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Traditional Tai Chi Hand Form

Traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Hand Form

traditional Yang Family Tai Chi hand form

The traditional Yang Family Tai Chi hand form consists of one hundred and three movements.  It is broken up into three sections even though the movements are done continuously without interruption.  Each section of the long form ends with a movement called cross hands.  Tai chi practitioners will often focus on one particular section as a milestone in their progress and learning the movements or a focus of daily practice.  Each section is longer than the previous and the movements become increasingly more challenging.  The sequence of movements that make up the traditional long form is the oldest series of movements that are practiced today.  All forms of Yang style tai chi have their roots in the traditional long form.  

The first section of the traditional Yang Family Tai Chi hand form is made up of sixteen movements.  Learning these movements will provide a solid foundation for the tai chi principles and body shapes required for the proper practice of tai chi.  Most beginners find  the first section to be easier than some other ‘short’ forms because there are no kicks and you are not moving backwards.  The first section also offers repetition of the movements as part of the sequence which provides opportunities for practice and refinement of the movements from the very beginning of learning tai chi.  Below you will find a practice video, a list of movements and a foot diagram of the first section.  In addition,  you find a list of all 103 movements as well as a performance video of Master Yang Jun, the 6th Generation direct descendant of the founder of Yang Style Tai Chi.

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Practice Video

Section One - Long Form (103) - List of Movements

  1. Preparation Form
  2. Beginning
  3. Grasp the Bird’s tail
  4. Single whip
  5. Raise Hands and Step Forward
  6. White Crane Spreads its Wings
  7. Left Brush Knee and Push
  8. Hand Strums the Lute

9. Left Brush Knee and Push

10. Right Brush Knee and Push

11. Left Brush Knee and Push

12. Hand Strums the Lute

13. Left Brush Knee and Push

14. Step forward, Parry Block and Punch

15. Apparent Close Up

16. Cross Hands

Footwork Diagram - Section 1

Long Form (103) - Performance by Master Yang Jun

Long Form (103) - List of Movements

  1. Preparation Form
  2. Beginning
  3. Grasp the Bird’s tail
  4. Single whip
  5. Raise Hands and Step Forward
  6. White Crane Spreads its Wings
  7. Left Brush Knee and Push
  8. Hand Strums the Lute
  9. Left Brush Knee and Push
  10. Right Brush Knee and Push
  11. Left Brush Knee and Push
  12. Hand Strums the Lute
  13. Left Brush Knee and Push
  14. Step forward, Parry Block and Punch
  15. Apparent Close Up
  16. Cross Hands
  17. Embrace the Tiger and Return to Mountain
  18. Fist Under Elbow
  19. Step Back and Repulse the Monkey, Left
  20. Step Back and Repulse the Monkey, Right
  21. Step Back and Repulse the Monkey, Left
  22. Diagonal Flying
  23. Raise Hands and Step Forward
  24. White Crane Spreads its Wings
  25. Left Brush Knee and Push

26. Needle at Sea Bottom

27. Fan Through the Back

28. Turn Body and Chop with Fist

29. Step Forward, Parry Block and Punch

30. Step Forward and Grasp the Bird’s Tail

31. Single whip

32.– Cloud Hands (1)

33.– Cloud Hands (2)

34.– Cloud Hands (3)

35. Single whip

36. High Pat on Horse

37. Right Separation Kick

38. Left Separation Kick

39. Turn Body and Left Heel Kick

40. Left Brush Knee and Push

41. Right Brush Knee and Push

42. Step Forward and Punch Down

43. Turn Body and Chop with Fist

44. Step Forward, Parry Block and Punch

45. Right Heel Kick

46. Left Strike Tiger

47. Right Strike Tiger

48. Turn Body and Right Heel Kick

49. Twin Fists Strike Opponents Ears

50. Left Heel Kick

51. Turn Body and Right Heel Kick

52. Step Forward, Parry Block and Punch

53. Apparent Close Up

54. Cross Hands

55. Embrace the Tiger and Return to Mountain

56. Diagonal Single Whip

57. Parting Wild Horse’s Mane, Right

58.– Parting Wild Horse’s Mane, Left

59.– Parting Wild Horse’s Mane, Right

60. Grasp the Bird’s tail

61. Single Whip

62.– Fair Lady Works at Shuttles

63. Grasp the Bird’s tail

64. Single Whip

65.– Cloud Hands (1)

66. – Cloud Hands (2)

67.– Cloud Hands (3)

68. Single Whip

69. Snake Creeps Down

70. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg, Left

71. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg, Right

72. Step Back and Repulse the Monkey, Left

73. Step Back and Repulse the Monkey, Right

74. Step Back and Repulse the Monkey, Left

75. Diagonal Flying

76. Raise Hands and Step Forward

77. White Crane Spreads its Wings

78. Left Brush Knee and Push

79. Needle at Sea Bottom

80. Fan Through the Back

81. Turn Bodyand White Snake Spits out Tongue

82. Step Forward, Parry Block and Punch

83. Step Forward and Grasp the Bird’s tail

84. Single Whip

85.– Cloud Hands (1)

86.– Cloud Hands (2)

87.– Cloud Hands (3)

88. Single Whip

89. High Paton On Horse with Palm Thrust

90. Cross Kick

91.– Step Forward and Punch Groin

92. Step Forward and Grasp the Bird’s tail

93. Single Whip

94. Snake Creeps Down

95. Step Forward Seven Stars

96. Step back and Ride the Tiger

97. Turn Body and Swing Over Lotus

98. Bend the Bow and Shoot the Tiger

99. Step Forward, Parry Block and Punch

100. Apparent Close Up

101. Cross Hands

102. Closing

103. Return to Normal

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