Lively (活) from Foundation (基礎)Redondo (圓) de Fundamentos (基礎)

活

活者，靈活之謂。無笨重遲滯之意。上述各節貫通後，則伸屈開合、進退俯仰，無不自由。所謂能呼吸，而後能靈活也。

"Lively means agile. There is no clumsiness to block the intention. As mentioned in the paragraphs above, after every segment is linked up extend and bend, open and close, advance and retreat, lower and raise, will all be done freely. This means that from the ability to breathe comes agility."

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).

""

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).

Round (圓) from Foundation (基礎)Redondo (圓) de Fundamentos (基礎)

圓

圓者，圓滿之謂。每一姿勢一動作， 務求圓滿，而無缺陷。則能完整一氣，而免凸凹斷續之病。推手運用各勁，非圓不靈。能圓則活，處處能圓，則無往不利。

"Round means consummate. Every posture is a complete action, in which one engages to be consummate and without flaws, and therefore be able to unify the movement, and avoid the flaw of the intermittent concave and convex. It is put to use in each and every Jin in Tuishou, if it is not round it is not effective. If the movement can be round, it is lively. If every movement is round, then one will be always successful."

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).

""

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).

Agile (靈) from Foundation (基礎)Ágil (靈) de Fundamentos (基礎)

靈

靈者，靈敏之謂。由輕虛而鬆沉，由鬆沉而粘黏。能粘黏，即能連隨；能連隨，而後方能靈敏。則可悟及不丟不頂矣。

"Agile means quick. From light and insubstantial one gets to be loose and sunken, and from loose and sunken to stick and adhere. If one can stick and adhere then one can connect and follow and from there become agile. With agility 'no losing and no resisting' can be understood."

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).

""

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).

Lightness (輕) from Foundation (基礎)Leveza (輕) de Fundamentos (基礎)

輕

輕者，輕虛之意。然忌漂浮。在盤架時，動作要輕靈而和緩。往復乃能自如，久之自生鬆活之勁，進而生粘黏之勁。故輕字是練太極拳下手之處，入門之途徑。

"Lightness means emptiness. The correct way is to avoid to float and drift. During practice of the form the movements are required to be agile and gentle. It can be then be performed back and forth with ease. After a long time looseness and liveliness will be spontaneously generated, and then stick and adhere jins will also be generated. Therefore the word “Lightness” is the place to start a Taijiquan practice and the way to enter the door."

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).

""

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).

Relax (舒) from Foundation (基礎)Relaxar (舒) de Fundamentos (基礎)

舒

舒者，舒展之謂。故雲先求開展，後求緊湊。初學盤架時，姿勢動作，務求開展，使全體關節，節節舒展之。然非故意用力伸張筋骨，於自然之中，徐徐鬆展，久之自然鬆活沉著矣。

"To relax means to extend. Traditionally it is said that that first one seeks to open and extend and later to close and tighten. At first, when learning the form, the aim of the postures and movements is to open and extend in order to allow all joints to open up progressively. Deliberately exert physical force in extend bones and muscles is not the correct way. They should extend naturally from the interior, gradually relaxing and spreading out. After a long period the postures will relaxed, alive and steady."

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).

""

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).

Calm (安) from Foundation (基礎)Calma (安) de Fundamentos (基礎)

安

安者，安然之意。切忌牽強。由自然之中，得其安適，乃無氣滯之弊，而能氣遍身軀矣。此由於姿勢安穩、動作均勻、呼吸平和、神氣鎮靜所致。

"Calm means the mind is in peace. One should avoid by all means to be coercive and forceful in the movements. If one follows one’s inner nature, the movements will be quiet and comfortable. The problem of stagnant Qi will not exist and the Qi can reach the entire body. This is due to the postures being peaceful and steady, the movements being uniform, the breathing being gentle and the spirit and the Qi are calm and quiet."

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).

""

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).

Upright (正) from Foundation (基礎)Centro (中) de Fundamentos (基礎)

正

正者，姿勢端正。每一姿勢，務宜端正，而忌偏斜。然各種姿勢，各不相同，或仰，或俯，或伸，或屈，非盡中正。是以其發勁，及其用意之方向，而求其重心。蓋重心為全體樞紐。重心立，則開合靈活自如，重心不立，則開合失其關鍵。如車軸為車輪之樞紐，若使車軸置於偏斜，而不适於車身之重心處，則車輪轉動，進退失其效用矣。故拳架之姿勢，務求正确，則重心平穩，要不自牽扯其重心，而辨別虛實也。

"Upright means that the postures are correct. It means that every posture should be appropriate and upright, no posture should be given up and slant. Differente types of postures exist that have nothing in common with each other, they face upward, look down, extend, bend, at the end not centered and upright. The emission of Jin and the direction of the intention request the weight center. This is because the weight center is the main hinge of the entire body. Once the weight center is established, then opening and closing are nimble and unconstrained; if it is not established, opening and closing will miss its pivotal point. It is like the axle, who is the major hinge of the wheel; if it is out of alignement and not located at the weight center of the car, then the wheels with turn back and forth without being effective. This is why the frame of the boxing is the posture, it is important that it is correct so the weight center is steady; otherwise the weight center will be shifted and it will be impossible to differentiate the insubstantial and the substantial."

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).

""

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).

Center (中) from Foundation (基礎)Centro (中) de Fundamentos (基礎)

中

中者，心氣中和，神清氣沉。其根在腳，即是立點，重心繫於腰脊，所謂命意源頭在腰隙。精神含斂於內，不表於外，乃能中定沉靜矣。

"Center means that the state of mind is neutral, the spirit is clear and the Qi is sunk. The root is in the feet, this is the key point of standing, the weight center is linked to the waist and spine, it is said that life has its source on the waist. Vitality is contained internally, it does not manifest externally, in this way there is a quiet central equilibrium."

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).

""

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).

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).

""

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).