Tai Chi Chuan: Beijing Short 24 Form Standard Simplified Version, 24 Movements, 1956, Yang Style

English Name 1. Commencing Description Pinyin Qsh Chinese Directi Movement Character on South Step out with left foot to shoulder width Float arms forward and up Bring arms down East
Circle arms, right on top Left Leg and Hand Forward, Right Arm Down Turn, circle arms, left on top Right Leg and Hand Forward, Left Leg Down Repeat first movement

2. Part the Wild Horse's Mane

Ym Fnzng

First section

3. White Crane Spreads Its Wings 4. Brush Knee and Step Forward

Bih Langch Lux ob

East

Left Hand Low, Right Hand High Twist at waist Circle arms in front
Brush left knee and twist, step forward, right palm forward strike Brush right knee and twist, step forward, left palm forward strike Repeat first movement

East

5. Playing the Pipa

Shuhi Pp Zuo You Daojuan Hong Zuo Lan Quewei

East

Shift weight onto right foot Touch left heel in front Palms up and face inward

Second Section

6. Reverse Reeling Forearm (Repulse Monkey) 7. Left Grasp Sparrow's Tail

East

Left Leg and Arm Back, Right Arm Forward Right Leg and Arm Back, Left Arm Forward Repeat Previous Two
Ward Off (Peng) Rollback (Lu) Press (Ji) Push (An)

East

8. Right Grasp

You Lan

West

Ward Off (Peng)

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Sparrow's Tail 9. Single Whip

Quewei Danbian

East

Rollback (Lu) Press (Ji) Push (An)

Circle hands Weight onto right foot Hook right hand Step to left and press left hand to left

10. Wave Hands Like Clouds 11. Single Whip

Yunshou

South

Danbian

East

Third Section

12. High Pat on Horse

Gao Tan Ma

East

Move from Right Side to Left Side Move from Left Side to Right Side Repeat Previous Two Circle hands Weight onto right foot Hook right hand Step to left and press left hand to left Weight onto right foot Hands extended Push forward with right hand
Turn torso to right side, Cross and Separate Hands at Face Kick with Right Heel, Right Arm in Front and Left Arm in Back Step forward on right foot Hands down to sides and bring forward as fists Shift weight to right foot

13. Kick Out with Right Heel

You Dengjiao

East

14. Strike to Ears with both Fists

Shuangfeng Guaner

East

15. Kick Out with Left Heel

Zhuanshen Zuo Dengjiao Zuo Xiashi Duli

West

Turn body to left Circle arms down, up in front of face Weight on right foot heel kick with left foot

Fourth Section

16. Left Lower Body and Stand on One Leg

West

Squat Down and Balance on Right Leg Left Leg Forward and Left Arm Down and Forward Right Arm Back and Up, Hand in Beak Position Right Knee High Right Hand High Tai Chi Chuan, Page 2

17. Right Lower Body and Bird Stand on One Leg 18. Shuttle Back and Forth (Lady Works
with Shuttles)

You Xiashi Duli

West

Right Leg Forward and Right Arm Down and Forward Left Arm Back and Up, Hand in Beak Position Left Knee High Left Arm High

Zuoyou Yunu Chuansuo Yunu Chuansuo

45 degree

19. Needle at the Bottom of the Sea

Haidi Zhen

West

Right Side: Right Forearm Block, Left Palm Strike Left Side: Left Forearm Block, Right Palm Strike Weight on right foot Bend left knee, touch left toe to front Reach down with right hand Hands move upward, right on top Step to left Press left with left palm and up over head with right palm 180 degree turn to right Arms circle to right and make right fist Step forward with right leg then left Punch right fist under left hand Shift weight back Shift weight forward, push with two hands
Sweep right arm forward Turn to face start, Move feet shoulder width apart Hands crossed, at chest level.

20. Flash the Arms (Fan through Back) 21. Turn Body, Deflect, Parry, and Punch 22. Cross Block and Push (Appears Closed) 23. Cross Hands

Shan Tong Bi

West

Zhuanshen Banlanchui

East

Rufeng Sibi

East

Fifth Section

Shizishou

South

Bring hands down to side Bring Left foot in, relax and connect Chi to Earth The Chinese Sports Committee brought together four T'ai Chi experts who truncated the Yang family hand form to 24 postures in 1956. They wanted to retain the essential principles of T'ai Chi Ch'uan but make it less difficult to learn than longer (generally 88 to 108 posture) classical family T'ai Chi Ch'uan hand forms. 24. Closing Shoushi South

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Tai Chi Chuan: Beijing Short 24 Form Standard Simplified Version, 24 Movements, 1956, Yang Style

Tai Chi Chuan (also called Tai Ji Quan) is a traditional Chinese martial art and a Chinese national treasure. In Chinese Tai means the highest or supreme, as in describing the highest heaven or supreme ruler. Chi (Ji) means the last or the ultimate. The word Tai Chi (Tai Ji) first appeared in the book Yijing, which was written more than 3,000 years ago, in a reference to the most primitive state of the universe, the origin of all changes, or the highest realm of existence. Here Tai Chi refers to the origin of changes, the most primitive state from which everything evolves. It is the highest state of existence. Throughout the ages, Chinese scholars have offered different philosophical interpretations of the world based on the Tai Chi Yin-Yang theory. Tai Chi Chuan is the practical application of this philosophy through physical movements that emphasize key philosophical components, such as balance, flowing smoothly like water or clouds, the circular patterns of nature, and channeling of chi (spirit/energy). Tai Chi engages both the physical (exterior) and mental (interior) selves. They are five traditional Ti Chi Chuan styles in China. However, the most popular are Yang and Chen styles. During the 1950s, the Chinese Athletic Committee, organized a team to compile the 24 postures of simplified Tai Chi Chuan. This compilation was based on the foundation of Yang style. The movements of this new simplified Tai Chi Chuan are easy to learn and the postures are accurate and standardized. These 24 postures of simplified Tai Chi Chuan have been popularly welcomed and practiced both in China and many countries in the last forty years. These 24 postures form the basis of many other Tai Chi postures and styles. All of the Tai Chi postures have martial applications as defensive or offensive moves. In 1989, the Chinese Martial Arts Research Institute organized prominent martial artists, and coaches from all over China to create a series of martial arts sports competition forms in seven areas: Long Fist Boxing, South Style Boxing, Thi Cai Chuan, Broadsword Play, Swordplay, Cudgel Play and Spear Play. Among the forms created was 42 postures Tai Chi Chuan and Sword. Tai Chi Chuan is beneficial to people of all ages and all lifestyles. It integrates the physical external and the meditative internal. It is one of the few sports that improves balance, coordination, flexibility, muscle strength, and cardiovascular health.

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