夫拳術之為用，氣與勢而已矣。然而氣有強弱，勢分剛柔，氣強者取乎勢之剛，氣弱者取乎勢之柔，剛者以千鈞之力而扼百鈞，柔者以百鈞之力而破千鈞，尚力尚巧，剛柔之所以分也。然剛柔旣分，而發用亦自有別，四肢發動，氣行諸外，而內持靜重，剛勢也。氣屯於內，而外現輕和，柔勢也。用剛不可無柔，無柔則還遶不速。用柔不可無剛，無剛則催逼不捷。剛柔相濟，則粘，遊，連，隨，騰，閃，折，空，掤，攄，擠，捺。無不得其自然矣。剛柔不可偏用，用武豈可忽耶。
Applying boxing skills is simply a matter of energy and posture. Energy divides into strong and weak. Posture divides into hard and soft. Those with a strong energy incline toward postures of hardness. Those with a weak energy incline toward postures of softness. Hardness uses a thousand pounds of force to defeat a hundred. Softness uses a hundred pounds of force to defeat a thousand. This difference between emphasizing force or emphasizing skill is the reason we distinguish between hardness and softness.
Once this distinction is clear, there is a further distinction as to how we express them during movement. When energy flows outward and there is a calm solidity maintained within [i.e. motion outside, stillness inside], that is a posture of hardness. When energy gathers inward and there is a delicate mildness shown outwardly [motion inside, stillness outside], that is a posture of softness.
When using hardness, it must not be completely without softness, for if there is no softness at all, actions of coiling will lack swiftness. When using softness, it must not be completely without hardness, for if there is no hardness at all, actions of crowding will lack decisiveness. With hardness and softness properly complementing each other, the actions of sticking, adhering, connecting, following, agitating, evading, folding, emptying, warding off, rolling back, pressing, and pushing will all be executed with naturalness. You cannot decide to use only hardness or only softness. You have to have both. To apply martial techniques, this point must not be ignored.
Once this distinction is clear, there is a further distinction as to how we express them during movement. When energy flows outward and there is a calm solidity maintained within [i.e. motion outside, stillness inside], that is a posture of hardness. When energy gathers inward and there is a delicate mildness shown outwardly [motion inside, stillness outside], that is a posture of softness.
When using hardness, it must not be completely without softness, for if there is no softness at all, actions of coiling will lack swiftness. When using softness, it must not be completely without hardness, for if there is no hardness at all, actions of crowding will lack decisiveness. With hardness and softness properly complementing each other, the actions of sticking, adhering, connecting, following, agitating, evading, folding, emptying, warding off, rolling back, pressing, and pushing will all be executed with naturalness. You cannot decide to use only hardness or only softness. You have to have both. To apply martial techniques, this point must not be ignored.
Excerpt from the translation by Paul Brennan, to be found in the Brennan Translation blog.
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