From posture to posture, the power is unbroken

[Anonymous]

Hey guys,

I remember a number of times Bruce has mentioned a quote that went something like “From posture to posture, the power remains unbroken”. He’s usually talking about flowing from movement to movement in your short form. Sometimes he mentions it when he’s talking about opening and closings in Tai Chi.

Does anybody know what the exact quote is? Where does the quote originate from? I think he mentioned it’s from the Tai Chi classics.

Also, does anyone know where I can see the original chinese charecters for this quote?

Janak

[Anonymous]

Hi Janak,

I’m not sure where you’ll find the Chinese version. I’ve seen lots of variation on the language Bruce uses but not that specific sentence.

Paul Brennan has translated a wonderful selection of Chinese martial arts manuals (going back to the 1600’s!) and he includes the characters. You might find it in one of the Tai Ji manuals.

His site is here – https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/ and he has a Tai Ji Classics translation here – https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/the-taiji-classics/

Trevor

[Anonymous]

Thanks Trevor! That page has some clear translations.

I found the quote I was thinking of in Jess’s book. It’s the same one that I’ve heard Bruce mention before

https://books.google.com/books?id=Qc5Bb5xzk2UC&pg=PA165&lpg=PA165&dq=posture to posture the power is unbroken&source=bl&ots=morBzJXXgg&sig=vkhq08JbsrkspiKHY_FzkT4uuSM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=BYrqVMjACdPIsQTT7ILwDQ&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=posture to posture the power is unbroken&f=false

[Anonymous]

Hello Janak,
Haven’t seen you for a couple of years. How are you going?

In the Old Yang Style edition of The EA Training Circle, Bruce looks at this matter on several occasions, when discussing Yang Chengfu’s 10 Principles (“Ten Essentials of Tajiiquan Theory”), specifically when discussing Principle 9, e.g. month 2 Lesson 24 (7:40 min.), and as part of the review of YCF’s principles in Lesson 21 from month 8.
In discussing Principle 9 during month 8, Bruce quotes “From posture to posture, the internal energy is not broken” during his explanation.
He also connects this principle to the theory and methodology of pulling silk during this discussion ( and elsewhere in other lessons).
For me, Bruce’s explanation about these and other principles ( and the methods to put them into practice) in the EATC, are as clear as anyone needs, if they are looking to incorporate both principles and methods into their practice. Regularly, his explanation clears up the “fog” left by other author’s explanatory attempts.

If you are looking for the Chinese characters for the Taijiquan Classics ( to further understand YCF’s 10 Essentials), you can find the characters (and a translation for each), in Louis Swaim’s translation of Fu Zhongwen’s “Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan” (North Atlantic Books) – Jess O’Brien is acknowledged because he “deftly managed the project with heartening enthusiasm”

Best wishes, Paul Parramore

[Author]

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