<span class="chinese-post-title">八五十三勢長拳解</span> The Explanation of Eight, Five and Thirteen Postures in Long Fist from the <span class="chinese-post-title">太極拳說四十篇</span> Forty Chapters on Tàijíquán by <span class="chinese-post-title">楊班侯</span> Yáng​ Bān​hóu​

八五十三勢長拳解

自己用功，一勢一式，用成之後，含之為長，滔滔不斷，周而復始，所以名“長拳”也。萬不得有一定之架子，恐日久入於滑拳也，又恐入於硬拳也，決不可失其綿軟。周身往復，精神意氣之本，用久自然貫通，無往不至，何堅不推也。於人對待，四手當先，亦自八門五步而來。跕四手，四手碾磨，進退四手，中四手，上下四手，三才四手，由下乘長拳四手起，大開大展，練至緊湊，屈伸自由之功，則升之中，上成矣。

楊班侯

"After succeeding in one’s diligent study of each posture and each form, they should be kept as in one long, continuous, endless cycle called therefore “Long Fist”. The form should not become fixed, it should be feared that it gradually becomes smooth, it should also be feared that it gradually becomes stiff, one should not lose the continuous flexibility. The back and forth movement of the whole body is the root of the spirit of vitality, the intention and the energy. After a long practice, they will all be linked together naturally and can be used at will. When sparring correctly with an opponent, if the four hands are suitable, they will be first, this is originated from the eight doors and the five steppings. Variating the four hands, turning and coiling with the four hands, advance and retreat with the four hands, keep the central equilibrium with the four hands, go up and down with these four hands, harmonize the three powers with these four hands. Start from the basic four hands of “Long Fist”, open and extend widely until they become compact and tight. This bending and extending freely as wished is the achievement of a higher level of skill."

Based on the translation by 楊俊敏 Yang Jwing Ming presented in the book 太極拳楊氏先哲秘要 Tai Chi Secrets of the Yang Style.