24-form tai chi chuan


The 24-posture Simplified Form of t'ai chi ch'uan, sometimes called the Beijing or Peking form for its place of origin, is a short version of Taiji composed of twenty-four unique movements.

History

The form was the result of an effort by the Chinese Sports Committee, which, in 1956, brought together four Taiji teachers - Chu Guiting, Cai Longyun, Fu Zhongwen, and Zhang Yu - to create a simplified form of Taiji as exercise for the masses. Some sources suggests that the form was structured in 1956 by master Li Tian Ji
. The creators truncated the traditional family style Taiji forms to 24 postures; taking about six minutes to perform and to give the beginner an introduction to the essential elements of Taijiquan, yet retain the traditional flavor of traditional longer hand forms. Henceforth, this form was avidly promoted by the People's Republic of China for general exercise, and was also taught to internees in Communist "re-education" camps. Due to this official promotion, the 24-form is most likely the Taiji form with the most practitioners in China and the world over.

Movements

Variations

5-Section Taijiquan: includes 5 routines, each modelled on the choreography of the Beijing 24 Taijiquan form. The first is a bare hand solo form similar to the 24 Form, then that is used as template for: a two person form, a solo sword form, a two person sword form and a Chen style variation. The system was developed by Sam Masich, a particularly noted Yang style practitioner.