Recently in 24-step Category
I always like reference material like this - here's a posture by posture drawing of the simplified 24-step Taiji form. The page includes the names both in English and in Chinese, so if you're doing the 24-step form you might find it useful. Another good resource on this is the description of the postures, with links to the drawings.
Also, speaking of references and resources, I ran across this Taiji Links page which contains many many links. It's good to have a one-in-all reference but then it's hard finding material in it. Nevertheless I'm putting it here so that I review it later and see if I can find anything specific on it to review more and write about.
Also, speaking of references and resources, I ran across this Taiji Links page which contains many many links. It's good to have a one-in-all reference but then it's hard finding material in it. Nevertheless I'm putting it here so that I review it later and see if I can find anything specific on it to review more and write about.
One of the good things about learning the Chen style for me is that I can go back and think more about how I'm doing the movements in Yang style. So for example, my 24-step movements are now rounder and more curvy. This is something that a couple of teachers told me at different points in time, and now I'm experiencing it first hand. Here is another demonstration of the 24-step by Su Renfeng - you can see how round and smooth the movements are:
Master Jesse Tsao teaches Taiji in San Diego and and has studied for a long time with professor Li De Yin. One of his great contributions to the education of Taiji is a comprehensive set of videos (available on DVD as well as VHS) on various related topics, from different forms of Qigong to various styles of Taiji. Here is a sample of his 24-step video:
I have particularly enjoyed his silk reeling and a few other Qigong DVDs. He is a really lovable instructor. You can find the complete list of DVDs on his web site, TaiChiHealthways.com.
I have particularly enjoyed his silk reeling and a few other Qigong DVDs. He is a really lovable instructor. You can find the complete list of DVDs on his web site, TaiChiHealthways.com.
Last week I was fortunate to attend a workshop with Grandmaster Li De Yin, one of the creators of the 42-step standard competition routine. This is one of the benefits of studying at a respected school - Your teacher sets up workshops with grandmasters you wouldn't otherwise get to meet.
I wanted to take both the 42-step and 24-step with him, but unfortunately the 42-step workshop was canceled. Nevertheless the 24-step workshop was great because I knew the form and I could get some extra details and corrections. Here are some pictures:
I wanted to take both the 42-step and 24-step with him, but unfortunately the 42-step workshop was canceled. Nevertheless the 24-step workshop was great because I knew the form and I could get some extra details and corrections. Here are some pictures:
I promised I will talk about the significance of the 24-step routine. Taiji is an ancient martial art, and like anything ancient, people have changed it over time based on personal taste, preferences, and new needs, resulting in many styles and flavors. I relate to that very much because the same thing has happened to music in my culture.
While having different styles and flavors is necessary in terms of authenticity and also the growth of an art form, it makes things hard when it comes to education, "common understanding", and competition.
Therefore back in 1956 a shorter version of the Yang style Taiji was developed as the "standard simplified form". Some of the harder physical moves were taken out to make it appropriate for pretty much any age, doable in about 6 minutes. This routine has 24 postures or "steps" and is therefore called the 24-step Taiji routine.
24-step is the most widely known and practiced form of Taiji these days. So if you travel to a country far far away (for me Australia!) and you happen to run into some people doing Taiji in a park, if you know the 24-step form you have a good chance of being able to join them and enjoy group Taiji.
I have heard - I hope I can see it some day - that in the mornings people get together in parks in Beijing and do the 24-step Taiji to music. The only way to achieve group practice at such levels is through having a standard, not-so-hard form. That's why if you're into Taiji you pretty much have to learn 24-step. Additionally, if you're doing a different style like Chen or Wu, 24-step will give you a flavor of what Yang style looks like without making you learn the really long 108-step original routine!
A detailed account of the 24-step form can be found here.
While having different styles and flavors is necessary in terms of authenticity and also the growth of an art form, it makes things hard when it comes to education, "common understanding", and competition.
Therefore back in 1956 a shorter version of the Yang style Taiji was developed as the "standard simplified form". Some of the harder physical moves were taken out to make it appropriate for pretty much any age, doable in about 6 minutes. This routine has 24 postures or "steps" and is therefore called the 24-step Taiji routine.
24-step is the most widely known and practiced form of Taiji these days. So if you travel to a country far far away (for me Australia!) and you happen to run into some people doing Taiji in a park, if you know the 24-step form you have a good chance of being able to join them and enjoy group Taiji.
I have heard - I hope I can see it some day - that in the mornings people get together in parks in Beijing and do the 24-step Taiji to music. The only way to achieve group practice at such levels is through having a standard, not-so-hard form. That's why if you're into Taiji you pretty much have to learn 24-step. Additionally, if you're doing a different style like Chen or Wu, 24-step will give you a flavor of what Yang style looks like without making you learn the really long 108-step original routine!
A detailed account of the 24-step form can be found here.
This is a great video demonstrating the simplified Yang short form - the 24-step Taiji. I will write more about the significance of the 24-step routine in a separate post:
Here's the direct link in case the video does not show properly.
Here's the direct link in case the video does not show properly.
