Here’s an old Taijiquan text about Fali (Releasing the power) and some other things. This is actually probably the easiest translation I’ve ever done because I had the memory of JB quoting it, with Matt translating on the fly. Even though it’s from Taijiquan, older Taijiquan practitioners used to execute a Fali in the same manner that we use, but most of them died without passing the skill down, so even though it’s rare to find it still in Taijiquan, the text is still very relevant to us.
Note— My commentary and clarifications are inside the brackets [ ]
My translations are inside the { }
Also not that the terms ‘Li’ and ‘Jin’ are interchangeable in this context. Jin is just a way to describe a refined strength or power. It’s kind of like a kid who’s in the process of learning how to shoot the basketball into the hoop from the free throw line and we would say that he’s using Li. Versus the professional NBA player who’s using Jin to shoot from the free throws.
十三势行功心解 13 Powers (Shi)
武禹襄 by Wu Yuxiang attributed to Wang Zong-Yue
以心行气。务令沉着。乃能收敛入骨。以气运身。务令顺遂。乃能便利从心。
精神能提得起。则无迟重之虞。所谓顶头悬也。意气须换得灵。乃有圆活之趣。所谓变转虚实也。
[Jing is normally below our Shen but through cultivation and practice the Jing can control, or be above our Shen and control it's rising upward without getting away from our control. But really it just means Mental Focus, slightly different than the meaning of our ‘Yi’ (Intent), and like our Yi our Jingshen can be strengthened through martial practice.]
{Jingshen (Mental Drive or Mental Focus) can lift body won't be too slow and heavy, nor too excited. It feel as if the crown of the head is hanging from a string. The 'Yi' and 'Qi' move about quickly. The body will be lively like a bouncing ball [like the ball used in 蹴鞠 cùjū (ancient Chinese kickball/soccer)]. Yet able to change and turn in order to adapt to the true situation [unlike the ball that will just bounce carelessly].}
发劲须沉着松净。专主一方。立身须中正安舒。支撑八面，行气如九曲珠。
{Fajin (Issuing Force) must be stable yet moving, pliant yet crisp. It should be focused into a single direction. When standing the body must be kept 'Zhong Zheng' (Focused and Precise) [per all the IMA rules and requirements] in order to stay calm and adaptable [after 'Fa' issuing]. To brace /support outward in all eight directions there must be no place in the body that the Qi cannot reach to. [The giant pearl with nine bends going through the center of the pearl story]}
无往不利(气遍身躯之谓)。运劲如百炼钢。无坚不摧。形如搏兔之鹄。神如捕鼠之猫。静如山岳。动如江河。蓄劲如开弓。发劲如放箭。曲中求直。蓄而后发。力由脊发。步随身换。收即是放。断而复连。往复须有折迭。进退须有转换。极柔软。然后极坚刚。能呼吸。然后能灵活。气以直养而无害。劲以曲蓄而有余。心为令。气为旗。腰为纛。先求开展。后求紧凑。乃可臻于缜密矣。
{Not too much, not too little (Meaning Qi is everywhere in your body). Use your power as if it was steel folded a hundred times. Nothing will be as hard, nothing will break it. Your body should look like a Majestic Bird [Bald Eagle] seizing a rabbit. Your spirit should be like a cat capturing a mouse. Be motionless like a Tall mountain peak [where nothing lives]. Suddenly move with the relentless of power of a large river -like the Yangtze River. Store up power as if you were drawing open a bow. Emit power as if you were releasing the string of the bow. Within the 'Curve" of the bow is where you find the power to send the arrow 'Straight'. Storing then Emitting. Power is emitted by the spine. Changing that power is done through the stepping and rest of the body. But [unlike the bow and arrow that must be redrawn and another arrow notched] This Emission of power is gathering. The ending and beginning are continuously linked. Like a piston in a machine it can repeatedly produce power [storing is emitting, emitting is storing]. Entering and Leaving must use 'Zhuanhuan'. [The waist and torso] Must first be pliant and flexible, and then [after the 'Fa' (emission)] it can be solid and strong. Being able to breathe properly will allow you to be agile and lively 'Linghuo'. Allow the air to breathe out naturally and you will not suffer any harm. But this power should be like a singer singing a song, where you always need to keep air in your lungs so that even after singing your longest note you don't gasp for air. Your mind is the commander, your Qi is signaler, and your Waist [Dantian] is what moves your army [the rest of your body]. First work on expanding [all your movements] outward, and only later start bringing everything back in and seek to find perfection in your movements.}
又曰。彼不动。己不动。彼微动。己先动。劲似松非松。将展未展。劲断意不断。又曰。先在心。后在身。腹松气敛入骨。神舒体静。刻刻在心。切记一动无有不动。一静无有不静。牵动往来气贴背。而敛入脊骨。内固精神。外示安逸。迈步如猫行。运劲如抽丝。全身意在精神。不在气。在气则滞。有气者无力。无气者纯刚。气若车轮。腰如车轴。
{It's said that if your opponent is motionless then you remain motionless. When your opponent starts to move, your movement will arrive first. Your attack will appear to be relaxed but it won't be relaxed. It will seem to be overextended but it will not be overextended. The Power may stop but your 'Yi' will continue on. It's said first in the mind then in the body [which has a double meaning for both you and attacking the opponent]. Your guts should be kept relaxed so that your skeleton doesn't start being tense. Your spirit is comforted and your body is calm. This feeling should be ingrained into your mind. Be sure to remember: One part moves, then every part moves, one part stops then every part stops. Lead the movement of going out and coming back by having the Qi follow up and down your back and control it by linking the movement to your backbone. Inside your body your Mental Drive is hard and stern, but outside you only show ease and comfort. Approach the situation like a cat carefully hunting and sneaking up on it's prey. Continuously linking your movements as if you were pulling silk [and not starting and stopping or the thread would break]. Throughout your whole body your 'Yi' should be on your Mental Drive (Shen and Jing), not on your energy [or movement of Qi], as thinking about your Qi then the movement [attack or counterattack] will be too slow and you won't have [the ability to emit] power. And your movement [attack or counterattack] will only be hard as it will be without the natural movement of Qi. The Qi is like the Wheel, you only have to turn it's axle- the waist (Dantian) [and it will naturally follow].}
Note— My commentary and clarifications are inside the brackets [ ]
My translations are inside the { }
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