Tai Chi Form Postures

As far as we are aware the posture names for this form have never been written down, so this is our attempt to present the names as an assistance to learning the form in class. We have split the form into two equal sections (as Miss Rose Li did) and the long form is simply the second section added to the first section. Some of the posture names have been combined in the extension (such as Press, withdraw and push) in order to provide a memorable list of two sets of 64 postures.

Short Form

Part 1

1 Wuji
2 Tai Chi begins
3 Ward off
4 Roll back
5 Press
6 Push
7 Single whip
8 Step up and raise the hands
9 White crane spreads wings
10 Brush knee left
11 Brush knee right
12 Brush knee left
13 Brush knee right
14 Brush knee left
15 Play the fiddle
16 Step up, deflect downward, intercept and punch
17 Withdraw and push
18 Carry tiger to mountain
19 Cross hands

Part 2

20 Brush knee to corner
21 Brush knee to other corner
22 Ward off
23 Press
24 Withdraw and push
25 Diagonal single whip
26 Fist under the elbow
27 Repulse monkey one
28 Repulse monkey two
29 Repulse monkey three
30 Repulse monkey four
31 Diagonal flying
32 Step up and raise the hands
33 White crane spreads wings
34 Brush knee and twist step
35 Needle at sea bottom (the fisher)
36 Fan through back twice
37 Step up and punch
38 Swing the hammer
39 Press
40 Withdraw and push
41 Single whip

Part 3

42 Yunshou (cloud hands)
43 Yunshou (cloud hands)
44 Yunshou (cloud hands)
45 Yunshou (cloud hands)
46 Single whip
47 Shashou (creep down)
48 Golden cock stands on one leg
49 Leg kicks to left
50 Repulse monkey one
51 Repulse monkey two
52 Repulse monkey three
53 Repulse monkey four
54 Diagonal flying

Part 4

55 Step up and raise the hands
56 White crane spreads wings
57 Brush knee and twist step
58 Needle at sea bottom (the fisher)
59 Fan through back twice
60 Step up and punch
61 Swing the hammer
62 Press
63 Withdraw and push
64 Single whip to finish

End of Short Form

Long Form Extension

Part 5

65 Yunshou (cloud hands)
66 Yunshou (cloud hands)
67 Yunshou (cloud hands)
68 Yunshou (cloud hands)
69 High pat on horse
70 Leg kicks to right
71 High pat on horse
72 Leg kicks to left
73 Raise leg a second time
74 Brush knee and twist step left
75 Brush knee and twist step right
76 Step up and punch downwards
77 High pat on horse

Part 6

78 Cross the hands
79 Shooting tiger left
80 Shooting tiger right
81 Double fists to head
82 Turn body and kick
83 Turn body and lotus kick
84 Step forward with two fists
85 Play the guitar
86 Step up, deflect downward, intercept and punch
87 Carry tiger to mountain
88 Cross hands
89 Brush knee to corner
90 Brush knee to other corner
91 Single whip

Part 7

92 Play the guitar
93 Part horses mane one
94 Part horses mane two
95 Part horses mane three
96 Fair lady works at shuttles (weaver)
97 Fair lady works at shuttles (weaver)
98 Part horses mane
99 Fair lady works at shuttles (weaver)
100 Fair lady works at shuttles (weaver)
100 Play the guitar
101 Press, withdraw and push
102 Diagonal single whip

Part 8

103 Yunshou
104 Single whip
105 High pat on horse
106 Hit opponents face with palm
107 Turn and single lotus swing
108 Brush knee and twist step
109 Step up and punch downwards
110 Grasp sparrows tail
111 Single whip
112 Shashou
113 Step up and seven star pose
114 Retreat to ride the tiger
115 Turn and hit opponents face with palm
116 Turn and double lotus swing
117 Bend the bow to shoot the tiger
118 Hit opponents face with palm
119 Turn body and swing the hammer
120 Step up and high pat on horse
121 Press
122 Withdraw and push
123 Single whip
124 Close

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