The 108 movements of the long form are practiced in the original set listed and in a mirror image reverse set. Practicing the movements in this manner trains the mind and body more completely, involving both right and left brain activity. The 54 movement short form or simplified method which can also be practiced in the reverse or mirror image was created in order to facilitate a quicker method of practice. It is easier to learn and more easily inserted into a busy lifestyle. Benefits can be gained by learning and practicing the exercises according to the time available.
Short Form1. Commencement of Tai Chi Chuan
2. Grasp Bird's Tail Right (Right Style) 3. Grasp Bird's Tail (Left Style) 4. Ward Off Slantingly Upward 5. Pull Back, Press Forward 6. Push 7. Single Whip 8. Raise Hands 9. Stork Spreads Its Wings 10. Left Brush Knee and Twist Step 11. Play the Fiddle 12. Left Brush Knee and Twist Step 13. Step Up, Parry and Punch 14. Apparent Close Up 15. Cross Hands 16. Carry Tiger to Mountain 17. Fist Under Elbow 18. Step Back and Repulse Monkey (Right) 19. Step Back and Repulse Monkey (Left) 20. Step Back and Repulse Monkey (Right) 21. Slanting Flying 22. Raise Hands 23. Stork Spreads Its Wings 24. Brush Knee and Twist Step 25. Needle at Sea Bottom 26. Fan Through the Back 27. Turn and White Snake Puts Out Tongue 28. Pull Back, Press Forward and Push 29. Single Whip 30. Cloud Hands or Wave Hands Like Clouds 31. Single Whip and Creeps Down 32. Golden Cock Stands on One Leg (Right) 33. Golden Cock Stands on One Leg (Left) 34. Separation of Right Foot Kick 35. Separation of Left Foot Kick 36. Turn and Left Foot Kick with Sole 37. Left Brush Knee and Twist Step 39. Step Up and Punch Downward 40. Ward Off Left, Step Up, Right Brush Upward, Pull Back, Press Forward, Push 41. Single Whip 42. Fair Lady Works at Shuttles (1-Left) 43. Fair Lady Works at Shuttles (2-Right) 44. Fair Lady Works at Shuttles (3-Left) 44. Fair Lady Works at Shuttles (4-Right) 46. Ward Off Left, Step Up, Right Push Upward, Pull Back, Press Forward, Push 47. Single Whip and Creeps Down 48. Step Up to Form Seven Stars 49. Retreat to Ride Tiger 50. Turn Around and Kick Horizontally 51. Shoot a Tiger with Bow 52. Step Up, Parry and Punch 53. Apparent Close Up 54. Conclusion of Tai Chi Chuan |
Long Form1. Commencement of Tai Chi Chuan
2. Grasp Bird's Tail Left 3. Grasp Bird's Tail Right, Push Upward 4. Pull Back 5. Press Forward 6. Push 7. Single Whip 8. Raise Hands 9. Stork Spreads Its Wings 10. Left Brush Knee and Twist Step 11. Play the Fiddle 12. Left Brush Knee and Twist Step 13. Right Brush and Twist Step 14. Left Brush and Twist Step 15. Play the Fiddle 16. Left Brush Knee and Twist Step 17. Step Up, Parry and Punch 18. Apparent Close Up 19. Cross Hands 20. Carry Tiger to Mountain 21. Pull Back, Press Forward and Push 22. Fist Under Elbow 23. Step Back and Repulse Monkey (Right) 24. Step Back and Repulse Monkey (Left) 25. Step Back and Repulse Monkey (Right) 26. Slanting Flying 27. Raise Hands 28. Stork Spreads His Wings 29. Left Brush Knee and Twist Step 30. Needle at Sea Bottom 31. Fan Through the Back 32. Turn and Chop Opponent With Fist 33. Step Up, Parry and Punch 34. Grasp Bird's Tail Left 35. Step Up, Right Push Upward, Pull Back, Press Forward and Push 36. Single Whip 37. Cloud Hands 38. Single Whip 39. High Pat on Horse 40. Separation of Right Foot 41. Separation of Left Foot 42. Turn and Left Foot Kick With Sole 43. Left Brush Knee and Twist Step 44. Right Brush Knee and Twist Step 45. Step Up and Punch Downward 46. Turn and Chop Opponent With Fist 47. Step Up, Parry and Punch 48. Right Foot Kick With Sole 49. Hit a Tiger at Left 50. Hit a Tiger at Right 51. Right Foot Kick With Sole 52. Strike Opponent's Ears With Both Fists 53. Left Foot Kick With Sole 54. Turn Round and Right Foot Kick With Sole 55. Step Up, Parry and Punch 56. Apparent Close Up 57. Cross Hands 58. Carry Tiger to Mountain 59. Pull Back, Press Forward and Push 60. Horizontal Single Whip 61. Partition of Wild Horse's Mane (Right) 62. Partition of Wild Horse's Mane (Left) 63. Partition of Wild Horse's Mane (Right) 64. Grasp Bird's Tail Left 65. Step Up, Right Push Upward, Pull Back, Press Forward and Push 66. Single Whip 67. Fair Lady Works at Shuttles (1-Left) 68. Fair Lady Works at Shuttles (2-Right) 69. Fair Lady Works at Shuttles (3-Left) 70. Fair Lady Works at Shuttles (4-Right) 71. Grasp Bird's Tail Left 72. Step Up, Right Push Upward, Pull Back, Press Forward and Push 73. Single Whip 74. Cloud Hands 75. Single Whip 76. Single Whip Creeps Down 77. Golden Cock Stands on One Leg (Right) 78. Golden Cock Stands on One Leg (Left) 79. 23. Step Back and Repulse Monkey (Right) 80. Step Back and Repulse Monkey (Left) 81. Step Back and Repulse Monkey (Right) 82. Slanting Flying 83. Raise Hands 84. Stork Spreads His Wings 85. Left Brush Knee and Twist Step 86. Needle at Sea Bottom 87. Fan Through the Back 88. Turn and White Snake Puts Out Tongue 89. Step Up, Parry and Punch 90. Grasp Bird's Tail Left 91. Step Up, Right Push Upward, Pull Back, Press Forward and Push 92. Single Whip 93. Cloud Hands 94. Single Whip 95. High Pat on Horse and Plane [Plain] Cross Hands 96. Turn and Cross Foot Kick With Sole 97. Step Up and Lower Punch 98. Grasp Bird's Tail Left 99. Step Up, Right Push Upward, Pull Back, Press Forward and Push 100. Single Whip 101. Single Whip Creeps Down 102. Step Up to Form Seven Stars 103. Retreat to Ride Tiger 104. Turn Round and Kick Horizontally 105. Shoot Tiger With Bow 106. Step Up, Parry and Punch 107. Apparent Close Up 108. Conclusion of Tai Chi Chuan |
These movements are transcribed exactly from the original paperwork given to me by Master Choy in 1966. Some instructors have condensed the short form to even fewer steps, but these are the steps as the master presented them in his original classes. On the form list he included a Chinese Proverb: Respect your teacher, observe the rules, live your life with truth and righteousness.