今夫四肢百骸主於動，而實運以步；步者乃一身之根基，運動之樞紐也。以故應戰，對戰，本諸身。而所以為身之砥柱者，莫非步。隨機應變在於手。而所以為手之轉移者，又在於步。進退反側，非步何以作鼓動之機，抑揚伸縮，非步何以示變化之妙。卽謂觀察在眼，變化在心，而轉彎抹角，千變萬化，不至窮迫者，何莫非步之司命，而要非勉強可致之也。動作出於無心，鼓舞出於不覺，身欲動而步以為之週旋，手將動而步亦早為之催迫，不期然而已然，莫之驅而若驅，所謂上欲動而下自隨之，其斯之謂歟！且步分前後，有定位者，步也。無定位者，亦步也。如前步進，而後步亦隨之，前後自有定位也。若前步作後步，後步作前步，更以前步作後步之前步，後步作前步之後步，前後亦自有定位矣。總之：捶以論勢，而握要者步也。活與不活，在於步，靈與不靈亦在於步。步之為用大矣哉！
For your four limbs and your many bones, your movement is presided over by your stepping. Your step provides the base for your body and the crux for its movement. When fighting with an opponent, it is always the case that you are to use your whole body. But without your step, your body really has nothing to stand on. Adapting according to the situation lies with your hands, but the capacity for your hands to maneuver lies with your stepping.
When advancing or retreating, turning around or to the sides, you will have no vehicle to drive you there unless you step. When raising or lowering, expanding or contracting, you will show no ingenuity of adaptation unless you step. We say that “operations are in your sight and adaptations are in your mind”, and therefore you are to twist and turn in endless variations to stay out of danger, but this cannot happen without the step being in charge. However, it is crucial that you do not try to force this.
The movement begins mindlessly, its motivation arising unconsciously. When your body is about to move forward, your step [with the front foot] turns outward [to prepare]. When your hand is about to move forward, your step [with the rear foot] is already hastening forward. This quality will happen in its own time, arriving without your steering it, and is what is meant by “your upper body is about to move, your lower body naturally goes along with the movement”.
Stepping divides into front and rear, fixed and unfixed. When the front foot advances and the rear foot follows, they are fixed [i.e. front foot remaining forward, rear foot remaining in the rear]. When the front foot becomes the rear foot or the rear foot becomes the front foot, whether it be because of the front foot becoming the rear foot by way of the rear foot stepping forward, or because of the rear foot becoming the front foot by way of the front foot stepping back, they are unfixed [i.e. front foot and rear foot switching roles].
It is always the case in boxing theory that the crucial thing to grasp is the stepping. Whether you are lively or not is a matter of stepping. Whether you are nimble or not is a matter of stepping. The function of stepping is a huge factor.
When advancing or retreating, turning around or to the sides, you will have no vehicle to drive you there unless you step. When raising or lowering, expanding or contracting, you will show no ingenuity of adaptation unless you step. We say that “operations are in your sight and adaptations are in your mind”, and therefore you are to twist and turn in endless variations to stay out of danger, but this cannot happen without the step being in charge. However, it is crucial that you do not try to force this.
The movement begins mindlessly, its motivation arising unconsciously. When your body is about to move forward, your step [with the front foot] turns outward [to prepare]. When your hand is about to move forward, your step [with the rear foot] is already hastening forward. This quality will happen in its own time, arriving without your steering it, and is what is meant by “your upper body is about to move, your lower body naturally goes along with the movement”.
Stepping divides into front and rear, fixed and unfixed. When the front foot advances and the rear foot follows, they are fixed [i.e. front foot remaining forward, rear foot remaining in the rear]. When the front foot becomes the rear foot or the rear foot becomes the front foot, whether it be because of the front foot becoming the rear foot by way of the rear foot stepping forward, or because of the rear foot becoming the front foot by way of the front foot stepping back, they are unfixed [i.e. front foot and rear foot switching roles].
It is always the case in boxing theory that the crucial thing to grasp is the stepping. Whether you are lively or not is a matter of stepping. Whether you are nimble or not is a matter of stepping. The function of stepping is a huge factor.
Excerpt from the translation by Paul Brennan, to be found in the Brennan Translation blog.
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