In each movement the whole body must be light and nimble.  More important still, all movements must be continous.

 

The intrinsic energy or "chi" should circulate actively.  The spirit should be retained internally.

 

Let no part of the movement indicate imperfection neither Over-expanding or caving in--nor should there be any discontinuity.

 

In all movements the inner strength is rooted in the feet, developed in the thights, controlled by the waist, and expressed through the fingers.  From the feet to the thight, to the waist, and to the fingers there must be complete coordination so that whether you are advance or in retreat you will be in a favorable position.  If you find yourself in an unfavorable position, you body will appear scattered and confused, and the fault can be traced to the waist and thights.  In all movement, such as upwards, downwards, forwards, and backwards, the same significance of the waist and thights hold true.

However, ultimately everything depends on one's will or mind, and not on the extrernal appearance of the movements.

In any movement when there is up, there must be down; when there is front, there must be rear; and when there is left, there must be right.  If one wishes to execute an upward movement, it must be preceded by a downward one.  This is like the idea of uprooting an object - the first thing you do is to push it down.  Since the root of the object is lifted, it follows that it is ready to be toppled.

 

The two complementary factors, emptiness and solidness, must be distinctly differentiated.  In each and every inch of movement, these two factors are involved.

 

Every joint of the entire body must be strung together so that the body acts as an integrated unit without the least interruption.  Each movement proceeds inch by inch without gaps or breaks in the continuity.

H.H. Lui