要訣云：捶自心出。拳隨意發，總要知已知彼，隨機應變。
Here’s a secret: “A punch starts from your mind, the fist following the path of your intention. You should always know both yourself and your opponent, and respond according to the situation.”
上中下一氣把定，身手足規距繩束，手不向空起，亦不向空落，精敏神巧全在活。
Above, middle, and below should have an energy between them that is kept consistent. Body, hands, and feet should be bound together by acting in coordination. Though your hands should not rise and lower meaninglessly, proficient skill is entirely a matter of liveliness.
古人云：心如火藥，手如彈。靈機一動，鳥難逃。身似弓弦，手似箭。弦响鳥落顯奇神。起手如閃電，電閃不及合眸。擊敵如迅雷，雷發不及掩耳。左過右來，右過左來；手從心內發，落向前落。力從足上起，足起猶火作。
Previous generations said: “Mind like gunpowder, fist like a bullet – with just a nudge of the trigger [i.e. with the merest thought], the bird cannot escape. Body like a bow, hand like an arrow – with the thrum of the bowstring, the bird falls like magic.” “Lift your hand like lightning flashing. When lightning flashes, there is no chance to close your eyes. Strike the opponent like thunder clapping. When thunder claps, there is no chance to cover your ears.” “As your left hand goes out, your right hand comes in. As your right hand goes out, your left hand comes in.” “Your fist shoots out from your center and comes down forward heavily, while your foot forcefully lifts and steps quickly through his center like surging fire.”
Excerpt from the translation by Paul Brennan, to be found in the Brennan Translation blog.
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