陈娟：传承这件民族瑰宝是我的使命

陈娟：传承这件民族瑰宝是我的使命

CHEN JUAN TO KEEP THE FIRE OF TAICHI ALIVE

Born at the right time in the right place, Chen Juan has had the most textbook-like Taichi master's career.

Having inherited the right genes from her father - Taichi master Chen Zhenglei - Juan was already able to execute a full set of Taichi moves when she was merely five years old.

Born naturally-gifted and competitive, Juan has become a national top-level martial artist, and the 12th generation inheritor of Chen's Taichi.

Text by Madeline Weng Photos by Zeng Jian and Chen Zhenglei Taichi Studio

陈娟走上传承太极之路，是再自然不过的事情。

生在河南温县陈家沟武术世家的她可谓完整延续了家族基因，天生就是块“习武的料”，五六岁时就能把一套太极拳招式顺畅地打下来。异禀的天赋加之刚强好胜的性格，最终成就了一名武术七段的国家一级武士，不愧为“陈氏太极拳第12代嫡宗传人”。

Chen Juan looks surprisingly radiant considering she is four months pregnant.She has a calm and zen-like aura while she sits talking about her past.

It has been 30 years since she fi rst entered the Taichi industry.Since she was seven years old, she had already begun a strict practice routine that would intimidate an adult: she had to get up before 6 a.m.and practice for at least eight hours a day under her father's strict guidance and instruction.

Chen Juan started winning champion medals when she was just 16.With a strong interest in fashion, she never dreamed that one day she was going to take over her family's tradition of Taichi.

When Chen Juan graduated from Beijing Sports University, she was allocated a job at the Guangdong Sports Bureau.This role was not challenging enough, and she began to read novels in her leisure time.Seeing her like this, Juan's father said: “You have no excuse for reading non-Taichirelated books any more.Now that you have set your mind to become a great Taichi master, you should seize your precious time and try to improve yourself in Martial arts.”

Her father's words reminded Juan of her duty for the family and for her own career.From then on, she started to spend almost all of her time on Taichi.

“I realized that teaching Taichi is what I truly enjoy the most.I'd like to dedicate all my time to Taichi, and help people fi nd balance in their life, which in turn, would do good to society as a whole,” said Chen Juan.

A phone call made by her dad in 2006 sent Juan to Japan, where she ended up teaching for three years at her father's Taichi school in Shizuoka.

At fi rst, her life abroad was not at all easy.Living in a 10-square-metre dormitory on the fi fth fl oor, young Juan had to fold up her “bed” in the daytime and put it back down before she went to sleep, every day.And her toilet was almost inhumanely tiny, with its door unable to close.

A few months later, Chen Zhenglei went to Shizuoka to see her daughter, right after he gave a master class in Osaka.When he saw the shabby room that Juan lived in, he fell silent, but still managed to provide some encouragement: “Your room is much better than mine when I was little.You hadn't experienced hardship before.This can be a good experience for you.”

Hearing what her father said, Juan felt a knot in her throat and tried hard not to cry.She was not at allupset about her poor living condition, but deeply touched by her father's profound love.Being an amiable and responsible teacher, Juan's effort and ability was eventually recognized in Japan.Her students volunteered to help her open up two more Taichi schools, one in Fuji, the other in Hamamatsu.By then, she was already able to give lectures in front of a hundred students in fl uent Japanese.

Juan's students admired her so much that one of them even got down on his knees begging her to return when she told them she had to go back to China.

However, life was not easy for Juan back home.Since Juan has always disliked earning a commercial living teaching Taichi, she had hardly any savings when she left Japan.Therefore, this time, she had to start from scratch, again.

Thankfully, with great support from her family combined with her experience in Japan, Juan managed to open up three Chen Zhenglei Taichi Studios in Guangzhou.The studios have more than 1,000 members so far.

Four years ago, Juan became a mother.This new life has added a motherly touch to Juan's martial artist's air.Every time she looks at her daughter's sweet face, she smiles with affection in her eyes.

“We all have our own missions when we come to the earth.The Creator has arranged it all.You can experience all sorts of things, but at the end of the day, there is going to be the one that suits you the best.For me, my mission is to keep the fi re of Chen's Taichi alive.”

已有四个月身孕的陈娟看起来气色甚好。端坐上位，她语调平稳，眉头舒展，自内而外散发出俨然正气。

陈娟正式踏入太极圈已近30载。回想起当年自己七岁起早起贪黑埋头练武的日子，陈娟竟然不觉得辛苦。在武术九段的父亲陈正雷的系统教导下，陈娟在16岁那年就获得了河南省“武协杯”两项冠军的好成绩。

然而，年轻时的陈娟向往成为一名设计师，并没有想到自己未来有一天会肩负家族的重望。从北京体育大学毕业后，她被分配到广东省体育局工作，起初的生活节奏缓慢有序。有一天，父亲来广州传拳，看到陈娟正在看小说，便严肃地叮嘱她：“现在你已经没有资格看闲书了。既然你的专业和技能已经将你定位在武术方面，你应该抓紧时间多看专业书籍，练功学习，增加修为！”

父亲的话一语点醒稍有松懈的陈娟，从此，她更加专注地在香港传拳，工作之余巩固专业知识，将几乎所有的时间奉献给了太极。

“自那以后，我逐渐发现，教育才是我最喜欢的事情。我愿意以拳育人，帮助人们找到适合他们的生活方式，从个人影响家庭，从家庭影响社会传播正能量。” 陈娟如是说。

2006年的春天，父亲的一通电话将陈娟派往了千里之外的日本。在“陈家沟太极拳馆静冈分部”传拳的三年期间，陈娟的生活可谓甜中带苦。由于日本房价高，年轻的陈娟只能蜗居在五楼一间10平方米的宿舍里。白天时得将铺盖卷起，晚上睡觉时再放下；而厕所的空间更是窄小，连门也关不住。

几个月后，旅日传拳的陈正雷从大阪赶到静冈，只为见女儿一面。当他环顾这间小屋，他沉默了片刻，随即故作轻松地说道：“这条件，比你爸小时候强多了。你从小到大没有吃过苦，体验一下也很不错！”

听罢此言，陈娟喉咙一堵，眼眶温热起来——倒不是因为委屈，而是因为感受到了父亲深沉的爱。

由于陈娟为人谦和，因材施教，她的教学最终在日本得到了认可，而她负责的拳馆也由静冈扩展到了富士和滨松。这个时候的她，已经能够用准确而流畅的日文给上百名学员授课。

离开日本前，陈娟的日本学员甚至跪倒在地恳求她回日本继续教学：“拜托，您一定要回来！”——可见其深得人心。

回到广州后的陈娟开始了同样艰苦的创业过程，在家人的扶持下，最终将三家广州陈正雷太极会馆开办得有声有色，学员现已逾千名。

如今身为人母的陈娟，相比年轻时多了一抹母性的温柔。每每看见大女儿活泼伶俐的样子，她就不由得嘴角上扬，万般柔情写在眼中。

搂着四岁的女儿，陈娟微笑着，目光仿佛看穿了一切：“每个人来到世上都各有使命，老天早已安排好了。你可以体验尝试各种事情，但最终会有个最适合的使命在等着你。而我的使命，就是传承陈氏太极拳。”

DOUBLE IDENTITY AN URBANITE AND A RECLUSE

After a long day at work, it is time to put away your daytime identity, and fi nd your relief in Taichi.During the break, take a sip of Chinese tea whilst having a heartfelt chat with other practicers Ð this is the oasis that Guangzhou Chen Zhenglei Taichi Studio has created for the urbanites.

Chen Juan's students in Guangzhou come from all walks of life.Among them are government of fi cials, scholars, the wife of the vice-consul of Royal Danish Consulate General in Guangzhou, culture attachŽ of the French Consulate General in Guangzhou, etc.Here and now, the Taichi studio has opened a window for the world to fully taste this culture heritage.

This is how Chen Juan explains her aims of teaching: “I want Chen's Taichi to not only help its practicers to become healthier and happier, but also teach them Chinese philosophy.This is how Chen's Taichi should bene fi t our lives."

小隐于太极

结束漫长一日的工作，放下身份与名利，在古雅的琴声中站桩习拳，伸展身体的同时也敞开自己的内心。习练之余，品一杯香茗，与同修谈笑风生，感受片刻的宁静安闲——陈正雷太极会馆为都市人提供了一个放松身心的休憩良所。

在广州跟随陈娟练拳的学员来自社会各行各业，他们中有政府官员、学者教授，还有丹麦驻穗副领事及夫人、法国驻穗文化官员。此时此地，来自中原的太极文明正与岭南乃至世界的文化融汇交流。

桃李满天下的陈娟是这么诠释她的教学目的的：“我希望陈氏太极拳的习练者不仅能通过练拳达到健身养生的效果，还能理解太极拳所蕴含的中国智慧，并将其中的哲理运用于生活，优化我们的生活质量。”

HONOURS AND AWARDS

大师姐的获奖榜

1996 (18-year-old)

Won the First Prize at Women's Taichi Sword and Chen's Taichi boxing Contests at Ò Henan Martial Arts Association CupÓ

18岁那年，在“河南省武协杯”获得女子组陈氏太极拳第一名，及女子中青年组太极剑第一名。

1997

Won the fi rst prize at Taichi Sword Contest at the Level-Classi fi cation Competition held by Beijing University of Physical Education

在“北体大通级赛”获得太极剑第一名。

Won the Honour Title of “National First-Level Martial ArtistÓ

获“国家一级武士”称号。

1998

Won the First Prize at Taichi Sword Contest and Taichi boxing at the “Wen County International Taichi CompetitionÓ

在传统太极拳最高赛事“温县国际太极拳年会”获得太极剑、太极拳第一名。

2004:

Won the World Championship at the “International Martial Art CompetitionÓ

在“世界传统武术节”获得世界冠军。

2013

Passed the High Level test of Martial Art State Examination– “National Martial Arts Seven Segments”

在武术国考上获得国家武术高段位“中国武术七段”。