形意八势是根据形意拳的五行拳，十二形拳中的精华所编。练习形意八势同练习五行拳，十二形拳的要领是一致的。即：象形取意，步稳身正，刚中有柔，内外合一，力沉劲整，简洁清晰，灵活大方。

练习形意八势对身体各部位的要求如：含胸、塌腰、松肩、垂肘、坐腕、撑掌、缩胯、扣膝、实足等十项是最基本的，习练者一定要努力做到：同时尽力避免怒气，拙力，挺胸提腹等弊病。练习形意八势必须把三体式这个基本桩法站好，无论哪趟拳都是以三体式为起点，中间虽变化万端，但基本上离不开三体式。 

Xingyi Ba Shi (Eight Postures) is based on the Five-element Xingyi Quan and Twelve-style Boxing. The theory of Ba Shi Quan is the same as Five-element Boxing and Twelve-style Boxing. That is, taking the meaning from the image, keeping the body stable and upright, with softness in hardness, combining the inside and outside, sinking the strength down and keeping it in a whole, neat and clear, agile and general.

For practicing, Xingyi Ba Shi, there are some needs from the body: folding the chest, lowering the waist, relaxing the shoulder, dropping the elbows, pressing the wrist, stretching the palm, drawing the hips in, turning the knees in, keeping the feet stable, these ten basic requests. The practicers must try to avoid such points, being angry, and rough strength, straightening the chest and raising the abdomen. The practicers should practice San Ti Shi before he practice Xingyi Ba Shi. Every boxing starts from San Ti Shi, though there are many changes, it can be apart from San Ti Shi.