'SHORT FORM'

TAI CHI GLASTONBURY

'SHORT FORM'

The 'Short Form' is the first 15 movements of the 74 movement 'Laojia' (long form). These first fifteen moves, although complicated to learn and remember, are actually, physically, not too difficult to perform. They are slow and gentle movements that concentrate on perfect posture, solid balance, being peaceful minded and moving from the centre: these are all basic tai chi principles required for the rest of the Long Form.

For beginners, as an aid to memory, here are the names of the first fifteen movements.

Buddha's Warrior pounds the mortar

1; Opening.

2; Buddha's Warrior pounds the mortar.

3; Lazily tying coat.

4; Six sealings and four closings.

5; Single whip.

6; Buddha's Warrior pounds the mortar.

7; White Crane spreads its wings.

8; Moving sideways.

9; Brush knee.

10; Three steps forwards.

11; Moving sideways.

12; Brush knee,.

13; Three steps forwards.

14; Right hidden punch.

15; Buddha's Warrior pounds the mortar.

Although some of the moves above have the same names, how you enter into each movement and transition from one to the other changes the individual movement quite a lot, so each of these fifteen moevements takes a little while to learn. It would probably take the average person two terms to learn these fifteen movements to a reasonable standard.

'Lazily tying coat'.