Howdy! Let me start with the basics. This is the 24-form routine I currently practice. These are from the Chen Competition Routine or “56 Forms”. It’s taken me several years to get this far. (The form names I use here are for convenience; I have other versions of several of these names; and I’m aware that these are not necessarily good translations of the Chinese names.)
1. Preparation
2. Buddha’s Warrior
3. Lazy Tying Coat
4. 6 Sealing, 4 Closing – right
5. Single Whip – left
6. Parry and Punch
7. Heart-Protecting Fists
8. Crane Flashes Wings
9. Walk Obliquely, Twist Step
10. Withdraw and Lift
11. Wade Forward
12. Hidden Hand Punch – right
13. Fists Draping Body
14. Back-Fold Strike
15. Water-Dragon
16. The Chopping Hand
17. Brandish Sleeves
18. Tidal Wave Rising
19. Hidden Hand Punch – left
20. 6 Sealing, 4 Closing – left
21. Single Whip – right
22. Wave Hands – right
23. Wave Hands – left
24. Pat Horse
You may notice that there’s no Form 25, “Closing”. I’ve only been doing High Pat on Horse (or “Holding the Horse” as I sometimes call it) for a very few weeks, it’s pretty rough and really quite “hollow”. But I did search for a transition to Closing Form and decided that I could simply transition to the final stroke of “Buddha’s Warrior” which of course can precede Closing Form. But I found this process to be pretty unsatisfactory so far… as in, very sloppy and not balanced.
I hope to write about Forms a lot, not to instruct, but for the sheer enjoyment and appreciation of Chen taijiquan forms. I’ve put A LOT of time into studying these and if I’m on the wrong track, well, it’s my life. But the forms have a lot to teach – bottomless, maybe – and while I may be a slow learner, I do eventually put quite a bit together. Hope there’s folks out there who want to yak about forms although I do need to keep in mind: PRACTICE makes perfect. Talk does not.
