Classical Yang Style - Short Form

Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art appreciated widely for its power, beauty and benefits for health.

"Tai Chi is a series of continuous, flowing movements which are performed slowly and gracefully. The form is learnt gradually, posture by posture. By working from the mind through natural movements of the body we learn to appreciate the importance of posture, to understand relaxation, to interpret energy and to apply this knowledge to our everyday lives."

The following videos are intended to help students with their practice only. They cannot replace what is learnt by attending a course with a qualified instructor. These first 2 videos complete the first section only or mini form. More to come to complete the full short form.

Short Form Part 1
Short Form Part 2

Adobe Acrobat Reader Adobe pdf filePRACTICE NOTES

These notes, written by me (Ian, not Tony) describe the moves in brief for the whole form. Along with the videos they are intended to help students with their practice only. They cannot replace what is learnt by attending a course with a qualified instructor.

I have been learning Tai Chi in its various forms as a student of Tony's since before the turn of the century. I have found that Tai Chi is not just standing there waving your hands around like you may have seen it to so appear on television or the many videos on the internet. Tony tends to emphasise the stability, posture and self-defence aspects of this martial art. Every movement has a unique purpose, which I find makes it easier to remember and to perform properly; it looks so much better too. If you are interested, never tried it before or already take part in any of the other martial arts then a course with Tony is highly recommended.

Classical Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Short Form

The text in blue shows the repeated 'Grasp sparrows tail' routine.
  1. Attention (Wu Chi)
  2. Preparation
  3. Beginning
  4. Ward Off Left
  5. Ward Off Right
  6. Rollback
  7. Press & Split
  8. Push
  9. Single Whip
  10. Lifting Hands
  11. Shoulder Stroke
  12. White Crane Spreads Wings (including rollback)
  13. Brush Left Knee and Push
  14. Play Guitar
  15. Brush Left Knee and Push
  16. Step Forwards, Deflect Downwards, Intercept and Punch
  17. Withdraw and Push
  18. Crossing Hands
  19. Embrace Tiger and Return to Mountain
  20. Rollback
  21. Press & Split
  22. Push
  23. Diagonal Single Whip
  24. Punch Under Elbow
  25. Step Back to Repulse Monkey (R)
  26. Step Back to Repulse Monkey (L)
  27. Step Back to Repulse Monkey (R)
  28. Diagonal Flying
  29. Waving Hands in Clouds (R)
  30. Waving Hands in Clouds (L)
  31. Waving Hands in Clouds (R)
  32. Waving Hands in Clouds (L)
  33. Waving Hands in Clouds (R)
  34. Single Whip
  35. Squatting Single Whip With White Snake Creeps Down
  36. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg (R)
  37. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg (L)
  38. Separate Right Foot
  39. Separate Left Foot
  40. Brush Left Knee and Push
  41. Needles at Sea Bottom
  42. Iron Fan Penetrates Back
  43. Turn Body, Chop and Block Back Fist
  44. Step Forward, Deflect Downwards, Intercept and Punch
  45. Kick with Right Heel
  46. Brush Right Knee and Push
  47. Brush Left Knee and Punch Downwards
  48. Ward Off Left
  49. Ward Off Right
  50. Rollback
  51. Press & Split
  52. Push
  53. Single Whip
  54. Fair Ladies Weave Shuttles (R)
  55. Fair Ladies Weave Shuttles (L)
  56. Fair Ladies Weave Shuttles (R)
  57. Fair Ladies Weave Shuttles (L)
  58. Ward Off Left
  59. Ward Off Right
  60. Rollback
  61. Press & Split
  62. Push
  63. Single Whip
  64. Squatting Single Whip With White Snake Creeps Down
  65. Step Up to the Seven Stars
  66. Step Back to Ride Tiger
  67. Turn Body and Sweep Lotus with Right Leg
  68. Bend Bow to Shoot Tiger
  69. Step Forwards, Deflect Downwards, Intercept and Punch
  70. Withdraw and Push
  71. Crossing Hands
  72. Conclusion
  73. Attention (Wu Chi)

Ward Off Left
Ward Off Left

Squatting Single Whip
Squatting Single Whip

White Crane Spreads Wings
White Crane Spreads Wings

Brush Left Knee and Push
Brush Left Knee and Push

Brush Right Knee and Push
Brush Right Knee and Push

Visit egreenway.com/taichichuan/sun73.htm for so much information that it would be pointless trying to emulate it here. Bibliography, links, free videos on YouTube and illustrated step by step description of one of the many forms.

"Remember, when moving, there is no place that doesn't move. When still, there is no place that isn't still."  (Tai Chi Classics)