Solo Forms – The First Pillar of T’ai Chi Ch’uan
Let’s start with something simple: what do we mean by a “form” in T’ai Chi? Here’s what Wikipedia says:
The different slow motion solo form training sequences of T’ai Chi Ch’uan are the best known manifestation of T’ai Chi for the general public. In English, they are usually called the hand form or just the form; in Chinese it is usually called châ€™Ă¼an. They are usually performed slowly by beginners and are designed to promote concentration, condition the body and acquaint students with the inventory of motion techniques for more advanced styles of martial arts training (see pushing hands).
Here’s another point of view – an excerpt from my book Exercising the Soul:
A ‘form’ in T’ai Chi is a pose, a posture, a kissin’ cousin to the asanas in hatha yoga. Forms are the physical exercises, the dances that move, condition and train your body. A form is a shape you create with your body, based on a specific self-defense technique – a still life, with intent to do bodily harm. According to the T’ai Chi Classics, orginally there were only 13 forms: five orientations of attack and defense, and eight essential energetic skills. In the old, old days, the forms were practiced one by one, much the same way you practice yoga. Create a shape, hold it, breathe into it, hold it longer. Create another shape, hold it… etc.
Over time, more forms were invented, and even given names like ‘Parting the Horse’s Mane,’ ‘Single Whip’ or ‘Wave Hands Like Clouds.’ Each name is a mnemonic code, a device to help players remember the structure, martial application or philosophy behind the shape they create with their bodies. Eventually, someone got the bright idea of linking all the forms together and moving through the whole chain continuously, and created ‘Long Boxing.’ (Long Boxing – the martial dance of health – was what T’ai Chi Ch’uan was called before someone invented the name T’ai Chi Ch’uan.) In China, the word we translate as ‘form’ may mena either the individual postures or the entire dance. Most people in America, however, will use ‘forms’ to refer to the routines of T’ai Chi, and a word like ‘movement’ or ‘posture’ to refer to the individual shapes.
T’ai Chi in Different Flavors: The Five Families
There are 5 different styles of traditional Tai Chi Ch’uan: Chen, Yang, Wu, Wu and Sun styles. All 5 styles are connected together; their outside movements are a little different but inside the energies are the same.
Chen Style – is fast and slow combined together with some jumping and stomping movements. Old form and cannon fist was created from the 17th generation. Internally, Chen style is characterized by the development of Fa Jing – or “Issuing Power.”
Yang Style – Yang Luchan learned the old form/frame from the Chen family. Yang movements are slow, even, gentle, big and large. Yang Luchan learned from the 14th generation Chen family member. The Yang style is characterized by the development of Peng Jing – or “Expanding Power.”
Wu/Hao Style – The 1st Wu style came from Yang and Chen styles and is slow, smooth, and small and the posture is high. Wu Yuxiang learned from Yang Banhou, 2nd generation Yang family member, and then learned from Chen Qingping, 14th generation. Wu/Hao is a smaller frame. Internally, this style is characterized by the development of Hua Jing – or “Yielding Power.”
Wu Style – 2nd Wu style comes from Quanyu who learned from Yang Banhou. They lean their body to the side but when they lean they think about being straight. Wu learned from Yang Banhou. Later in age Banhou’s frame became smaller.
Sun Style – Sun Lutang learned T’ai Chi fromHao Weijian, but he was already an adept in Xingyi and Bagua. His movements combine 3 styles of Tai Chi together, Wu, Hsing-I and Bagua.
According to most sources, the Chen style was created by Chen Wangting. Yang style was created by Yang Luchan; Wu/Hao style was created by Wu Yuxiang; the Wu style was created by Wu Jian Quan or Wu Quanyu; and finally the Sun style was created by Sun Lutang.