Traditional Yang Style 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
- Preparation Form
- Beginning
- Grasp the Bird’s tail
- Single whip
- Raise Hands and Step Forward
- White Crane Spreads its Wings
- Left Brush Knee and Push
- 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
Long Form (103) - Performance by Master Yang Jun
Long Form (103) - List of Movements
- Preparation Form
- Beginning
- Grasp the Bird’s tail
- Single whip
- Raise Hands and Step Forward
- White Crane Spreads its Wings
- Left Brush Knee and Push
- Hand Strums the Lute
- Left Brush Knee and Push
- Right Brush Knee and Push
- Left Brush Knee and Push
- Hand Strums the Lute
- Left Brush Knee and Push
- Step forward, Parry Block and Punch
- Apparent Close Up
- Cross Hands
- Embrace the Tiger and Return to Mountain
- Fist Under Elbow
- Step Back and Repulse the Monkey, Left
- Step Back and Repulse the Monkey, Right
- Step Back and Repulse the Monkey, Left
- Diagonal Flying
- Raise Hands and Step Forward
- White Crane Spreads its Wings
- 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