After loosening (鬆) one of the next instructions is tightening (緊) which brings the notion of grip, of squeezing, of tensioning. The character appears in many words that carry that sense: to tighten (勒緊), to clamp or to grip (夾緊), to squeeze (擠緊), to pull tight (拉緊), compact or terse (緊湊), strict (嚴緊). It also brings a sense of urgency, that is not necessarily seen in the martial arts texts: to keep a firm grip or to not lose time in doing something (抓緊), urgent (緊急), important (打緊).
In martial arts texts, the instruction on this quality or action comes right after to open up (開), which is closely associated with loose (鬆). The phrase below comes from a foundational Taijiquan text, Wang Zongyue's Essay of Understanding How to Practice The Thirteen Dynamics (十三勢行功心解) and has been extensively commented.
先求開展，後求緊凑，乃可臻於縝密矣！
First strive to open up, then strive to close up, and from there you will be able to attain a refined subtlety.
In his Study of Taiji Boxing (太極拳學), Lóng Zixiáng (龍子祥) explains this passage in the following way:
『後求緊凑』的意思，幷非單言於窄仄，亦非單言於速快，而是由開展後收囘時求緊凑，亦卽是能收能放的意思。
As for the notion of “striving to close up”, this does not actually mean that the movement becomes very small or quick, it has to do with a sense of becoming compact when withdrawing after opening, as well as the idea of being able to withdraw and then release.
The explanation above hints that within (緊) there is the notion of storing and releasing power. This notion is much more explicit in writings coming from the Chen Style. For example Chén Jìfǔ (陳績甫) in his General Explanations of Taiji Boxing Fundamentals (太極拳學入門總解):
一伸，統身皆伸；伸要伸得盡，屈要屈得緊。如捲砲捲得緊，崩得有力。
When reaching out, extend as far as you can. When bending in, curl up tightly. It is like a cannon that has been tightly packed, which will then shoot that much more powerfully.
The notion of expanding and storing is very ancient, and one could say that it is closely related to the ability of Bending and Straightening (曲直), one of the attributes of the Dragon. Sun Lutang (孫祿堂) brought that reference in his Study of Bagua Boxing (八卦拳學).
先哲云。道之伸縮流行。其大無外。其小無內。放之則彌六合。卷之則退藏於密。亦即此拳之意義也。
Ancient thinkers said about the expanding and contracting movements of the Way [from Guanzi, chapter 36 / then from Zhong Yong]: “It is so big it has no outside, so small it has no inside.” / “Sending out, it goes beyond the ends of the universe. Rolling in, it stores away tightly.” This also rings true for this boxing art.
The Practice of Tight (緊)
Lóng Zixiáng (龍子祥) proposes that tightening (緊) is the best tool to counter the excess of relaxation (鬆), or slackening. He makes a whole paragraph of the idea:
緊字是針對懈字之良藥，非緊張之意，亦卽拳譜所謂『後求緊凑』。故凡練拳，不獨太極為然，均須首求開展，以鍛練其筋骨，迨至成功，所出之手，無不緊凑，庶免為敵所襲擊之意也。
Tightening is the best cure for slackening, but does not have the intention of being tense. The phrase in the Boxing Classics continues: “… then strive to close up.” Generally when training in boxing arts, not only Taiji, we must initially seek to open up and extend in order to develop our sinews and bones. Once we have achieved success in that regard, we will put out our hands with more compactness to prevent the opponent’s ideas of making surprise attacks.
Chén Zǐmíng (陳子明) in his text on the Chen Family Taiji (陳氏世傳太極拳術) goes in the same direction, and builds the progressive order in which tightening (緊) is inserted into the practice:
由開展至於緊湊切莫逾乎範圍亂其順序自能積手為著著合為勢勢聯成套
Go from spreading open to shrinking in tight (though never going to extremes in either case, which would send you into disorder). You will then be able to combine movements to make a technique, consolidate the technique to make a posture, and the postures are then to be connected into a complete set.
In the Liuhebafa (六合八法拳) tradition there is also this warning against pushing to extremes. In Chén Yìrén's (陳亦人) Study of Liuhebafa Boxing (六合八法拳學) he exhorts:
欲鬆似非鬆 欲緊未着力
Loosen without relaxing.
Tighten without tensing.
He also goes further, and explain that these are not reflex body functions, but they require awareness:
收放勿露形 鬆緊要自主
Gathering and releasing should not be telegraphed.
Loosening and tensing should be deliberate actions rather than unconscious reactions.
Tightetning (緊) in Applications
In his Study of Taiji Boxing (太極拳學), Lóng Zixiáng (龍子祥) explains the Thirteen Dynamics passage in the following way:
『後求緊凑』的意思，幷非單言於窄仄，亦非單言於速快，而是由開展後收囘時求緊凑，亦卽是能收能放的意思。
As for the notion of “striving to close up”, this does not actually mean that the movement becomes very small or quick, it has to do with a sense of becoming compact when withdrawing after opening, as well as the idea of being able to withdraw and then release.
The explanation above hints that within (緊) there is the notion of storing and releasing power. This notion is much more explicit in writings coming from the Chen Style. For example Chén Jìfǔ (陳績甫) in his General Explanations of Taiji Boxing Fundamentals (太極拳學入門總解):
一伸，統身皆伸；伸要伸得盡，屈要屈得緊。如捲砲捲得緊，崩得有力。
When reaching out, extend as far as you can. When bending in, curl up tightly. It is like a cannon that has been tightly packed, which will then shoot that much more powerfully.
The notion of expanding and storing is very ancient, and one could say that it is closely related to the ability of Bending and Straightening (曲直), one of the attributes of the Dragon. Sun Lutang (孫祿堂) brought that reference in his Study of Bagua Boxing (八卦拳學) .
先哲云。道之伸縮流行。其大無外。其小無內。放之則彌六合。卷之則退藏於密。亦即此拳之意義也。
Ancient thinkers said about the expanding and contracting movements of the Way [from Guanzi, chapter 36 / then from Zhong Yong]: “It is so big it has no outside, so small it has no inside.” / “Sending out, it goes beyond the ends of the universe. Rolling in, it stores away tightly.” This also rings true for this boxing art.
And finally, Chén Zǐmíng (陳子明) links the ability to tighten (緊) with the ability to transform (变化), a central aspect of agility when applying in sparring:
身法步法旋轉緊湊方向之變皆屬一勢之變化也
The actions of body and step are compact rotations for changing direction. They are the features of transformation within a posture.
References:
吳公藻 Wu Gongzao, 太極拳講義 Taiji Boxing Explained, 1935, 湖南國術訓練所 Hunan Martial Arts Training Institute, Translated by Paul Brennan, December 2018
龍子祥 Long Zixiang, 太極拳學 A Study of Taiji Boxing, Hong Kong 1952, Translated by Paul Brennan, March 2018
陳績甫 Chen Jifu, 太極拳學入門總解 General Explanations of Taiji Boxing Fundamentals, 1930, Translated by Paul Brennan, September 2019
孫福全 Sun Fuquan [Lutang], 八卦拳學 A Study of Bagua Boxing, 1917, Translated by Paul Brennan, April 2015
陳子明 Chen Ziming, 陳氏世傳太極拳術 The Inherited Chen Family Taiji Boxing Art, 中國武術學會 Chinese Martial Arts Society, Shanghai, 1932, Translated by Paul Brennan, August 2017
陳亦人 Chen Yiren, 六合八法拳學 A Study of Liuhebafa Boxing, Hong Kong, 1969, Translated by Paul Brennan, May 2021
董英傑 Dong Yingjie, 太極拳釋義 Taiji Boxing Explained, 1948, Translated by Paul Brenna, July 2022
李存義 Licunyi, 杜之堂 Duzhitang, 五行連環拳譜合璧 A Combined Volume: Five Elements Manual/Continuous Boxing Manual, Hebei, 1916, Translated by Paul Brennan, October 2017
In martial arts texts, the instruction on this quality or action comes right after to open up (開), which is closely associated with loose (鬆). The phrase below comes from a foundational Taijiquan text, Wang Zongyue's Essay of Understanding How to Practice The Thirteen Dynamics (十三勢行功心解) and has been extensively commented.
先求開展，後求緊凑，乃可臻於縝密矣！
First strive to open up, then strive to close up, and from there you will be able to attain a refined subtlety.
In his Study of Taiji Boxing (太極拳學), Lóng Zixiáng (龍子祥) explains this passage in the following way:
『後求緊凑』的意思，幷非單言於窄仄，亦非單言於速快，而是由開展後收囘時求緊凑，亦卽是能收能放的意思。
As for the notion of “striving to close up”, this does not actually mean that the movement becomes very small or quick, it has to do with a sense of becoming compact when withdrawing after opening, as well as the idea of being able to withdraw and then release.
The explanation above hints that within (緊) there is the notion of storing and releasing power. This notion is much more explicit in writings coming from the Chen Style. For example Chén Jìfǔ (陳績甫) in his General Explanations of Taiji Boxing Fundamentals (太極拳學入門總解):
一伸，統身皆伸；伸要伸得盡，屈要屈得緊。如捲砲捲得緊，崩得有力。
When reaching out, extend as far as you can. When bending in, curl up tightly. It is like a cannon that has been tightly packed, which will then shoot that much more powerfully.
The notion of expanding and storing is very ancient, and one could say that it is closely related to the ability of Bending and Straightening (曲直), one of the attributes of the Dragon. Sun Lutang (孫祿堂) brought that reference in his Study of Bagua Boxing (八卦拳學).
先哲云。道之伸縮流行。其大無外。其小無內。放之則彌六合。卷之則退藏於密。亦即此拳之意義也。
Ancient thinkers said about the expanding and contracting movements of the Way [from Guanzi, chapter 36 / then from Zhong Yong]: “It is so big it has no outside, so small it has no inside.” / “Sending out, it goes beyond the ends of the universe. Rolling in, it stores away tightly.” This also rings true for this boxing art.
The Practice of Tight (緊)
Lóng Zixiáng (龍子祥) proposes that tightening (緊) is the best tool to counter the excess of relaxation (鬆), or slackening. He makes a whole paragraph of the idea:
緊字是針對懈字之良藥，非緊張之意，亦卽拳譜所謂『後求緊凑』。故凡練拳，不獨太極為然，均須首求開展，以鍛練其筋骨，迨至成功，所出之手，無不緊凑，庶免為敵所襲擊之意也。
Tightening is the best cure for slackening, but does not have the intention of being tense. The phrase in the Boxing Classics continues: “… then strive to close up.” Generally when training in boxing arts, not only Taiji, we must initially seek to open up and extend in order to develop our sinews and bones. Once we have achieved success in that regard, we will put out our hands with more compactness to prevent the opponent’s ideas of making surprise attacks.
Chén Zǐmíng (陳子明) in his text on the Chen Family Taiji (陳氏世傳太極拳術) goes in the same direction, and builds the progressive order in which tightening (緊) is inserted into the practice:
由開展至於緊湊切莫逾乎範圍亂其順序自能積手為著著合為勢勢聯成套
Go from spreading open to shrinking in tight (though never going to extremes in either case, which would send you into disorder). You will then be able to combine movements to make a technique, consolidate the technique to make a posture, and the postures are then to be connected into a complete set.
In the Liuhebafa (六合八法拳) tradition there is also this warning against pushing to extremes. In Chén Yìrén's (陳亦人) Study of Liuhebafa Boxing (六合八法拳學) he exhorts:
欲鬆似非鬆 欲緊未着力
Loosen without relaxing.
Tighten without tensing.
He also goes further, and explain that these are not reflex body functions, but they require awareness:
收放勿露形 鬆緊要自主
Gathering and releasing should not be telegraphed.
Loosening and tensing should be deliberate actions rather than unconscious reactions.
Tightetning (緊) in Applications
In his Study of Taiji Boxing (太極拳學), Lóng Zixiáng (龍子祥) explains the Thirteen Dynamics passage in the following way:
『後求緊凑』的意思，幷非單言於窄仄，亦非單言於速快，而是由開展後收囘時求緊凑，亦卽是能收能放的意思。
As for the notion of “striving to close up”, this does not actually mean that the movement becomes very small or quick, it has to do with a sense of becoming compact when withdrawing after opening, as well as the idea of being able to withdraw and then release.
The explanation above hints that within (緊) there is the notion of storing and releasing power. This notion is much more explicit in writings coming from the Chen Style. For example Chén Jìfǔ (陳績甫) in his General Explanations of Taiji Boxing Fundamentals (太極拳學入門總解):
一伸，統身皆伸；伸要伸得盡，屈要屈得緊。如捲砲捲得緊，崩得有力。
When reaching out, extend as far as you can. When bending in, curl up tightly. It is like a cannon that has been tightly packed, which will then shoot that much more powerfully.
The notion of expanding and storing is very ancient, and one could say that it is closely related to the ability of Bending and Straightening (曲直), one of the attributes of the Dragon. Sun Lutang (孫祿堂) brought that reference in his Study of Bagua Boxing (八卦拳學) .
先哲云。道之伸縮流行。其大無外。其小無內。放之則彌六合。卷之則退藏於密。亦即此拳之意義也。
Ancient thinkers said about the expanding and contracting movements of the Way [from Guanzi, chapter 36 / then from Zhong Yong]: “It is so big it has no outside, so small it has no inside.” / “Sending out, it goes beyond the ends of the universe. Rolling in, it stores away tightly.” This also rings true for this boxing art.
And finally, Chén Zǐmíng (陳子明) links the ability to tighten (緊) with the ability to transform (变化), a central aspect of agility when applying in sparring:
身法步法旋轉緊湊方向之變皆屬一勢之變化也
The actions of body and step are compact rotations for changing direction. They are the features of transformation within a posture.
References:
吳公藻 Wu Gongzao, 太極拳講義 Taiji Boxing Explained, 1935, 湖南國術訓練所 Hunan Martial Arts Training Institute, Translated by Paul Brennan, December 2018
龍子祥 Long Zixiang, 太極拳學 A Study of Taiji Boxing, Hong Kong 1952, Translated by Paul Brennan, March 2018
陳績甫 Chen Jifu, 太極拳學入門總解 General Explanations of Taiji Boxing Fundamentals, 1930, Translated by Paul Brennan, September 2019
孫福全 Sun Fuquan [Lutang], 八卦拳學 A Study of Bagua Boxing, 1917, Translated by Paul Brennan, April 2015
陳子明 Chen Ziming, 陳氏世傳太極拳術 The Inherited Chen Family Taiji Boxing Art, 中國武術學會 Chinese Martial Arts Society, Shanghai, 1932, Translated by Paul Brennan, August 2017
陳亦人 Chen Yiren, 六合八法拳學 A Study of Liuhebafa Boxing, Hong Kong, 1969, Translated by Paul Brennan, May 2021
董英傑 Dong Yingjie, 太極拳釋義 Taiji Boxing Explained, 1948, Translated by Paul Brenna, July 2022
李存義 Licunyi, 杜之堂 Duzhitang, 五行連環拳譜合璧 A Combined Volume: Five Elements Manual/Continuous Boxing Manual, Hebei, 1916, Translated by Paul Brennan, October 2017
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