Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

先在心,後在身,腹鬆淨,氣歛入骨,神舒體靜,刻刻存心. 切記一動無有不動,一靜無有不靜.

武禹襄

"First the intention, then the body; the abdomen is completely relaxed; the Qi condenses into the bone; the Spirit is comfortable and the body is calm; this should be engraved in one’s mind. One shall remember that if one part moves, nothing remains immobile; if one part is still, there is nothing that moves."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

彼不動,己不動,彼微動,己先動,似鬆非鬆,將展未展,勁斷意不斷.

武禹襄

"The opponent does not move, one does not move; the opponent movels slightly, one moves first. One appears loose, without being loose; one shall extend and is not yet extended. The Jin snaps, the intention is continuous."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

先求開展,後求緊湊,可臻於縝密矣.

武禹襄

"First seek to expand, then seek to compact, this way one may approach subtlety."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

心為令,氣為旂,腰為纛.

武禹襄

"The intention is like an order, the Qi is like the message, the waist is like the banner."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

氣以直養而無害,勁以曲蓄而有餘.

武禹襄

"The use of Qi is reasoable cultivation, in this way it is harmless; the use of Jin is to be coiled and stored up, in this way one has it in abundance."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

極柔軟,然後極堅剛.能呼吸,然後能靈活.

武禹襄

"Extremely soft, then extremely hard. If one is able to breath properly it is possible to be nimble."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

往復須有摺疊,進退須有轉換.

武禹襄

"In going back and forth there must be folding and mutual entwining. In advancing and retreating there must be variation and transformation."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

收即是放,放即是收,斷而復連.

武禹襄

"To collect is to release, to release is to collect; join snap and return (to the original state)."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

力由脊發,步隨身換.

武禹襄

"Power is emitted from the spine; steps follow the transformations of the body."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

曲中求直,蓄而後發.

武禹襄

"Look for the straight within the curved, accumulate then emit."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

蓄勁如張弓,發勁如放箭.

武禹襄

"Accumulate Jin like drawing a bow, emit Jin like releasing an arrow."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

靜如山嶽,動若江河.

武禹襄

"Still like a mountain, move like a river."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

形如搏兔之鶻,神似捕鼠之貓.

武禹襄

"The external form is like a falcon seizing a rabbit, the spirit is like a cat catching a mouse."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

行氣如九曲珠,無微不到.運勁如百鍊鋼,無堅不摧.

武禹襄

"Circulate Qi as if threading through nine curved pearls, not even the tiniest won’t be reached. Apply power (Jin) as if it was steel refined a hundred times, there is no stronghold one cannot overcome."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

發勁須沉著鬆淨,專注一方.立身須中正安舒支撐八面.

武禹襄

"In order to emit power (Jin), one must be calm, collected and relaxed, concentrated in a single direction. The standing body must be centered, straight and serene, so you one handle the eight directions."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

精神能提得起，則無遲重之虞。所謂頂頭懸也。
意氣須換得靈，乃有圓活之妙。所謂變轉虛實也。

武禹襄

"If one is able to raise the spirit of vitality, then there is no worry of being slow or clumsy. This is also called the top of the head is suspended. Yi (Intention) and Qi must exchange quickly; so the wonderful liveliness of the circle is present. This is also called the substantial and the insubstantial can transform in each other."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.

Excerpt from Important Explanations for the Accomplishment of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢行功要解) by Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄)

以心行氣，務令沉著，乃能收歛入骨。
以氣運身，務令順遂，乃能便利從心。

武禹襄

"One uses the Xin (mind) to conduct the Qi: the mind shall be calm, steady, therefore the Qi can condense into the bones. Because of the Qi the body moves, the Qi makes the movement smooth, therefore the body can easily comply with the mind."

By Wǔ Yǔxiāng (武禹襄), based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu & Li Styles (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet.