Unification of Jin (勁整) from the Five Key Words (五字訣)

四,曰勁整

一身之勁，練成一家，分清虛實。發勁要有根源。勁起手腳根,主於腰間，形於手指，發於脊背；又要提起全副精神。於彼勁將出未發之際，我勁已接入彼勁，恰好不後不先；如皮燃火，如泉湧出。前進後退，無絲毫散亂，曲中求直，蓄而後發，方能隨手奏效。此謂"借力打人，四兩撥千斤"也。

李亦畬

"Fourh saying: unification of Jin
The whole body Jin when trained becomes one family, substantial and insubstantial are clearly distinguished, and root is a requirement to emitting Jin. Jin raises from the root of the feet, it is led by the waist, expressed by the fingers sent out by the back; it is also required to completely raise the spirit of vitality. As the opponent’s Jin is just about to be emitted my Jin already receives ant enter, at the exact time, no later, no earlier. It is just like the skin being burned by fire, like a spring bubbling up from the ground. Forward, backward, without the slightest disorganization, look for the straight in the curved, store and then emit. Only then it will be smooth and effective. This is called “borrowing the opponent’s force to strike him, and four ounces to repel a thousand pounds”. "

By Lǐ Yìyú (李亦畬), based on the translation by by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu/Li Style (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet

Collection of Qi (氣斂) from the Five Key Words (五字訣)

三,曰氣斂

氣勢散漫，便無含蓄，身易散亂，務使氣斂入脊骨。呼吸通靈,周身罔間。吸，為合為蓄；呼，為開為發。蓋吸則自然提得起，亦擎得人起；呼則自然沉得下，亦放得人出。此是以意運氣，非以力使氣也。

李亦畬

"Third saying: collection of Qi
If the Qi and Jin are disorganized, it is not contained. The body is easily scattered, it is possible from the exterior to make the Qi enter and control the spine. The breathing is smooth, there is no gap in the whole body. To inhale is to gather, it is as storing up; to exhale is to open, it is as emitting. Inhalation naturally lifts (the Qi) allowing the rise (of the spirit of vitality); it can also lift the opponent. Exhalation naturally sink (the Qi) allowing it to keep down; it can also release towards the opponent. This means that Yi guides Qi, one should not use Li to employ Qi."

By Lǐ Yìyú (李亦畬), based on the translation by by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu/Li Style (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet

Agility of the Body (身靈) from the Five Key Words (五字訣)

身靈

身滯則進退不能自如，故要身靈。舉手不可有呆像,彼之力方礙我皮毛，我之意已入彼骨裡，兩手支撐，一氣貫穿。左重則左虛，而右已去；右重則右虛，而左已去。氣如車輪，周身俱要相隨，有不相隨處，身便散亂，便不得力，其病於腰腿求之。先以心使身，從人不從已。後身能從心，由已仍是從人。由己則滯，從人則活。能從人，手上便有分寸；稱彼勁之大小，分釐不錯，權披來之長短，毫發無差；前進後退，處處恰合，工彌久，而技彌精矣。

李亦畬

"Second saying: agility of the body
If the body is stagnant, then one cannot move forward and backward smoothly, this is the reason why it is important for the body to be agile. Raising one’s hand should not look dull. As the opponent’s power just block my skin, my intention has already entered deep in his bones. Both hands support a single thread of unified Qi from beginning to end. If the opponent weights on the left, one voids the left and let the right go; it the opponent weights on the right, one voids the right and let the right go. Qi is like a wheel, each part of the body must follow one another. If one part does not follow, then the body is disorganized, it is not possible to gather force. If one has this problem, then the waist and legs must be investigated. First one uses intention to send instructions to the body to follow the opponent and not follow ones’s will. Afterwards, the body may follow the will, because it still follows the opponent. If one follows oneself, then the movement is sluggish, if one follows the opponent then the movement is lively. If one is able to follow the opponent, then top of the hand is very precise. When one weighs the opponent strength (Jin), one should distinguish the hundredths of it correctly and sense the power’s duration, when sending out there will not be an error even by a hairsbreadth. Going forward and backward, in all respects perfectly coordinated. The longer one works, the finer the skill."

By Lǐ Yìyú (李亦畬), based on the translation by by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu/Li Style (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet

Quiescence of the Mind (心靜) from the Five Key Words (五字訣)

一,曰心靜

心不靜，則不專，一舉手，前後左右全無定向,故要心靜。起初舉動未能由已，要息心體認。隨人所動，隨屈就伸，不丟不頂，勿自伸縮。彼有力我亦有力，我力在先；彼無力我亦無力，我意仍在先。要刻刻留心，挨何處，心要用在何處，須向不丟不頂中討消息。從此做去，一年半載便能施於身。此全是用意，不是用勁。久之，則人為我制，我不為人制矣。

李亦畬

"First saying: quiescence of the mind
If the mind is not quiet, then one is not focused, the strikes back and forth, left and right, will lack precision. Therefore one must be calm. In the beginning the movement fails to follow the mind, it is important to put the mind at rest. Follow the opponent’s movements, follow a curve then stretch; don’t lose, don’t resist; don’t extend or withdraw by yourself. If the opponent is vigourous, I am also vigourous, my power comes first; if my opponent lacks strength, I also let go strength, I still have the intention to come first. One must be focused in every moment; wherever there is contact, the mind must also be; one has to use “don’t lose, don’t resist” to collect information all along. If practiced from now on, in about a year it one will be able to carry this out easily oneself. This is done wholly using Yi (intention) and not using Jin (strength). If practiced for a long time, the opponent will be controlled by me, and not the opposite."

By Lǐ Yìyú (李亦畬), based on the translation by by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu/Li Style (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet

The Secret of Withdraw and Release (撤放密訣)

撤放密訣

一曰擎。擎起彼身借彼力。（中有靈字）
二曰引。引到身前勁始蓄。（中有斂字）
三曰鬆。鬆開我勁勿使屈。（中有靜字）
四曰放。放時腰腳認端的。（中有整字）

李亦畬

"First saying: Raise. Start by raising the hand (deflect) and borrow the force of the opponent’s body. Within there is the word of agility.
Second saying: Pull. Lead the frontal force near one's own body and start storing it. Within there is the word of collecting.
Third saying: Loose. To release the force, relax without bending. Within there is the word of calmness.
Fourth saying: Release. At the time of releasing, the waist and the feet must be accurately coordinated. Within there is the word of precision."

By Lǐ Yìyú (李亦畬), based on the translation by by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Wu/Li Style (太極拳武李氏先哲秘要) and various translations on the internet