The Shuai Chiao Kungfu Club at The Ohio State University (return)


Instant Kungfu Lesson
Why is "Instant Kungfu" an oxymoron?
Because "Kungfu" means a skill developed with much time and effort.
This is an "instant" lesson -- but to understand it fully will take time and practice.


Ch'ang Style Tai Chi Ch'uan
The following is a short "crib sheet" for the movements in the Ch'ang Short Form.
This Tai Chi Ch'uan form is very close to the standardized Wu-Shu "24 Movement" form, and is modified Yang Style Tai Chi.
The movement summary below is intended as a quick reference for OSU Shuai Chiao Kungfu Club students, not as a lesson in Ch'ang Style Tai Chi Ch'uan.

While nominally a "24" posture version of Tai Chi Ch'uan, the following reference expands some movements over multiple steps to make various hand movements and transitions clear.  Please follow the general flow, and do not worry about matching up particular numbers with the corresponding movements in the standardized Wu-Shu 24 Form Taijiquan.  Ch'ang Style Tai Chi varies from the new Wu-Shu style in that there is much less "rocking" back and forth in the movements.  Grandmaster Ch'ang was concerned more with practical application than exercise, therefore, in Ch'ang Style the attention does not drift away from the imaginary opponent when transitioning into another posture.  The movement is consistently in a forward direction, and the head and body do not turn back in an exaggerated fashion to follow the flow of the impending strike.  Remember to keep the gaze and focus constantly on the opponent.

General Hints for Tai Chi Ch'uan Practice:
Always be aware of your Center: you should feel solidly balanced in every movement, even during transitions.  The leg that steps out should always be "empty", with little or no weight, until it secures its place.  Then your weight should flow into it, "pouring" into the new position.  Avoid "double-weighting."  This means becoming too static, with equal weight in both legs, or, more commonly, putting weight into a leg when it is still in the air.  You should rarely have a "foot-fall" in Tai Chi Ch'uan.  The foot should be placed with little or no weight, then the practitioner  should sink the weight into it.

1. Opening Posture
2. Slanting Flying to left
3. Parting the Wild Horse's Mane: right, left
4. Step up, hold Ball
5. White Crane Spreads Wings
6. Inner blocks (one, two)
7. Brush Knee and Twist Step: left, right, left
8. Strum the Lute
9. Step Back and Repulse Monkey: right, left, right, left
10. Grasp Bird's Tail sequence to left:
 a. Ward Off (Peng)
 b. Roll Back (Lu)
 c. Press Forward (Chi)
 d. Push (An)
11. Cross Hands (Carry Tiger)
12. Grasp Bird's Tail sequence to right:
 a. Ward Off (Peng)
 b. Roll Back (Lu)
 c. Press Forward (Chi)
 d. Push (An)
13. Double Pulling Hands
14. Single Whip
15. Wave Hands Like Clouds: right,left,right,left,right,left
16. Single Whip
17. High Pat on Horse (right hand)
18. Kick with Right Heel, immediately follow with Right Knee Strike
19. Strike Ears with Knuckles (both hands)
20. Turn, Kick with Left Heel
21. Snake Creeps Down (left leg extended)
22. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg (right leg up)
23. Snake Creeps Down (right leg extended)
24. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg (left leg up)
25. Fair Lady Works at Shuttles: right, left
26. Needle at the Bottom of the Sea (right hand)
27. Fan Through Back (left hand)
28. Snake Darts Out (left hand)
29. Turn and Chop with Fist (right fist)
30. Deflect, Parry and Punch (right fist)
31. Apparent Close-up
32 Cross Hands (Carry Tiger)
33. Concluding Posture.


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Copyright 2005, MG-3D,  The Shuai Chiao Kungfu Club at OSU
 


  The Shuai Chiao Kungfu Club at The Ohio State University (return)