Background of Yang Style Short Form
For those studying the Yang Style Short Form, here is a listing of the moves as I teach them in my class through Wayzata Community Education and as taught at Normandale Community College. This is a good form for beginners, but we also learn Tai Chi Chuan in more depth for returning students.
Cheng Man Ching, a famous Teacher of Tai Chi Chuan, developed this form as an alternative to the Yang Long form , which can take 20 minutes to perform. This form takes about 6 -7 minutes to perform for most people. This form contains most of the moves found in the traditional Yang Style long form, with most of the repetition found in the long form removed. You can view a video of Cheng Man Ching performing the form here.
SECTION 1
No. Dir. Description
1. F Preparatory position
2. F Opening move
3. Grasp the bird’s tail (to right)
3.1 FR Ward off right (right peng)
3.2 F Ward off left (left peng)
3.3 R Double ward off right (double peng)
3.4.a BR Turn out to right
3.4.b FR Roll back (Lu)
3.5 R Press (Ji)
3.6 R Push (An)
4. L Single whip
5. F Lift Hands and Shoulder stroke
6. L White crane spreads its wings
7. L Brush left knee and twist step
8. L Play the pipa
9. L Brush left knee and twist step
10. L Step up, deflect downward, parry and punch
11. L Sealing, as if closing
12. F Cross hands
SECTION 2
No. Dir. Description
13. Embrace the tiger and return to mountain
13.1 BR Right brush knee and twist step
13.2 Stroke the bird’s tail
13.2.a B Turn out to right
13.2.b R Roll back (Lu)
13.2.c BR Press (Ji)
13.2.d BR Push (An)
14. FL Pa kua fish
15. FL Single whip diagonal
16. L Right fist under elbow
17. L Step back and repulse monkey (3, 5 or 7 times)
18. F Flying obliquely
19. F Wave hands like clouds (3, 5 or 7 times)
20. L Single whip
21. L Squatting single whip (Snake creeps down)
22. L Golden cock stands on left leg
23. L Golden cock stands on right leg
24. L Separate right foot
25 L Separate left foot (turn left 180°)
26. R Kick with left heel
27. R Brush left knee and twist step
28. R Brush right knee and twist step
29. R Step up and punch downward
30. R Grasp the bird’s tail (see 3.1 – 3.6)
31. L Pa kua fish
32. L Single Whip
33. Fair lady works the shuttles to the four corners
33.1 FR Fair lady works the shuttles (left), turn right 270°
33.2 FL Fair lady works the shuttles (right), turn left 90°
33.3 BL Fair lady works the shuttles (left), turn right 270°
33.4 BR Fair lady works the shuttles (right)
34. Grasp the bird’s tail (see 3.1 – 3.6)
35. L Pa kua fish
36. L Single whip
37. L Squatting single whip (Snake creeps down)
38. L Step up into seven stars
39. L Step back to ride the tiger
40. (turn body right 360°) sweep lotus kick
41. FL Tame the tiger (or Gather the energy)
42. Shoot the tiger with the bow
42.1 FL Pick up the bow
42.2 L Shoot the tiger
43. L Step up, deflect, parry and punch
44. L Sealing as if closing
45. F Cross hands
46. F Conclusion
Direction Key:
B = Back F = Front L = Left R = Right (Sometimes directions are combined, e.g. FL = Front-Left)
© Jay Soderberg, October 4, 2016
