The Short Form

Created by Wu Yinghua and Ma Yueliang in response to the Chinese Government request to create simplified forms for use by the general public for health.

The short form takes most of the moves from the long form and removes most of the repetitions.

DVDs available for the short form, ask for details at class.

The names of the moves are as follows, click on a name to see the move in slow motion:

1.  yù bèi shì            预备式   preparation form
2.  tài jí qǐ shì 起势 tai chi beginning form
3.  lǎn què wěi                 揽雀尾   grasping the bird's tail
4.  dān biān                    单鞭    single whip 
5.  tí shǒu shàng shì    提手上势 raise hand and step up 
6.  bái hè liàng chì     白鹤亮翅 white crane spreads its wings 
7.  lǒu xī ǎo bù                搂膝拗步  brush knee twist step 
8.  shǒu huī pí pá             手挥琵琶  hands strum the lute 
9.  jìn bù bān lán chuí          进步搬拦捶  step up diverting and blocking fist 
10. rú fēng sì bì              如封似闭 as if closing up 
11. dào niǎn hóu                倒撵猴  step back repulse monkey
12. xié fēi shì                 斜飞势  flying oblique posture 
13. hǎi dì zhēn                 海底针  needle at the bottom of the sea 
14. shàn tōng bèi       扇通背  fan through back 
15. yún shǒu                    云手    cloud hands 
16. zuǒ gāo tàn mǎ            左高探马 scout on horseback (left) 
17. yòu fēn jiǎo              右分脚   kick with right foot 
18. yòu gāo tàn mǎ            右高探马 scout on horseback (right)
19. zuǒ fēn jiǎo              左分脚   kick with left foot
20. zhuǎn shēn dèng jiǎo 转身蹬脚 turn body pedalling foot
21. shuāng fēng guàn ěr 双峰贯耳 strike ears with both fists 
22. yě mǎ fēn zōng 野马分鬃 parting wild horse's mane 
23。yù nǚ chuān suō 玉女穿梭 jade girl works the shuttle 
24。xià shì              下势 downward posture   (蛇下势 - shé xià shì - snake creep down)
25。jīn jī dú lì          金鸡独立 golden cockerel stands on one leg 
26。tuì bù kuà hǔ       退步跨虎 step back ride tiger 
27。zhuǎn shēn pū miàn zhǎng   转身扑面掌 turn body, hit face with palm
28。fān shēn shuāng bǎi lián   翻身双摆莲 turn body, double handed lotus 
29。wān gōng shè hǔ          弯弓射虎 curve bow shoot tiger 
30。yíng miàn zhǎng          迎面掌 palm goes to meet face 
31。fān shēn piě shēn chuí    翻身撇身捶 turn body, parry and punch 
32。shàng bù zuǒ gāo tàn mǎ 上步左高探马 step up scout on horseback
33。shàng bù lǎn què wěi 上步揽雀尾 step up grasping bird's tail 
34。dān biān                    单鞭 single whip 
35。hé tài jí          合太极 closing tai chi