13-form Yang family tai chi chuan

The different slow motion solo form training sequences of T'ai Chi Ch'uan are the best known manifestation of T'ai Chi for the general public. In English, they are usually called the hand form or just the form; in Mandarin it is usually called ch'üan: 拳 (in Wade-Giles romanization: ch'üan², in the pinyin system: quán). They are usually performed slowly by beginners and are designed to promote concentration, condition the body and acquaint students with the inventory of motion techniques for more advanced styles of martial arts training (see pushing hands).

Duration

The 13 Form, as this sequence of moves is also referred to in the Yang style T'ai Chi Ch'uan, when performed at its prescribed speed, usually takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. It was designed as an abbreviated sequence that does not have any of the kicks or balance-displaying postures of the basic Long form.

Yang style 13-Form list of Postures

The 13 postures of the Yang family style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan are listed as follows:

预 备 Preparation Form

1. 起 式 Beginning

2. 云 手 Cloud Hands (1)

3. 单 鞭 Single Whip

4. 肘 底 捶 Fist Under Elbow

5. 白 鹤 凉 翅 White Crane Spreads its Wings

6. 左 搂 膝 拗 步 Left Brush Knee and Push

7. 手 挥 琵 琶 Hand Strums the Lute

8. 高 探 马 穿 掌 High Pat on Horse with Palm Thrust

9. 转 身 撇 身 捶 Turn Body and Chop with Fist

10. 进 步 搬 拦 捶 Step Forward, Parry Block and Punch

11. 拦 雀 尾 Grasp the Bird's Tail

12. 十 字 手 Cross Hands

13. 收 式 Closing

还 原 Return to Normal

See Also

• Hand Forms:
  • 103-form Yang family tai chi chuan (Long Form)
  • 49-form Yang family tai chi chuan (Short Form)
  • 16-form Yang family tai chi chuan (16-Form)
  • Two-person Pushing Hands
• Weapons Forms:
  • 67-Movement Yang family tai chi chuan Sword Form (Sword Form)
  • 13-Posture Poem Yang family tai chi chuan Saber Form (Saber Form)

External links

• Yang Family Website