1. sperm to chi
2. chi to spirit
3. spirit to emptiness

The way to mysterious(hua) energy is through the obvious and concealed energies. To get obvious energy you must be centered and balanced. Through this energy sperm is worked into chi, which changes the bones. At birth our bodies are strong, but later decline. Ta Mo developed a teaching to change the sinews and wash the bone marrow. He believed that his would permit the body to return to its prenatal state. In the Sung dynasty(960-1279), Yueh Fei added to Ta Mo's doctrine that of changing that of changing the bones. The Five Fowl exercise and Eight Part exercise reflected these teachings. After concerted practice, the dispersed chi is concentrated at the navel and all parts of the body are coordinated. This is called Little Heaven.

The next stage is concealed energy. It is free, relaxed, soft, and natural. However, do not be misled by the word soft. It is not soft like grass; rather it is elastic. This stage deals with changing chi into spirit and concomitantly changing the sinews. It is called Big Heaven. In boxing when your right hand goes forward, the left hand pulls back as though it were tearing cotton, or drawing a bow. This is done slowly, not abruptly. When your two hands go forward it is like pulling a cart. That is, just as your legs, not your hands, that impart strength to boxing. The rear foot holds strength as though you are going to leap off it, across a ditch.

The highest stage grows from the second. It is called mysterious, the result of marrow washing. It is soft and uses no strength. It lets you move easily because the energy is concentrated. And this energy merges you with emptiness, the Tao in which "Boxing is non-boxing, non-boxing is boxing." The energy derived is different from actual strength. Although the actions taken are the same, the energy stays inside, controlled by the mind. This is the acme of Hsing-I--the best alchemy, boxing and the Tao.

1. Change of Bones
   To change the bones means to hold your body like a mountain. When you stand and move, your bones become hard.
2. Change of Sinews
   To change the sinews is to fuse energy into and through all sinews, forming membranes to them and energizing them.
3. Washing of the Bone Marrow
   To wash and clean the bone marrow is to relax completely and purify and refine the internal organs by using your mind, thus making your body as light as a feather.

1. Basic
   in the basic stage of obvious energy, put you tongue on the roof of your mouth; which is half opened, half closed. Breath naturally, through your nose without attention to inhalation and exhalation. The hands and the feet coordinate with your breathing to transform sperm into chi.
2. Intermediate
   In the intermediate of concealed energy, the mouth and tongue are held the same and your breath through the nose, but now pay attention to sinking your breath to the navel, thus transforming chi to spirit.
3. Mysterious Energy
   The third and highest breathing stage of mysterious energy is reached unconciously by doing the first two stages. In this stage your spirit is transformed to emptiness, and you do not feel that you are breathing: there is no sound, no smell, and everything is empty.

How is Hsing-i used in the three stages? In the first stage it is like a steel chisel, which goes out strongly, but falls like a light piece of bamboo. In the second, it starts like an arrow, and falls weightless like the wind. In the highest stage, it follows the wind, and chases the moon. An outsider never sees it hit; if he does, it does not belong to this stage. This is hsing-i, the highest level of achievement: the mind is mindless; you do nothing and have done everything. In the emptiness we find prenatal bodies. But we do not be overly concerned about this. If you try too hard, it will elude you. Instead of trying to achieve it, pretend you already have it. This will help your mind. After all, the mind is the embodiement of your actions: therefore, hsing-i is mind boxing.

You may learn Hsing-i simply for health. But if you learn it for boxing purposes it is more difficult. Whoever is proud will loose. Watch the distance between yourself and an antogonist; study his physical charecteristics and stance. When you step forward intend to dig into him. Protect your body with your elbows. Be versatile and flexible; do not be afraid of changeing your tactics. Do not use strength. be calm and you will be stable. Ch'eng T'ing-hua told me: "Whenever I fight someone, I look to see how strong, soft, muscular, or tricky he is. I try to discover his weak points. I never stick to one way: long or short or high or low. Assessing your enemy in this way, even if you don't defeat him, you will never be defeated."