Tutorial Video Part 1 - Simplified 24 form Tai Chi

 24式太极拳教程-1



Tutorial video that teaches the process of Simplified 24 form Tai Chi Chuan.

This first video explained that all forms of Tai Chi Chuan when practiced, require a focus mind. The heart should stay calm and conscious. Using the mind to guide the movements.

Just like a person who practice calligraphy......

1st National Tai Chi for Wellness on 15 May 2010 with Dr Paul Lam

With reference to my previous blog post on "Dr Paul Lam to visit Singapore on 15 May 2010", I found another latest information released by the People's Association Media Advisory on the Tai Chi mass workout on 15 May 2010, click on this link to see its latest news: http://www.pa.gov.sg/images/news/10051211193852646.pdf

So, joining Dr Paul Lam, there are Mr Tan Boon Huat, Chief Executive director of PA, and Dr Lau Tang Ching, Singapore Rheumatology specialist, Vice Chairman, National Arthritis Foundation & President, Osteoporosis Society (Singapore). I guess Dr Lau will help to translate for Dr Paul Lam, so for those non English speaking senior citizens or mandarin speaking people could now ease their worries. Why I mention because I met an "auntie" last Sat at the Community Club, she asked me what language Dr Paul Lam speaks, and that she can't understand "Ang Moh".

Click the below to see the venue and programme details on 15 May 2010:
http://www.lifeskillslifestyle.org.sg/images/main/PAtaiji_SimplyHer.pdf

I heard that the seats available for Dr Lam's talk is already full. But we can join to learn the tai chi in the morning mass workout. There will be booths with people demonstrating to you "live" the Tai Chi rhythm ball 太极柔力球 and teach you how to do it, and there will be healthy cooking demonstration. I'll be bring my pen and paper for the recipe.

Here's a video I found on Tai Chi Rhythm Ball 太极柔力球,

I thought the ball was sticked on his "bat", but no, it's the control of strength. Anyway I have never seen this before, but I'm going to see it "live" at PA headquarter on 15 May 2010.

Steps to perform the Singapore Integrated 13 Style Tai Chi for Fitness 新加坡综合健身太极拳十三式

I found this video on YouTube. The demonstrator presented this Singapore Integrated 13 Style Tai Chi for Fitness  新加坡综合健身太极拳十三式 beautifully, and this video also shows the steps (in chinese subtitle). When I read this video information, the demonstrator is Daniel Tan, a Tai Chi master himself.



This routine was composed by the Singapore Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Federation 新加坡武术总会,   integrating the forms abstracted from Chen style陈式, Yang Style杨式, Wu style吴氏, Wu style 武式, and Sun style 孙式. The routine was introduced to all the instructors in Singapore that it was easy to learn because there were less forms to memorize, smooth, fluent, and it took shorter duration of only less than 3 minutes to perform. I've translated the various forms as follow:

Form 1 - Commencing {Wu Style}起势 (武式)
Form 2 - Left Brush Knee and Twist Step {Yang Style} 左搂膝拗步(杨式)
Form 3 - Strum the Lute {Yang Style} 手揮琵琶(杨式）
Form 4 - Forward Parry and Punch {Sun Style} 進步搬拦捶(孫式)
Form 5 - Apparent Close Up {Sun Style} 如封似闭(孫式）
Form 6 - Open and Close Hand {Sun Style} 开合手(孫式）
Form 7 - Flying Obliquely {Yang Style} 钭飞势 (杨式)
Form 8 - Hide Hand and Strike Fist {Chen Style} 掩手肱捶 (陈式）
Form 9 - Leisurely tie coat on both sides {Wu Style} 右左懒扎衣(武式）
Form 10 - Needle at the bottom {Wu Style} 按式(武式）
Form 11 - Flash Arm {Chen Style} 闪通背(陈式）
Form 12 - Work at shuttles on both sides {Wu Style}右左玉女穿梭(吳式)
Form 13 - Closing {Wu Style} 收势(吳式)

Singapore Integrated Tai Chi 13 Style for Fitness 新加坡综合健身太极拳十三式

Last lesson, one of my classmates mentioned an article from the Chinese newspaper Lian He Zao Bao 联合早报 published on 21 March 2010 that Singapore came up with a new 13 style Tai Chi. After some research on this news article from the library and internet, I managed to find a very recent video demonstrating this latest Singapore 13 styles Tai Chi.



This routine was composed by the Singapore Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Federation 新加坡武术总会,  the routine integrated the forms abstracted from Chen style陈式, Yang Style杨式, Wu style吴氏, Wu style武式, and Sun style 孙式. The duration to perform the routine takes less than 3 minutes.

A Hilarious Tai Chi Master Video

Very often I would browsed the YouTube for videos on Tai Chi to help me recall my steps for my practice.
I happened to stumble into this very funny video, that I can't help laughing after watching.

Song for Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan

This song is often been played for performing Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan. The song has strong momentum that everybody in our class practicing Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan likes it very much.

Then, I find out the song title is “中国功夫" by "屠洪刚” ("China Kung Fu" by Tu Hong Gang)

Videos on Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan

I found this 2 videos on YouTube that demonstrated the Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan beautifully. To perform Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan, there are six sections, a total of 52 steps to learn. So far these are the 2 videos that I've found on YouTube that the Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan is well demonstrated, neat and proper. Sometimes I would refer to videos to help me recall the routine or sequence of the steps I've learnt during lesson.  I notice there is only a very slight difference at the 4th step.

Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan 52 form well demonstrated


Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan 52 form performed with Kung Fu Fan music

Full Demonstration of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan 24 Simplified form 二十四式杨式简化太极拳

The video I found from YouTube below shows a full performance or full demonstration of the Yang Style Tai Chi 24 simplified form 二十四式杨式简化太极拳



This entire 24 simplified form takes about 5-7 minutes to complete, depending on your movements.

Tai Chi Chuan Simplified 24 form 二十四式简化太极拳

In Tai Chi, a sequence of movements that follows a specific order is called a "form", "routine", "sequence", "set" or "step". A single posture within a sequence can be called a "form"

Tai Chi 24 form 二十四式简化太极拳 consists of 24-step routine that is referred to as the "short form". It is also known as the "simplified form" for beginner to start with on Tai Chi practice. This 24-step routine has a standardized sequence, each of its posture is specifically numbered and classified. A short excerpt from the form will contain several movements that are counted as a single move. To illustrate, look at the video I found on YouTube below at 4:47, on form 21 "Turn, Intercept and Punch", it appears to have 3 movements, but is counted as one.

I found this video from YouTube, demonstrating Tai Chi Chuan 24 simplified form and also show the name of the steps in english subtitle.



The entire 24-step simplified form take about 5 minutes to exercise. It should be practiced with a fluid & continuous movement, an even pace with no obvious pauses.