More correctly referred to simply as the Tai Chi Chuan Form, it is often called the long form to differentiate it from the other weaponless forms.
Here are the names of the movements according to the ‘European branch’ of Wu style tai chi. i.e. 100 movements. As far as I am aware this is the same as the traditional 89 movement form as referred to in “Wu Style Taichichuan” by Wu Ying-hua and Ma Yueh-liang, it is just that some of the movements have been given more or less names.
Thanks to the Paul Brennan translation of “The taiji boxing of Mr. Wu Jianquan – For self-study” for the basic description of the moves. Modern alterations or differences are given in the comments (please feel free to add your own).
Section I
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. bào hǔ tuī shān 抱虎推山 carry tiger to the mountain 12. shí zì shǒu 十字手 cross hands 13. xié lǒu xī ǎo bù 斜搂膝拗步 oblique brush knee twist step 14. fān shēn xié lǒu xī ǎo bù 翻身斜搂膝拗步 turn body, oblique brush knee twist step 15. lǎn què wěi 揽雀尾 grasping the bird's tail 16. xié dān biān 斜单鞭 oblique single whip
Section II
17. zhǒu dǐ kàn chuí 肘底看捶 fist under elbow 18. dào niǎn hóu 倒撵猴 step back repulse monkey 19. xié fēi shì 斜飞势 flying oblique posture 20. tí shǒu shàng shì 提手上势 raise hand and step up 21. bái hè liàng chì 白鹤亮翅 white crane spreads its wings 22. lǒu xī ǎo bù 搂膝拗步 brush knee twist step 23. hǎi dì zhēn 海底针 needle at the bottom of the sea 24. shàn tong bèi 扇通背 fan through back 25. piě shēn chuí 撇身捶 parry and punch 26. xiè bù bān lán chuí 卸步搬拦捶 step up diverting and blocking fist 27. shàng bù lǎn què wěi 上步揽雀尾 grasping the bird's tail 28. dān biān 单鞭 single whip 29. yún shǒu 云手 cloud hands 30. dān biān 单鞭 single whip
Section III
31. zuǒ gāo tàn mǎ 左高探马 scout on horseback (left) 32. yòu fēn jiǎo 右分脚 kick with right foot 33. yòu gāo tàn mǎ 右高探马 scout on horseback (right) 34. zuǒ fēn jiǎo 左分脚 kick with left foot 35. zhuǎn shēn dèng jiǎo 转身蹬脚 turn body pedalling foot 36. lǒu xī ǎo bù 搂膝拗步 brush knee twist step 37. jìn bù zāi chuí 进步栽捶 step up, planting punch 38. fān shēn piě shēn chuí 翻身撇身捶 turn body, parry and punch 39. shàng bù zuǒ gāo tàn mǎ 上步左高探马 step up scout on horseback (left) 40. yòu fēn jiǎo 右分脚 kick with right foot 41. tuì bù dǎ hǔ 退步打虎 step back beat tiger 42. pī shēn jiǎo 披身脚 opening kick 43. shuāng fēng guàn ěr 双峰贯耳 strike ears with both fists 44. yī qǐ jiǎo 一起脚 two kicks, fist kick 45. fān shēn èr qǐ jiǎo 翻身二起脚 turn and second kick (or turn body kick with heel) 46. yòu gāo tàn mǎ 右高探马 scout on horseback (right) 47. shàng bù bān lán chuí 上步搬拦捶 step up diverting and blocking fist 48. rú fēng sì bì 如封似闭 As if closing up 49. bào hǔ tuī shān 豹虎推山 Leopard and tiger push the mountain 50. shí zì shǒu 十字手 Cross hands 51. xié lǒu xī ǎo bù 斜搂膝拗步 oblique brush knee twist step 52. fān shēn xié lǒu xī ǎo bù 翻身斜搂膝拗步 turn body, oblique brush knee twist step 53. lǎn què wěi 揽雀尾 grasping the bird's tail 54. xié dān biān 斜单鞭 oblique single whip
Section IV
55. yě mǎ fēn zōng 野马分鬃 parting wild horse's mane 56. shí zì yě mǎ fēn zōng 十字野马分鬃 cross hands, parting wild horse's mane 57。shàng bù zuǒ yù nǚ chuān suō 上步左玉女穿梭 step forward, jade girl works the shuttle, left 58。zhuǎn shēn yòu yù nǚ chuān suō 转身右玉女穿梭 turn body, jade girl works at shuttle, right 59。shí zì yě mǎ fēn zōng 十字野马分鬃 cross hands, parting wild horse's mane 60。shàng bù zuǒ yù nǚ chuān suō 上步左玉女穿梭 step up, jade girl works the shuttle, left 61。zhuǎn shēn yòu yù nǚ chuān suō 转身右玉女穿梭 turn body, jade girl works at shuttle, right 62。shàng bù lǎn què wěi 上步揽雀尾 step forward, grasping the bird's tail 63。dān biān 单鞭 single whip 64。yún shǒu 云手 cloud hands 65。dān biān 单鞭 single whip
Section V
66。xià shì 下势 downward posture (蛇下势 - shé xià shì - snake creep down) 67。jīn jī dú lì 金鸡独立 golden cockerel stands on one leg 68。dào niǎn hóu 倒撵猴 step back repulse monkey 69。xié fēi shì 斜飞势 flying oblique posture 70。tí shǒu shàng shì 提手上势 raise hand and step up 71。bái hè liàng ch 白鹤亮翅 white crane spreads its wings 72。lǒu xī ǎo bù 搂膝拗步 brush knee twist step 73。hǎi dǐ zhēn 海底针 needle at the bottom of the sea 74。shàn tōng bèi 扇通背 fan through back 75。piě shēn chuí 撇身捶 parry and punch 撇【piē】 cast aside; throw overboard; neglect; skim. 撇【piě】 throw; fling; cast; left-falling stroke (in Chinese characters). 76。xiè bù bān lán chuí 卸步搬拦捶 step up diverting and blocking fist 77。shàng bù lǎn què wěi 上步揽雀尾 grasping the bird's tail 78。dān biān 单鞭 single whip 79。yún shǒu 云手 cloud hands 80。dān biān 单鞭 single whip
Section VI
81。zuǒ gāo tàn mǎ 左高探马 scout on horseback (left) 82。yíng miàn zhǎng 迎面掌 palm goes to meet face 83。shí zì bǎi lián 十字摆莲 one handed lotus 84。lǒu xī ǎo bù 搂膝拗步 brush knee twist step 85。jìn bù zhǐ dāng chuí 进步指裆捶 step up, punch to crotch 86。shàng bù lǎn què wěi 上步揽雀尾 step up grasping the bird's tail 87。dān biān 单鞭 single whip 88。xià shì 下势 downward posture 89。shàng bù qī xīng 上步七星 seven stars 90。tuì bù kuà hǔ 退步跨虎 step back ride tiger 91。zhuǎn shēn pū miàn zhǎng 转身扑面掌 turn body, hit face palm 92。fān shēn shuāng bǎi lián 翻身双摆莲 turn, double handed lotus 93。wān gōng shè hǔ 弯弓射虎 curve bow shoot tiger 94。zuǒ gāo tàn mǎ 左高探马 scout on horseback (left) 95。yíng miàn zhǎng 迎面掌 palm goes to meet face 96。fān shēn piě shēn chuí 翻身撇身捶 turn body, parry and punch 97。shàng bù zuǒ gāo tàn mǎ 上步左高探马 step up scout on horseback (left) 98。shàng bù lǎn què wěi 上步揽雀尾 step up grasping the bird's tail 99。dān biān 单鞭 single whip 100。hé tài jí 合太极 closing tai chi
Not sure if this will work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Y18sTuexaTo
Frank
Hi Frank,
it worked! the video quality is a bit poor but it’s nice to see an authentic early version of the form we are learning. (If you hadn’t realised Wu Yinghua in the video is Wu Jianquan’s daughter and Jin Ye’s (my teacher) grandmother.
Pete and Steve,
note the footwork in cloud hands – it’s different again to both Jin Ye’s and Ma Jiangbao’s!
remember your 盘 架
Hi Bar!!!
Here I send you a link that I found of the 110 anniversary of the birth of Master Ma Yueliang, with old photos and a video where he performs the long form. I hope you like it.
Greetings from Spain.
Guille
http://youtu.be/qyPeEYjqE1o
http://youtu.be/jee5j6rN3mg
http://youtu.be/24zwnaqTXY0
http://youtu.be/wpVCjTZWw4M
Hi Guille,
good to here from you. The video’s of Ma are a great find. I haven’t seen any of him practicing the slow form before. They’re good quality too, despite the apocalyptic looking backdrop!
Despite the poor video quality I like this video, because it’s YANG style!!
Yang Sauchung (1910–1985) was around at the same time as Wu Jianquan (1870–1942). They both learned taijiquan from similar heritage. Wu Jianquan learned the small frame, Yang Sauchung the large frame.
From this video you can really see the roots of Wu style.