Tai Chi Form
Beijing 24

The Tai Chi form known as the Beijing Short Form, the Beijing 24 or the 24 step form was created in 1956 by the national Physical Culture and Sports Commission of the People's Republic of China as part of the drive to document and standardise Wushu training and introduce competition forms.

The Beijing 24 is aimed at the beginner and uses 24 representative moves from the Yang style. Although it has been simplified by reducing the repetition of moves and some of the more difficult kicks it contains the important and traditional characteristics and features of Yang style forms.

The short form enables beginners, old and young, to concentrate on, and appreciate, the essential principles of Tai Chi of effortless movement, relaxation and awareness of the mind and body as one.

Depending on how fast or slow you like to do your Tai Chi form the whole form takes between 4 and 8 minutes to do.

In spite of this being a standard form we have seen several ways of counting the individual moves and slightly different names for the moves themselves - storks and cranes - so here is our interpretation of what is happening!

Enjoy your Tai Chi form.

tai chi form - Beijing 24 index

* Beginning* Parting the Wild Horse's Mane (*3)* White Crane Spreads its Wings

* Brush Knee and Side Step (*3)

* Play the Lute* Step Back and Repulse Monkey (*4)

* Grasp the Sparrow's Tail - left
* Grasp the Sparrow's Tail - right
* Single Whip

* Wave Hands Like Clouds (*3)
* Single Whip
* High Pat on Horse

* Kick With Right Heel
* Strike Ears With Fists
* Kick With Left Heel

* Snake Creeps Down (left) and Golden Cockerel Stands on right leg
* Snake Creeps Down (right) and Golden Cockerel on Right Leg
* Fair Lady Weaves the Shuttle (right and left)

* Needle at the Bottom of the Sea
* Fan through Back
* Deflect Downwards, Parry and Punch

* Apparent Close Up
* Cross Hands
* Closing Form
