Féng Zhiqiáng (馮自強) demonstrating the Second Routine of the Old Frame (老架二路) or Cannon Fist (炮捶) of Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan (陳式太極拳)

Introduction from Foundation (基礎)Introdução aos Fundamentos (基礎)

基礎

太極拳以拳架為體，以推手為用。在最初盤架時，基礎最關重要。其姿勢務求正確而中正安舒，其動作必須緩和而輕靈圓活。此繫入門之徑。學者循序而進，不致枉費功夫，而得其捷徑也。

"Taijiquan makes use of postures as the system and of pushing hands as the application. The beginning is the time to build the frame, the foundation is the most important aspect. One should seek an accurate posture, centered, upright, tranquil and comfortable. The movements must be slow, light, agile, round and alive. This is the path for the entry gate. The student should abide by this order to advance. In this way he is not likely to work in vain and progress quickly."

By Wú Gōngzǎo (吳公藻), based on the translation by by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu Style (太極拳吳氏先哲秘要).

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De Wú Gōngzǎo (吳公藻), baseado na tradução de Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) apresentada no livro Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu Style (太極拳吳氏先哲秘要).

Thirty-fourth Secret Song (歌訣三十四) from the The Thirty-Six Songs of Baguazhang (八卦掌三十六歌) Trigésima Quarta Canção Secreta (歌訣三十四) das Trinta e Seis Canções do Bāguàzhăng (八卦掌三十六歌)

歌訣三十四

伸手不見前掌伸，
又無油松照彼身，
收縮眼皮努睛看，
底盤掌使顯神奇。

"When extending the hand one cannot see the front palm stretching,
And there is no light to illuminate the opponent’s body,
Contract the eyelids to exert the eyeballs to see,
The palm at the bottom portion enables the miracle."

Based on the translations by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) and Liang Shou You (梁守渝) in "Baguazhang - Theory and Applications" (峨嵋八卦掌) and by Frank Allen and Tina Chunna Zhang in "The Whirling Circles of Ba Gua Zhang"

Early Spring (早春圖) by Guō Xī (郭熙)

The Taiji Circle (太極圈) by Yáng​ Bān​hóu​ (楊班侯)

太極圈

退圈容易進圈難，不離腰頂後與前。
所難中士不離位，退易進難仔細研。
此為動功非站定，倚身進退並比肩。
能如水磨摧急緩，雲龍風虎象周旋。
要用大盤從此覓，久而久之出天然。

楊班侯

"It is easy to retreat from the circle and hard to enter it; one should not part from the waist, the crown of the head, and the back united with the front.
The most difficult is to keep the earth center without losing its position; retreating is easy and advancing is hard, this should be studied carefully.
This is because one is in movement and not stationary; one relies upon the advance and retreat of the body and maintain it at level with the opponent’s.
One should be able to turn like a water mill, fast or slow; the shapes of the cloud dragon and the wind tigers revolve in circles.
If one wishes to apply the heavenly circle, its search must start immediately; over a long time it will become natural. "

Based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Yang Style (太極拳楊氏先哲秘要)