練形意拳術有三層之呼吸/Lian Xingyi Quanshu You San Ceng Zhi Huxi – Training Xingyi’s Boxing Art Has Three Layers of Breathing

第一層練拳術之呼吸，將舌捲回，頂住上 ，口似開非開，似合非合，呼吸任其自然，不可著意於呼吸，因手足動作合於規矩，是為調息之法則，亦即練精化氣之功夫也。

The First Layer of training the Boxing Art’s breathing is to take the tongue & roll it back, thrusting it up, the mouth seems open but not open, closed but not closed, let things take their course with the breathing, you cannot manifest Intent in breathing. If you cause the hand & foot motions to accord with the establish standards it will serve to tune breathing to the rules, this is “Train Jing to Change Qi” Gongfu.

第二層練拳術之呼吸，口之開合、舌頂上等規則照前，惟呼吸與前一層不同。前者手足動作是調息之法則，此是息調也。前者口鼻之呼吸，不過借此以通乎內外也。此二層之呼吸著意於丹田之內呼吸也。又名胎息。是為練氣化神之理也。

The Second Layer of training the Boxing Art’s breathing is the Mouth opens & closes, the tongue Thrusts up etc, all the rules are the same as previously, only the breathing is different from the First Layer. Formerly, the motion of the hands & feet were used to tune breathing to the rules, this is Tuning the Breathing. Formerly, the nose & mouth breathed, but this is just a pretext to connect the Inner & Outer. This Second Layer of Breathing manifests Intent while breathing from the Dantian. It is also called Embryonic Breathing. This is “Train Qi to Change Shen” Principle.

第三層練拳術之呼吸，與上兩層之意又不同。前一層是明勁，有形於外，二層是暗勁，有形於內。此呼吸雖有而若無，勿忘勿助之意思，即是神化之妙用也。心中空空洞洞，不有不無，非有非無，是為無聲無臭，還虛之道也。此三種呼吸為練拳術始終本末之次序，即一氣貫通之理，自有而化無之道也。

The Third Layer of training the Boxing Art’s breathing is like the previous Two Layers but its Intent is different. Formerly, the First Layer is Ming Jin, & is shaped from outside, the Second Layer is An Jin, & is shaped from within. This breathing seems to exist & yet not exist, don’t forget but don’t assist it is the idea, this will approach this Spirit Transformation & its wonderful application. The mind holds extreme emptiness, not having but not lacking, not existing but not lacking-existence, it is without sound or smell, even more empty is its Dao. These three types of breathing are the sequence for training the Boxing Art from beginning to end. Its principle is One Qi Threaded Together, its Dao is To Have & Transform Lack.