第七章 七、要論
頭為六陽之首，而為周身之主，五官百骸，莫不惟此是賴，故頭不可不進也，手為先行，根基在膊，膊不進而手則却而不前矣，此所以膊貴于進也，氣聚中腕，機關在腰，腰不進，而氣則餒而不實矣，此所以腰貴于進也，意貫周身，運動在步，步不進而意則堂然無能為矣，此所以步必取其進也，以及上左必須進右，上右必須進左，其為七進，孰非所以著力之地歟，而要之未及其進，合周身而毫無關動之意，一言其進，統全體而俱無抽扯游移之形。
岳飛
"[1 – head] Your head is the source of the six active meridians and is the commander of your whole body, from senses to bones. There is no part that does not rely on it, therefore the head must advance.
[2&3 – hand & forearm] The hand is the first to go forth, but it is rooted in the forearm. If the forearm does not advance, the hand cannot go forward. This is why it is important for the forearm to advance.
[4&5 – energy & waist] Energy gathers in the wrist, but its engine lies in the waist. If the waist does not advance, the energy will not have enough energy to manifest. This is why it is important for the waist to advance.
[6&7 – intent & step] Intent courses through the whole body, but movement lies in the stepping. If the step does not advance, the intent is unable to proceed. This is why it is essential for the step to advance. Further, when going forward with your left, you must advance your right, and when going forward with your right, you must advance your left.
These are the seven parts that advance. Which of them is not therefore involved in the effort? The key is that before you advance, you unify your whole body so there is not the slightest notion of any isolated action. When you then decide to advance, no part is truantly doing its own thing."
Excerpt from the translation by Paul Brennan of "The Art of Xingyi Boxing" (形意拳術) by Lǐ Jiànqiū(李劍秋), to be found in the Brennan Translation blog.