要訣云：操演時面前如有人，對敵時有人如無人。面前手來不見手，胸前肘來不見肘。手起足要落，足落手要起。
Here are some secrets: “When practicing, there seems to be an opponent in front of you. When fighting, it is as though no one is there.” “Do not fixate on a hand heading toward your face as being a hand nor an elbow heading toward your chest as being an elbow [instead focusing on the opponent as a whole].” “Once your hand rises up, your foot should be coming down. Once your foot comes down, your hand should be rising up.”
先動為師，後動為弟，能教一思進，莫教一思退。胆欲大而心欲小，運用之妙，存乎一心而已。一而運乎二氣，行乎三節，現乎四梢，統乎五行。時時操演，朝朝運化，始而勉强，久而自然。拳術之道學，終於此而已矣。
The one who moves first becomes the teacher. The one who moves after becomes the student. If you can be taught, you will want to advance. If you cannot be taught, you will want to retreat. Your courage should expand, but your mind should focus. Skillful application is entirely a matter of concentration. Starting from the core principle, wield the two energies, move the three sections, display the four antennas, unite the five elements, and so on. Constantly practice, daily transform. In the beginning, there is effort. After a long time, there is naturalness. The way of boxing arts is nothing more than this.
Excerpt from the translation by Paul Brennan, to be found in the Brennan Translation blog.
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