An Introduction to the Taichi I Shall Teach
 
Taichi is both a powerful martial art and a gentle exercise.
Primarily, it can enhance oxygen absorption,
Improve movement coordination,
Increase energy generation, and help mental concentration. 
 

       Taichi originated in ancient China. Its full name is Tai Chi Chuan. “Tai” and “Chi” mean supreme ultimate, “Chuan” means martial art. Originally it was developed mainly for self-defense. Now it is practiced chiefly for physical exercise. 
       
        Elementarily, taichi is a slow and smooth motion exercise. It is both relaxing and stimulating. It enhances blood circulation and oxygen absorption, improves posture balance and movement coordination, increases energy generation, and helps mental concentration.
 
        Gradually, from external movement to internal movement, with vital force improvement and spiritual meditation, the practice relaxes and enlivens our bodies, enriches and enlightens our mind; thus, it brings to us health, intelligence, ease and peace. It also slows down degeneration, and vitalizes the immune system; so that, we can retain our youthfulness, and prevent or cure disease. In all, it is one of the most precious forms of sport or exercise.  Everyone can benefit from learning it and practicing it.
 
        There are many taichi schools or styles in China. The most famous and popular are the Yang and Chen. I belong to both of them. The style I am going to teach you first is a simplified Yang style.  It was originally developed by the great master Yang Cheng-fu, and later digested by his favorite and famous student Cheng Man-ching, who was my teacher’s teacher.
 
        Because the original one-hundred-and-eight-postures of Yang style taichi was composed with too many repetitions, and required too much time to practice; Master Cheng reduced the form to sixty-two, or thirty-seven postures (counted without repetitions and sub-postures) and condensed the fifteen-minute practicing time to seven or eight minutes. He made the form easier to learn and easier to practice, yet retained the same precious essence. Especially, he promoted the art’s life-nurturing property also its spiritual and scholostical natures to a greater extent.
 
        This simplified taichi is often called Short Form Taichi, Thirty-Seven-Posture Taichi, or Cheng’s Taichi. It is designed to accommodate modern people.  Characterized by ease and gentleness, it can better benefit those with limited stamina, and those are pressed for time. Anyone who can practice it, if once in the morning and once in the evening; spending merely fifteen minutes each day, it’ll be adequate to build and maintain a happy mind and healthy body.
 
      On the following pages, I list Cheng’s Simplified Taichi, its full fifty-five postures for our teaching and learning. Thirty-seven postures are the basic. Plus the repetitions, some divide the form into sixty, some divide it into sixty-two, I divide it into fifty-five positures; actually they all are the same thing. 
                                                                  
        After this short form, if you have the time and interest, I’ll teach you: taichi push-hands for deeper exploration, free-hands taichi for bandying or sparring, and Chaopao Huling Taichi, a more exclusive, dexterous and explosive form of martial art for self-defense.
               
                                                        Albert Kuo-PenYung   October 7, 1994
 

 

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Postures of Cheng’s Tai Chi Form

  1.  Preparation
  2.  Beginning
  3.  Grasp Bird’s Tail (Ward Off with Lest Hand)
  4.  Grasp Bird’s Tail (Ward Off with Right Hand)
  5.  Grasp Bird’s Tail (Roll Back and Press)
  6.  Grasp Bird’s Tail (Push)
  7.  Single Whip
  8.  Lift Hand (Right)
  9.  Shoulder Strike
10.  Crane Spreads Wing
11.  Brush Knee and Twist Step (Left)
12.  Play the Guitar
13.  Brush Knee and Twist Step (Left)
14.  Step Forward, Deflect Downward, Parry, and Punch
15.  Close, Withdraw, and Push
16.  Cross Hands
17.  Carry Tiger to Mountain
18.  Grasp Bird’s Tail (Roll Back, Press, and Push)
19.  Slant Single Whip
20.  Fist Under Elbow
21.  Step Back and Repulse the Monkey (Right)
22.  Step Back and Repulse the Monkey (Left)
23.  Step Back and Repulse the Monkey (Right)
24.  Diagonal Flying
25.  Wave Hands Like Clouds (Right)
26.  Wave Hands Like Clouds (Left)
27.  Wave Hands Like Clouds (Right)
28.  Wave Hands Like Clouds (Left)
29.  Single Whip
30.  Snake Creeps Down
31.  Golden Cock Stands on One Leg (Right)
32.  Golden Cock Stands on One Leg (Left)
33.  Separate Right Foot
34.  Separate Left Foot
35.  Turn and Kick with Heel
36.  Brush Knee and Twist Step (Left)
37.  Brush Knee and Twist Step (Right)
38.  Step Forward and Punch
39.  Step Forward, Ward Off, Roll Back, Press, and Push
40.  Single Whip
41.  Fair Lady work at Shuttles (Right)
42.  Fair Lady work at Shuttles (Left)
43.  Fair Lady work at Shuttles (Right)
44.  Fair Lady work at Shuttles (Left)
45.  Ward Off, Roll Back, Press, and Push
46.  Single Whip
47.  Snake Creeps Down
48.  Step Forward to Form Seven Stars
49.  Step Back to Ride Tiger
50.  Turn Around to Sweep Lotus
51.  Bend Bow to Shoot Tiger
52.  Step Forward, Deflect Downward, Parry, and Punch
53.  Close, Withdraw, and Push
54.  Cross Hands
55.  Conclusion