《拳经总歌》全文

纵放屈伸人莫知，诸靠缠绕我皆依。 劈打推压得进步，搬撂横采也难敌。 钩棚逼揽人人晓，闪惊取巧有谁知？ 佯输诈走谁云败，引诱回冲致胜归。 滚拴搭扫灵微妙，横直劈砍奇更奇。 截进遮拦穿心肘，迎风接步红炮捶； 二换扫压挂面脚，左右边簪庄跟腿； 截前压后无缝锁，声东击西要熟识； 上笼下提君须记，进攻退闪莫迟迟。 藏头盖面天下有，攒心剁肋世间稀。 教师不识此中理，难将武艺论高低。

I used ChatGPT to translate the above, however there are some errors in the translation as expected.

The Taiji Classic:

The movements of bending and stretching are imperceptible; In all techniques, one must rely on entanglement (Should meant Silk Reeling Energy here. A better translation should be I will follow or adhere to coiling and entangling against me for 诸靠缠绕我皆依). To strike, push, and press forward have to move your step (Note The ChatGPT translated to progress, as in Chinese, 进步 has 2 meaning, 1) progress. 2) literally stepping forward) . To lift, deflect, and overturn is to resist. The hook and the encircling embrace are well-known; The feint and the surprise are known to few. Feigning defeat, luring the enemy to pursue, One can then turn the tables and emerge victorious.

The rolling, locking, and sweeping techniques are subtle and profound; The horizontal and vertical chops are wondrous to behold. Cutting in and blocking, penetrating the heart and striking the elbow, Facing the wind and matching steps with the red cannon fist; Exchanging sweeping and pressing, hanging the leg over the face, Zhuang and Gen legs to the left and right sides; Blocking in front and pressing from behind, locking seamlessly, Attacking from the east and striking from the west requires familiarity.

The techniques of lifting and trapping are essential; Do not hesitate to attack or retreat. Covering the head and hiding the face are common tactics, The accumulation of power and the destruction of ribs are rare. Those who do not understand the principles behind these techniques, Cannot truly discuss the merits of martial arts.

This classic showed that important principles using Taiji as a martial art.

Detailed translation for first 2 sentences 纵放屈伸人莫知，诸靠缠绕我皆依

These two sentences talk about strategy, including tactics. “Stretching and releasing” refers to the body, footwork, and hand techniques rotating without restrictions on direction, angle, extension or contraction, and the force can be either stretched or released without any constraints. It is a tactic that makes opponents unable to predict the movements of the Tai Chi practitioner.

“Knowing” and “not knowing” are essential in understanding the opponent. Observing the opponent’s outward appearance is one way to know them. The Tai Chi practitioner observes the opponent’s position in relation to their own, the stance of their feet, the direction of their body movement, and where they focus their gaze. The practitioner should learn to detect the opponent’s movements from these observations and respond appropriately, following the principle of “if they do not move, I do not move” while waiting for an opportunity to strike.

To make others unable to anticipate their movements, Tai Chi practitioners must first understand themselves. They must understand the movements of their forms and how they change in specific situations. They must also be able to change directions and respond appropriately to the opponent’s movements.

The “coiling” movements of Chen-style Tai Chi are not just limited to stretching and releasing; they also involve spiral-like entanglements that are unpredictable, making it impossible for the opponent to anticipate.