八卦掌三十六歌訣/Baguazhang Sanshiliu Gejue – Baguazhang’s Thirty six Song Secrets: Part 8

歌二十六/Song Twenty six

力要剛兮勁要柔,剛柔偏重功難收。 　過剛必折真物理,優柔太盛等於休。

The Li must be Hard & the Jin must be Soft, overemphasizing either Hard or Soft makes the Skill difficult to get.

That excess Hardness will certainly break is real physics, while the flourishing of excess Softness is tantamount to retiring.

歌二十七/Song Twenty seven

剛柔相濟是何言,剛柔相輔總無難。 　剛柔當用乾坤手,掀天揭地海波瀾。

What is the saying about the mutual aid of Hard & Soft? Hard & Soft, when mutually assisting each other, have never known difficulty.

Hard & Soft should use Qian & Kun Hands, allowing you to stir up Heaven, raise the Earth, & cause billowing waves in the Ocean.

歌二十八/Song Twenty eight

人剛我柔是正方,我剛人柔法亦良。 　剛柔相濟腰求勝,解此糾紛步法強。

He is Hard & I am Soft is the main method, I am Hard & He is Soft is also a good method.

Seek victory in the waist when Hard & Soft mutually aid, superior Footwork dissolves the conflict.

歌二十九/Song Twenty nine

步法動時腰先提,收縮合宜顯神奇。 　足欲動時腰不動,踉蹌邁去誤時機。

When the Footwork moves the waist rises first, pulling back when appropriate is clearly magical.

If your foot wishes to move when the waist is motionless, your stumbling strides will miss the opportunity.

歌三十/Song Thirty

轉身變法步莫長,擦地而行莫要慌。 　看准來勢方伸手,巧女穿針穩柔剛。

In the Turning Body Changing Method the steps are not long, brush the ground while moving without losing your head.

Observe the incoming patterns then extend your hands, like a skilled woman threading a needle, steady, soft, & firm.