16 Keyword Theories

十六 字 訣 Sixteen Keyword Principles

來 - lái – come: refers to assessing the enemy’s intent
叫 - jiào – call: refers to inviting and provoking the enemy to react
順 - shùn - move along: yielding to the enemy’s force
送 - song - move against: resisting the enemy’s force
提 - tí – lift: diverting the enemy’s force upward
拿 - ná – seize: holding and locking the enemy’s joints
封 - fēng – seal: refers to pressing down the enemy’s force and trapping the hands
閉 - bì – close: refers to closing off the centerline from the enemy’s attacks
粘 - zhān – sticking: refers to contacting and bridging
黏 - nián – cling: refers to listening and following
帮 - bāng – help: refers to left and right-handed linked techniques
贴 - tiē – attach: refers to crowding and close contact techniques
勾 - gōu – hook: refers to parrying the enemy’s wrist with a hook hand
摟 - lōu – grab: refers and grabbing and holding the enemy’s arm
採 - cai – pluck: refers to jerking and unbalancing
掛 - guà – suspend: refers to redirecting and suspending the enemy’s arm