Ancient Way to Keep Fit Antigos Métodos para Manter a Forma

The book in itself is a beautiful object, what I would classify as an arty book. It contains a rather long list of Qì​gōng (氣功) routines from different times and periods. Its paintings and drawings are well reproducted, it is printed on quality paper, the ensemble is quite a nice catalog of ancient routines.
It should not though be taken for an instructional book. There is no such intention, as far as I see: there are no descriptions of the routines, no details, no additional instructions. I would argue that it is impossible to learn Qì​gōng (氣功) or Internal Martial Arts (内家武術) from any book. This book has no such ambition and is still a good companion, its value is on the historical perspective that it provides.

Este livro é em si mesmo um belo objeto, um livro que tende ao livro de arte. Ele contém uma lista longa de rotinas de Qì​gōng (氣功) de diferentes períodos. As pinturas e desenhos routines são bem reproduzidas, impressas em papel de qualidade, o todo é um catálogo interessante de rotinas antigas.
Entretanto, não se deve confundir este livro com um manual. Pelo que eu vejo, a intenção não existe: não há descrição das rotinas, nenhum detalhe, nenhuma instrução adicional. Na minha opinião é impossível aprender Qì​gōng (氣功) ou Artes Marciais Internas (内家武術). Este livro não tem essa ambição e mesmo assim é interessante, seu valor reside na perspectiva histórica que ele proporciona.

Brennan Translation of Chinese Martial Arts ManualsTraduções de Manuais de Artes Marciais Chinesas por Paul Brennan

If I had the capacity to do so, Brennan Translation

would be the kind of project I would like to do. Freely available, fresh translations of known and lesser-known martial arts manuals, in a very readable, abordable English that covers a large spectre of chinese martial arts.
Paul Brennan says nothing about himself on the site, it is impossible to say if he is a practitioner, on which tradition or just a chinese language entusiast. Whatever his motivations, the site is a must for those interested in the topic.
For the subjects that interests this blog (內家武術 - Internal Martial Arts) the following translations are available at the time of this post:

• 《形意拳術》李劍秋 - The Art of Xingyi Boxing by Li Jianqiu
• 《形意拳術抉微》劉殿琛 - Selected Subtleties of the Xingyi Boxing Art by Liu Dianchen
• 《太極拳勢圖解》許禹生 - Taiji Boxing Postures with Drawings and Explanations by Xu Yusheng
• 《太極拳術》陳微明 - The Art of Taiji Boxing by Chen Weiming
• 《太極劍》陳微明 - Taiji Sword by Chen Weiming
• 《太極答問》附單式練法 - 陳微明 - Answering Questions about Taiji, Including Single Posture Practice Methods - Chen Weiming
• 《太極拳使用法》楊澄甫 - Methods of Applying Taiji Boxing by Yang Chengfu
• 《吳鑑泉氏的太極拳》陳振民　馬岳樑 - The Taiji Boxing of Mr. Wu Jianquan by Chen Zhenmin & Ma Yueliang
• 《太極拳刀劍桿散手合編》陳炎林 - Taiji Compiled: The Boxing, Saber, Sword, Pole, and Sparring by Chen Yanlin

Se eu fosse capaz, Brennan Translation

seria o tipo de projet que eu gostaria de desenvolver. Gratuitas e recentes, estão disponíveis traduções de manuais de artistas marciais conhecidos e menos conhecidos. O inglês é fluído e a coleção cobre um espectro largo de diferentes artes marciais chinesas.
Paul Brennan não nos diz nada sobre ele mesmo no blog, é impossível dizer se ele mesmo é um praticante, de qual tradição, ou se é apenas um apaixonado pela língua chinesa. Quaisquer que forem suas motivações, o site é incontornável para os interessados no assunto.
Para os tópicos de interesse para este blog (內家武術 - Artes Marciais Internas) as traduções seguintes estão disponíveis no momento desta postagem:

• 《形意拳術》李劍秋 - A Arte do Xingyiquan Boxing de Li Jianqiu
• 《形意拳術抉微》劉殿琛 - Seleção de pontos da Arte do Xingyiquan de Liu Dianchen
• 《太極拳勢圖解》許禹生 - Posturas de Taijiquan com Diagramas e Explicações de Xu Yusheng
• 《太極拳術》陳微明 - A Arte do Taijiquan de Chen Weiming
• 《太極劍》陳微明 - Espada de Taiji de Chen Weiming
• 《太極答問》附單式練法 - 陳微明 - Respostas à Questões sobre Taiji, incluindo Métodos de Prática de Posturas Individuais de Chen Weiming
• 《太極拳使用法》楊澄甫 - Métodos de Aplicação de Taijiquan de Yang Chengfu
• 《吳鑑泉氏的太極拳》陳振民　馬岳樑 - O Taijiquan de Wu Jianquan de Chen Zhenmin & Ma Yueliang
• 《太極拳刀劍桿散手合編》陳炎林 - Compilação de Taiji: Mãos Livres, Sabre, Espada, Bastão, e Aplicações de Chen Yanlin

The Entering and Support of Yin and Yang (陰陽入扶論) from the Chang Family Comprehensive Theory of Martial Arts (萇氏武技全書)

陰陽入扶論

練形不外陰陽，陰陽不明從何練起，督脈統領諸陽經，任脈統領諸陰經，故背為陽，腹為陰，二經下交會陰，上會齦交。
俯式為陰勢，卻是入陽氣，益督脈，領諸陽經之氣，盡歸於上之前也；仰式為陽式，卻是入陰氣，益任脈，領諸陰經之氣，盡歸於上之後也。

萇乃周

"Training the physical form is nothing more than yin and yang. If we fail to understand yin and yang, how would one know where to begin our training? The governing vessel (du mai) commands all of the yang channels. The controlling vessel (ren mai) commands all of the yin channels. This is the reason why the back is yang, and the belly is yin. The two channels intersect below at the Perineum (hui yin, CV-1) and above at the Gum Intersection (duan jiao, GV-28).
To look down is a Yin posture, it allows the Yang chi to enter. It benefits the governing vessel. It concentrates the chi of all yang channels, which finishes at the upper front aspect of the body. To look up is a Yang posture and allows the Yin chi to enter. It benefits the controlling vessel, leads the chi of all Yin channels, which finishes at the upper rear aspect of the body."

From the book Chang Family Comprehensive Theory of Martial Arts (萇氏武技全書), by Cháng Nǎizhōu (萇乃周), based on the translations by Douglas Wile in "T'Ai Chi's Ancestors: The Making of an Internal Art" and Marnix Wells in "Scholar Boxer: Chang Naizhou's Theory Of Internal Martial Arts And The Evolution of Tàijíquán"

Large and Small Postures (大小勢) from the Chang Family Comprehensive Theory of Martial Arts (萇氏武技全書)

大小勢

合勢不嫌其小，欲氣合得足也；開勢不嫌其大，欲力發得出也。非徒長身為大，屈身為小。
力是自然之力，故初學必以不著力為是。

萇乃周

"In closing postures one should not mind it being small, they need sufficient unification of qi. In opening postures do one should not mind it being large; they need to release the force. It is not just a matter of expanding the body to make it great or contracting it to make it small.
Power is spontaneous power, for beginners the use of force is necessarily not correct."

From the book Chang Family Comprehensive Theory of Martial Arts (萇氏武技全書), by Cháng Nǎizhōu (萇乃周), based on the translations by Douglas Wile in "T'Ai Chi's Ancestors: The Making of an Internal Art" and Marnix Wells in "Scholar Boxer: Chang Naizhou's Theory Of Internal Martial Arts And The Evolution of Tàijíquán"

Borrowing Qi (借行氣) from the Chang Family Comprehensive Theory of Martial Arts (萇氏武技全書)

借行氣

借行氣者，借人之氣方行而打之也。蓋彼之勢既發，已近我身，尚未落點，我即趁此機會，發我之勢，彼欲退不能，欲攔不及，再無不妙之理。若稍前，則彼尚可退回；稍後，則我已吃虧。所謂後發先至者，此也。如此，則迎機赴節，隨時得宜，不患技之不高矣。諸家所謂將計就計，借力使力，不外此訣。所謂驚戰計，正於此時用之。

萇乃周

"« Borrowing Qi » refers to borrowing the opponent’s Qi to strike the opponent. When the opponent’s strike is just about to land on my body, I take advantage of this to develop my posture, leaving the opponent no opportunity to retreat or to block. There is no mysterious principle. If I make my move prematurely, this allows the opponent time to retreat; if I make my move too late, then we have already been beaten. This is called of “strike second but land first”. In this way, seize opportunities and go into action. If you act at the right time, you need never worry about your lack of skill. This is what is meant by beating somebody at its own game and borrowing strength to apply strength. This is what is called by striking by stratagem at the right opportunity."

From the book Chang Family Comprehensive Theory of Martial Arts (萇氏武技全書), by Cháng Nǎizhōu (萇乃周), based on the translations by Douglas Wile in "T'Ai Chi's Ancestors: The Making of an Internal Art" and Marnix Wells in "Scholar Boxer: Chang Naizhou's Theory Of Internal Martial Arts And The Evolution of Tàijíquán"

Chinese Longsword

Chinese Longsword's explicit mission is to "promote and preserve martial arts ancient wisdoms and knowledge" and "translate ancient Chinese manuals to share it with the world", a mission that it has been accomplishing rather well. The selection of the texts available is very interesting: texts that are not easily reachable for the western practicioner (although some of them can be found in chinese on the internet), in translations that are modern and accessible. The rarity of some of the weapons adressed, like whip (鞭) or shield and wolf brush (牌與狼筅), make the translations already interesting from a historical perspective.
The texts are some centuries old, and refer mostly to shaolin or military manuals. At the time the distinction between internal and external martial arts was starting to brew. For example, the "Boxing Treatise"(拳經) from the "New and effective methods in military science" (紀效新書) by Qī​ Jìguāng (戚繼光) is more or less contemporary to the "Sword Treatise" (劍經) translated by Chinese Longsword, it is also arguably one of the first to adress internal aspects of martial arts.
Even if these are mostly "external" manuals, if one understands the evolution of the internal martial arts, the interest is immediate.

As a note of caution for those looking for ancient sword techniques, the "Sword Treatise" (劍經) is mostly about the staff, as it is seen as the source of techniques for other weapons.

The Song of True Meaning of Tàijíquán (太極拳真義訣) by Lǐ​ Dàozi​ (李道子)

One of the difficulties one may encounter when looking at the texts presented as important for the practice is their cryptic language. It can be understood that some of the inner experiences can only be passed on in poetic form. It is also understood that early texts come from oral traditions tend to come in "songs" or texts that are easier to memorize.
For example, this text has the suggestive name of "The Song of True Meaning of Tai Chi Chuan". It certainly attracts attention also because it is reported by two important authors like Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) and Jou Tsung Hwa (周宗樺). So, definetely something that the serious practicant should pay attention to.
In the other hand, beyond the evocations it brings, it is difficult to have an indication of how it should influence our practices. At least, if it is not commented by the practice with a recognized Master.

太極拳真義訣

無形無象，全身透空。
忘物自然，西山懸磬。
虎吼猿鳴，泉清水靜。
翻江鬧海，盡性立命。

李道子

"No shape, no shadow.
The entire body is transparent as air.
Forget your surroundings and be natural.
Like a stone chime suspended from the West Mountain.
Tigers roaring, monkeys screeching.
Clear fountain, peaceful water.
Turbulent river, stormy ocean.
Develop your whole body and mind to their full extent."

From the book The Tao of Tai Chi Chuan" (太極拳之道), by Jou Tsung Hwa (周宗樺) and "Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan" by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) based on the translations proposed in both books.