Eight Methods and Five Steps of Taiji Quan
太极拳过去又被称为太极十三势，即由八法和五步构成。八法是指：掤、捋、挤、按、採、挒、肘、靠；五步是指：进、退、顾、盼、定。
Taiji Quan was called Taiji Thirteen Postures，which was composed of eight methods and five steps.The eight methods refer to：ward-off，roll-back，pressing，push-down，pull-down，splitting，elbowing，leaning；and five steps refer to：stepping forwards，stepping backwards，glancing fight，glancing left，and fixing in the center.
（一）八法（即八种劲法） Eight Methods（Eight Methods of Force）
1.掤劲 Warding-off Force
掤劲是向上向前之劲。掤劲似围墙，意御敌于门外，用于攻防和走化，是太极拳中最主要的劲法，故列八法之首。太极拳处处要有掤意，要求两臂具有一种圆撑力，这种圆撑力是由内向外的膨胀力，在任何情况下均有一定的弹性。
The warding-off force means the up and forwards force.The warding-off force is like a wall that blocks the enemy out.It is used for defending and neutralizing，which is the main force of Taiji Quan，so as to be listed the first of the eight methods.Taiji Quan has many warding-off forces，which requires that two aims shall have the circular supporting force.The force is the expansion force from the inside to the outside and being elastic under any conditions，which has certain elasticity under any circumstance.
2.捋劲 Roll-back Force
捋劲是根据对方的来劲，进行走化，在太极拳中为化劲。捋时前面一个手，劲点在近腕部的尺骨处，轻贴在对方的肘部，后面一个手劲点在掌心或掌背，接触在对方的腕部处，两手相距对方一小臂间距离。它可以根据对方外力的变化情况，向自身侧面斜线走化。因势利导，化开对方之劲，然后可变着进击。
The roll-back force is to neutralize according to the opponent's force，or neutralizing force in Taiji Quan.In the roll-back force，the force point of the front hand is at the ulna near wrist，putting it at the elbow of the opponent，and the force point of the behind hand is at palm or the back of the hand，putting it at the wrist of the other's.The distance of two hands is that of forearm of the opponent.It can change in accordance with the force of the opponent，neutralize towards the side of the body and neutralize the force to attack.