Friday, May 20, 2016

Stump like a Mountain; Step like Water. (樁如山嶽,步似水中) from The Real Theory of Baguazhang (八卦掌真理篇) by Jiāng Róngqiáo (薑容樵)

樁如山嶽,步似水中

樁是指靜止性的動作,八卦掌的樁步必須使之像山嶽那樣穩固,似乎任何強大的力量都推它不動似的。步是指活動性的動作,八卦掌的蹚泥步必須使之在穩健之中含著像流水那樣輕快,這樣八卦掌的步法就不是笨重的,也不是浮飄的了。

薑容樵
"“Stump like Mountains” refers to the stationary nature of the movements, Bagua’s “stump step” must resemble the stability of a mountain, if any formidable force push it, it will remain still. “Step like Water” refers to the movable nature of the movement. Within Baguazhang’s “Treading Mud Step” stability it must contain the lightness and speed of flowing water; the footwork should neither be cumbersome nor unstable."

From the book Bāguàzhăng Practice Method (八卦掌練習法), by Jiāng Róngqiáo (薑容樵), based on the translation by Joseph Crandall

Friday, May 13, 2016

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.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Excerpt from The Achivements of the Sage (儒效) in the Xún​zǐ (荀子)

「不闻不若闻之,闻之不若见之,见之不若知之,知之不若行之;学至于行之而止矣。」

孔子
"Not hearing is not as good as hearing, hearing is not as good as seeing, seeing is not as good as knowing, knowing is not as good as acting; true learning continues until it is put into action."

Unless noted otherwise, all quotations of classical texts come from the Chinese Text Project. This translation was found in this blog.

Friday, April 29, 2016

The Fingers are separated, the Palms are concave; swing the Arms, the Shoulders are level. (指分掌凹,擺肱平肩) from The Real Theory of Baguazhang (八卦掌真理篇) by Jiāng Róngqiáo (薑容樵)

指分掌凹,擺肱平肩

指分是將五指分開,不要並擺。掌凹是使掌心向裡涵空凹攏。擺肱是在轉行時兩臂必須極力向圓心的一面擺動,不可有向前推的動作。平肩是兩肩在轉行時或轉身換掌時都必須保持端正平舒,不要有一起一落的現象。

薑容樵
“Fingers are separated” means that the 5 fingers are apart, one muste not hold them together. “Palms are concave” means that the hollow of the palms are contained towards the inside, to draw the emptiness towards a concave form. “Swing the Arms” means that when walking the circle, both arms must at all cost be directed clearly towards the center of the circle; there should not be a forward pushing motion. “The shoulders are Level” means that in walking the circle, turning the body or changing the palms, one must maintain an upright, level, and relaxed posture; one must not have the appearance of one shoulder left behind."

From the book Bāguàzhăng Practice Method (八卦掌練習法), by Jiāng Róngqiáo (薑容樵), based on the translation by Joseph Crandall

Friday, April 22, 2016

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.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Excerpt from Report of Liú Qílán (劉奇蘭) Sayings (述劉奇蘭先生言) in Boxing Concepts Explained Authentically (拳意述真)

一則

劉奇蘭先生云。形意拳術之道。體用莫分。自己練者為體。行之於彼為用。自己練時。眼不可散亂。或視一極點處。或看自己之手。將神氣定住。內外合一。不可移動。要用之於彼。或看彼上之兩眼。或看彼之中心。或看彼下之兩足。不要站定成式。不可專用成法。或掌或拳。望着就使。起落進退。變化不窮。是用智而取勝於敵也。若用成法。即能勝於人。亦是一時之僥倖耳。所應曉者。須固住自己神氣。不使散亂。此謂無敵於天下也。

郭雲深
"In the method of the Xingyi boxing art, there is no distinction between form and function, except that what you practice on your own is the form and what you do to an opponent is the function.
During solo practice, your eyes cannot be wandering around. Either look to a distant point or toward your own hand. Firmly consolidate your spirit and energy, inside and outside merging into one and never shifting apart.
When acting upon an opponent, you should either watch his eyes above, his middle section, or his feet below. Do not get stuck in an established pattern or focus on using an established method. Whether using palm or fist, observe the reason for it. In lifting and dropping, advancing and retreating, adapt limitlessly. You are thereby using your intelligence and seeking victory based on the opponent. If you use an established method, then you can be defeated by the opponent or even just by bad luck. Knowing this, you must consolidate your spirit and energy, and not let them be in disarray. This is what it means to be invincible."

Excerpt from the translation by Paul Brennan, to be found in the Brennan Translation blog.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Sacrifice the Plum Tree In Place of the Peach Tree (李代桃僵) from the Thirty-Six Stratagems (三十六計)Sacrificar a Ameixeira para Salvar o Pessegueiro (李代桃僵) dos Trinta e Seis Estratagemas (三十六計)

李代桃僵

势必有损,损阴则益阳。
"There are circumstances in which you must sacrifice short-term objectives in order to gain the long-term goal. This is the scapegoat strategy whereby someone else suffers the consequences so that the rest do not. "

Quoted from Chinese Classics and Translations
"Existem circunstâncias onde é necessárion sacrificar objetivos de curto prazo para garantir o objetivo de longo prazo. Esta é a estrégia do bode expiatório onde alguém sofre consequências de maneira que o resto não sofra."

Traduzido à partir de Chinese Classics and Translations

Friday, April 8, 2016

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.