清晨，伴着轻快的音乐，练习柔力球的人们整齐地挥拍引球，在身前慢慢地做水平画弧的动作，球就像粘在拍子上一样，纹丝不动。跟在队伍后面的我，也有模有样地学起来，看似简单的动作，做起来却不容易，刚刚挥动球拍，球就飞了出去。旁边热心的阿姨告诉我，柔力球的技巧在于眼睛要注视着球，动作要柔和连贯，而且要多加练习，练好了基本动作之后还可以有很多花样。话未说完，阿姨就挥舞球拍为我表演起来，只见她时而挥拍迎球，时而纳球入拍，似弧形上下翻飞随球起舞，似太极刚柔并济，舒缓柔和，引得大家阵阵喝彩声。看来，要玩好柔力球还得费一番苦功才行。

        柔力球这种运动起源于1991年，是将太极拳拳理和网球、羽毛球、乒乓球等现代球类结合的运动项目。无论是柔力球竞技比赛还是套路表演，简而言之就是一个画圆的过程，即面对速度很快的来球，先将力泄掉，然后画圆聚力再将球抛出去。柔力球打起来悄然无声，讲究的是借力打力，以退为进，以柔克刚。不过，这项运动看似简单，但抛球、接球和旋转的过程中，肩、腰、颈部都在运动，因此对身体的锻炼是全方位的。

        说起柔力球的普及，我们的温总理还有着不小的"功劳"呢。2006年5月，[和*谐]总理陪同德国总理感受"中国式晨练"，并当众展示了玩柔力球的高超技艺。 "总理挥拍"的消息在广大市民中流传了很久，同时也成就了柔力球在群众中的影响力。很多市民都是因为听说了温总理的事迹之后才开始了解柔力球，并加入到练 "柔力球"的队伍中来的。

Taiji-tender-ball

Early in the morning, accompanied by light music, people practicing Taiji-tender-ball neatly swing the ball in front of their bodies, moving it slowly in an arc. The balls never drop; they seem glued to the rackets. I stood in the back of them, watching carefully. However, the seemingly simple act is not easy to do. When I waved the racket, the ball flew out. A warm-hearted woman told me that the skill to Taiji-tender-ball is in the eyes. The act must be soft and consistent, and it needs regular practice. After strengthening the basic movements, she said, you are also able to do a lot of tricks. Before finishing the sentence, she waves the racket. Sometimes she swings the ball, and sometimes she throws the ball in her hands. It curves from top to bottom, and she seems to dance with the ball, soothing, soft and flexible. It\\'s so exciting that we all cheer for her.

Taiji-tender-ball, originated in 1991, integrates skills of Taiji and modern sports, such as tennis, badminton and table tennis. Both the games and the basic techniques are natural curving processes, i.e., to dissolve the incoming ball's force and use its force to throw with your own force.  The movements are simple, beautiful and easy for everyone to learn. Hitting the ball is a silent act. The principles of it are to use the static to control the dynamic and softness to overcome force. The exercise incorporates throwing, catching and rotating movements which are good for relaxing shoulder, waist, and neck.

In May 2006, the Prime Minister of Germany, accompanied by Premier Wen Jiabao, experienced  'Morning Exercises in China'. Premier Wen displayed his Taiji-tender-ball skills in public. The news spread among the general public, and then many people began to know this exercise after hearing the story of Premier Wen.  Now it has become one of the most popular exercises to maintain and improve people's health in China.

• sentence [´sentəns]   n.判决 vt.宣判；处刑   (初中英语单词)
• badminton [´bædmintən]   n.羽毛球   (初中英语单词)
• dissolve [di´zɔlv]   v.(使)溶解；解除   (初中英语单词)
• everyone [´evriwʌn]   pron.=everybody 每人   (初中英语单词)
• overcome [,əuvə´kʌm]   vt.战胜，克服   (初中英语单词)
• minister [´ministə]   n.部长；大臣 v.伺候   (初中英语单词)
• premier [´premiə]   n.总理 a.首要的   (初中英语单词)
• maintain [mein´tein]   vt.维持；保持；继续   (初中英语单词)
• racket [´rækit]   n.(网球等的)拍；球拍   (高中英语单词)
• tennis [´tenis]   n.网球(运动)   (高中英语单词)
• hearing [´hiəriŋ]   n.听力；听证会；审讯   (高中英语单词)
• seemingly [´si:miŋli]   ad.表面上；似乎   (英语四级单词)
• consistent [kən´sistənt]   a.一致的；始终如一的   (英语四级单词)
• flexible [´fleksəbəl]   a.灵活的，柔韧的   (英语四级单词)
• softness [´sɔftnis]   n.柔软；柔和；温柔   (英语六级单词)