使两臂的姿势及运动路线都要保持弧形。

The slow and gentle strength is also the characteristic of Taiji Quan.A set of simplified Taiji Quan has 24 movements，which shall be finished in between 5 and 6 minutes at normal speed.It requires slow but continuous strength，namely the successive movements with the premise of the softness of being relaxed.On that basis，the postures and moving lines of two arms shall be maintained in a curve.

（三）动作、呼吸和意念相配合 Coordination of Movements，Breath，and Mind

初学时要保持自然呼吸，练习到一定程度时，须将呼吸、意念相配合。太极拳的呼吸一般都是与动作相配合的，即起吸、落呼，开吸、合呼，如起势、收势动作，两臂向上抬起时吸气，下落时呼气。两手张开时吸气，合时呼气。另一种呼吸方式为：凡是一个动作完成时呼气，过渡动作时吸气。还可以理解为，向外进攻的动作为呼气，进攻前的动作为吸气。无论哪一种呼吸方式都应力求自然。动作与意念的配合，就是练拳时要排除一切杂念，把注意力集中到动作上。以意识引导动作，做到“意领身随”。

At the beginning,the breath shall be natural.After some practice,the coordination of breath and mind is required.The breath of Taiji Quan shall generally be coordinated with movements：inhale when rising，exhale when falling，inhale when opening，and exhale when closing.For example，for the movements of rising and closing，you shall inhale when rising the arms，and exhale when falling the aims.In addition，you shall inhale when opening hands，and exhale when closing hands.Another way of breath is that：exhale when completing a movement，and inhale when changing movement，or exhale when attacking and inhale before attacking.No matter the ways of the breath，it shall be natural.The coordination of movements and mind means that you must remove all the distracting thoughts when practicing，and pay attention to the movements.The consciousness shall guide the movements，so as to make the“entire body follow the mind”.