我自幼受父亲影响习练太极拳。父亲青年时即拜在著名武 术家王培生先生门下,我即称王先生为师爷。我常随父亲到师 爷家看望。当时我虽小,但在我的记忆里,师爷是一位少言寡 语的人,在无靠背的椅子上正襟危坐,面容祥和,二目有神, 令人肃然起敬。父辈的亲朋挚友很多,都对师爷的武功有口皆 碑,甚至叹为观止。当时,在我的心目中,师爷的形象非常高 大,敬仰之心也油然而生。 我 10 岁时先随父亲的朋友,摔跤名家李文泉老师学练基 本功,也听父亲讲授太极拳。13岁那年李老师因病故去,于是自己接着练,几年之后便萌发出跟师爷学拳的想法。上高中 以后由父亲领着我到师爷家,从此开始向师爷正式求教。初学 抻筋拔骨十三式、散手等,然后逐渐学习程氏八卦、尹氏八卦 和师爷编排的吴式太极三十七式等。当时师爷家院子还宽, 院 内外也是空地,在院子里把学过的一招一式都练给师爷看, 还 在院门外习抖大枪等等。这一切都像昨天所发生的事情一样记 忆犹新。 师爷是当今武学大师,能得到他的传授非常不易,当时 有很多人羡慕我,也有不少朋友到我这里来和我一同练习, 询问师爷又教了些什么,我由于自己还练得不好,无法教 人,于是把朋友带到师爷家一同学习,师爷无不耐心指教。 师爷也是非常严厉的,若是上次教的没练,师爷一看就知 道。师爷讲解非常注重举一反三,若是说了几遍还不明白, 脸色就会严肃起来,很多人怵师爷就在于此。但只要把教的 东西认真练习了,师爷就会再教新的东西。我当时的感觉 是,无论怎么学,总有新东西在等着你,无有穷尽,师爷会 得太多了。在外面,我时常找人推手或试验招式,遇到问题 时不假思索地来问师爷,他老人家总是不吝赐教,一下子指 出问题要害,而后再深入浅出地举例说明,循循善诱,使学 者如沐春风之中。 1987 年我 24 岁那年,有了去日本学习的机会,我便邀朋 友一起东渡扶桑,当时有人问起为何去日本,我顺口回答: “开武馆教拳。”其实这似乎是一个玩笑,一乐而已。没想到在 日本的第4个年头,也就是1991年10月,终于有了在读 化中心教太极拳的机会。恰巧在同一个月,师爷同中国中 管理局代表团一行,受日本气功协会及读卖新闻邀请访本,讲授太极拳及气功等。当我知道这个消息后,激动得心情 无法用言语来表达 这是日本气功协会主办的一年一度的气功演讲大会。当时 会场设置在东京读卖剧场,到会者千余人。师爷走进会场时, 精神抖擞,气宇轩昂,我作为助手也有幸一同登上舞台。老人 家声音洪亮,面对大家说,我来到日本首先是与大家结缘,其 次是把我新编排的太极拳十六式传给我的徒孙高小飞......当时 随着台下的掌声我激动万分,师爷无形之中把我介绍给了大 家,这对我来说真是莫大的鼓舞和支持,我几乎忘记了在台上 的角色。 师爷的讲演内容丰富多彩,涉及范围很广,使到会者耳目 一新。特别是讲解了太极拳与气功的异同之处,明确指出太极 拳是武术,而在修身养性方面与气功是一致的。又讲了气功的 意义和一些简而易的练习方法。关于太极拳,老人强调分为 体、用两大方面,二者兼备,乃为太极。 当时由于时间所限,不能言及拳之细节,我在台演练吴 式太极拳三十七式,由师爷讲解,并由我进招,师爷表演太极 拳的使用。记得当时几乎是我进手的同时即被打出去,滚翻落 地,爬起来继续进招,再被打出,近者被打出丈余,远者数丈 开外,其中一次我竟然腾空而起,而后滚落在地,身体与舞台 之间发出清脆的撞击声,台下连连发出雷鸣般的掌声和喝彩 声。之后师爷又演练了新编排的十六式太极拳,潇洒自如,令 人神往 在师爷访日期间,我和老人家先后在东京四谷公会堂、千 叶武道大学、大阪气功协会等地进行了专门性的教学及讲演活 动。其中大阪会场到会者数百人,效果极佳。在东京日本武道馆录制了吴式太极拳入门教学录像带,由BIB日本影像出版 公司出版发行。 师爷一行的访日讲学活动虽然短暂,但给广大太极拳爱好 者留下的印象是鲜明而又深刻的,人们纷纷反映见到了真正的 太极拳及太极名家。打那以后,我借着师爷的威名,本着教学 相长的原则,教太极拳及八卦掌,至今不敢懈怠。虽尚未将本 门心得广泛普及,但是师爷所传诸功法已深入习练者之心,不 久将会有新局面出现。因此我想,师爷是中国的骄傲,所传太 极等诸功法也同样是中国文化宝库中的瑰宝,有义务去继承传 播、发扬光大。
From childhood, I was influenced by my father to practice Taijiquan. My father became a disciple of the famous martial artist Mr. Wang Peisheng in his youth, so I called Mr. Wang "Master-Grandfather." I often accompanied my father to visit Master-Grandfather's home. Though I was young at the time, in my memory, Master-Grandfather was a man of few words who sat upright in a backless chair with a serene countenance and spirited eyes, commanding respect. My father's generation had many close friends, all of whom praised Master-Grandfather's martial arts skills without exception, even to the point of wonder. At that time, in my mind, Master-Grandfather's image was extremely lofty, and reverence arose naturally within me.
When I was 10 years old, I first learned basic skills from my father's friend, the famous wrestling master Teacher Li Wenquan, while also listening to my father teach Taijiquan. When I was 13, Teacher Li passed away from illness, so I continued practicing on my own. After several years, the idea sprouted to learn boxing from Master-Grandfather. After entering high school, my father took me to Master-Grandfather's home, and from then on I began to formally seek instruction from him. Initially I learned the Thirteen Postures of Stretching Tendons and Pulling Bones, free-form techniques, and so on, then gradually learned Cheng-style Baguazhang, Yin-style Baguazhang, and the Wu-style Taijiquan Thirty-Seven Postures that Master-Grandfather had arranged. At that time, Master-Grandfather's courtyard was still spacious, with open space inside and out. In the courtyard, I would practice every move and posture I had learned for Master-Grandfather to observe, and would also practice shaking the large spear outside the courtyard gate. All of this is as fresh in my memory as if it happened yesterday.
Master-Grandfather is a great martial arts master of our time, and receiving his instruction was extremely difficult. At the time, many people envied me, and quite a few friends came to practice with me, asking what Master-Grandfather had taught. Since I hadn't practiced well enough myself and couldn't teach others, I brought friends to Master-Grandfather's home to learn together, and he would patiently instruct everyone without exception. Master-Grandfather was also very strict—if you hadn't practiced what was taught last time, he could tell at a glance. Master-Grandfather's explanations emphasized drawing inferences from one example; if you still didn't understand after being told several times, his expression would become serious. This is what made many people apprehensive about Master-Grandfather. But as long as you practiced what was taught diligently, Master-Grandfather would teach new things. My feeling at the time was that no matter how much you learned, there was always something new waiting for you, without end—Master-Grandfather knew far too much. Outside, I would often find people to push hands with or test techniques, and when encountering problems, I would come ask Master-Grandfather without hesitation. The old gentleman was always generous with his teaching, immediately pointing out the crux of the problem, then explaining with vivid examples in an accessible way, guiding students patiently, making learners feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.
In 1987, when I was 24 years old, I had the opportunity to study in Japan, so I invited a friend to cross the sea to Japan together. When someone asked why I was going to Japan, I casually replied: "To open a martial arts school and teach boxing." Actually, this seemed like a joke, just for laughs. Unexpectedly, in my fourth year in Japan—that is, in October 1991—I finally had the opportunity to teach Taijiquan at a cultural center. Coincidentally, in the same month, Master-Grandfather, along with a delegation from the China Sports Management Bureau, was invited by the Japan Qigong Association and Yomiuri Shimbun to visit Japan to teach Taijiquan and qigong. When I learned this news, my excitement was beyond words.
This was the annual qigong lecture conference organized by the Japan Qigong Association. The venue was set at the Tokyo Yomiuri Theatre, with over a thousand attendees. When Master-Grandfather entered the venue, he was full of vigor and imposing presence. As his assistant, I was fortunate enough to step onto the stage with him. The old gentleman spoke in a resonant voice, telling everyone that coming to Japan, first, he was establishing connections with everyone, and second, he was passing on the newly arranged Taijiquan Sixteen Postures to his grand-disciple Gao Xiaofei... At that moment, with the applause from the audience, I was overwhelmed with excitement. Master-Grandfather had inadvertently introduced me to everyone—this was truly tremendous encouragement and support for me, and I nearly forgot my role on stage.
Master-Grandfather's lecture was rich and varied in content, covering a wide range, giving attendees a fresh perspective. In particular, he explained the similarities and differences between Taijiquan and qigong, clearly stating that Taijiquan is a martial art, while in terms of cultivating body and mind, it is consistent with qigong. He also discussed the significance of qigong and some simple and easy practice methods. Regarding Taijiquan, the old gentleman emphasized it is divided into two major aspects: form and application; possessing both constitutes Taiji.
At the time, due to time constraints, the details of the boxing techniques couldn't be discussed. I demonstrated the Wu-style Taijiquan Thirty-Seven Postures on stage, with Master-Grandfather providing explanations. I would advance with attacks, and Master-Grandfather would demonstrate the application of Taijiquan. I remember that almost at the same moment I advanced with my hand, I was sent flying, tumbling to the ground. I would get up and continue advancing, only to be sent flying again—the shorter throws were over ten feet, the longer ones several zhang away. During one instance, I was actually lifted into the air, then tumbled to the ground, my body making a crisp impact sound against the stage floor. The audience repeatedly burst into thunderous applause and cheers. Afterward, Master-Grandfather demonstrated the newly arranged Sixteen Postures of Taijiquan with ease and grace, captivating everyone.
During Master-Grandfather's visit to Japan, the old gentleman and I successively conducted specialized teaching and lecture activities at Tokyo Yotsuya Public Hall, Chiba Budo University, the Osaka Qigong Association, and other locations. At the Osaka venue, several hundred people attended, with excellent results. At the Tokyo Nippon Budokan, we recorded an instructional video for beginner Wu-style Taijiquan, published and distributed by BIB Japan Video Publishing Company.
Although Master-Grandfather's group's teaching visit to Japan was brief, it left a vivid and profound impression on the vast number of Taijiquan enthusiasts. People responded enthusiastically that they had seen genuine Taijiquan and a true Taijiquan master. From that time on, borrowing Master-Grandfather's prestige and adhering to the principle of teaching and learning from each other, I have taught Taijiquan and Baguazhang, not daring to slacken to this day. Although I have not yet widely popularized the insights of our school, the various methods Master-Grandfather transmitted have penetrated deeply into practitioners' hearts, and a new situation will emerge before long. Therefore, I think Master-Grandfather is the pride of China, and the various methods he transmitted, such as Taiji, are likewise treasures in China's cultural treasury. We have an obligation to inherit, spread, and carry them forward.