拳術如戰術，擊其無備，襲其不意，乘擊而襲，乘襲而擊，虛而實之，實而虛之，避實擊虛，取本求末，出遇衆圍，如生龍活虎之狀，逢擊單敵，以巨炮直轟之勢。
Boxing arts are like combat arts. [Art of War, chapter 7:] “Appear where he does not expect. Attack where he is not prepared.” Attack and surprise. Surprise and attack. When he is empty, fill. When he is full, empty. To “avoid superior force and attack inferior” [AoW, chapter 6] takes care of both the first step and the last. When surrounded, fend them off with all the vigor of a dragon or a tiger. When facing a single attacker, simply obliterate him with your biggest guns.
古人云：能去，能就，能剛，能柔，能進，能退，不動如山岳，難知如陰陽，無窮如天地，充實如太倉，浩渺如四海，眩耀如三光，察來勢之機會，揣敵人之短長，靜以待動，動以處靜，然後可言拳術也。
Previous generations said: “Be able to evade or engage, to harden or soften, to advance or retreat.” “Be as still as a mountain, as confusing as the alternations of the passive and active aspects, as limitless as the universe, as full as a warehouse, as vast as the ocean, as dazzling as the sun, moon, and stars.” “Observe for opportunities presented by his incoming attacks, sizing up his strengths and weaknesses.” “Await movement with stillness. Meet stillness with movement.” You will then be in a position to discuss boxing arts.
要訣云：借法容易，上法難，還是上法最為先。
Here’s a secret: “A technique of borrowing his force is the easy way. A technique of going against his force is difficult. But if you revert to going against his force, the key is to get there first.”
拳打上風，審顧地形，手要急，足要輕，察勢如貓行，心要整，目要淸，身手齊到始成功，手到身不到，擊敵不得妙。手到身亦到，破敵如催草。
Consider the surrounding environment so as to strike from a superior position. Your hands should be quick, but your feet should be light, stepping like a cat stalking its prey. Your mind should be decisive and your gaze should be focused. When your hands and body act in unison, you are sure to win. If your hand arrives but your step does not, your attack on an opponent will not have its fullest effect, but if hand and step arrive at the same time, the defeat of the opponent will be like pushing grass aside.
Excerpt from the translation by Paul Brennan, to be found in the Brennan Translation blog.
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