16-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 16 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 16-Form list of Postures

The 16 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. 倒撵猴 Step Back and Repulse the Monkey

9. 左打虎式 Left Strike Tiger

10. 野马分鬃 Parting Wild Horse's Mane

11. 进步指裆锤 Step Forward and Punch Groin

12. 转身白蛇吐信 Turn Body and White Snake Spits out Tongue

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

14. 上步拦雀尾 Step Forward and Grasp the Bird's tail

15. 十 字 手 Cross Hands

16. 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)
  • 13-form Yang family tai chi chuan (13-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