Note:  in the following text

•  Each paragraph is a single move where all body parts must start and end their movements at the same time, although each part will be moving at a different speed and through a different range of movements. This is known as the Tai Chi principle of ‘synchronicity’.
• Please note that T’ai Chi is performed very slowly, becoming even slower as you advance.  'Slowly' is implied with every move.
• Breathing is shown by IN and OUT.
• Directions are:
• Forward / in front of (same direction as body is facing),
• Backward / behind (opposite direction as body is facing),
• Up (away from floor),
• Down (towards floor),
• Out (away from the body) and
• In (towards the body).
• Left and Right are abbreviated to L and R.
• Cardinal compass points are abbreviated to Nñ, Eð, òS, ïW, NEö, SEø and so on.  North is taken as the direction you face when starting the form.

   

SECOND SECTION

Same as Section One 1. Opening Posture

16          Embrace Tiger, Carry Home To The Mountain

IN Raise hands so that wrists cross in front of center point of chest (the same position as the end of cross arms) - R wrist on the outside, palms facing chest.

(If you continued from section1, start here - the end of cross arms here - start breathing IN)

OUT / IN if from cross arms Transfer weight to R leg.  L foot, hips and shoulders turn 90º R to Eð.  R arm moves to the standard 45º position in front of the L shoulder, palm down, fingers pointing NEö. L wrist bends over R wrist, palm to heaven.  You look 45º R over shoulder to SEø. Keep bum tucked.

OUT Transfer weight back to L leg.  Keep hips Eð.  Lift the R foot just off the ground and replace in a half print, pointing SEø.  Looking SEø.  R arm does not move and retains the 45º position in front of L shoulder.  Shoulders turn to Eð.  L arm goes out behind you at the normal 45º back angle, palm to heaven.

IN Slide R foot forward on SEø diagonal, on the ball of the foot.  Brush R knee with R hand.  Raise L hand to L ear, palm down.  Narrow stance – it doesn’t open to shoulder width.

OUT Transfer weight onto R foot as you twist the hips forward to SEø.  L hand strikes up to the opponent's face.  Bring the R hand back to the side, in line with the hips, palm flexed and horizontal to the floor.

17          Grasp Sparrow's Tail

IN Raise R arm, wrist to eye height, rotating hips and shoulders 45º L to Eð, thus shortening L arm, so that the L palm faces the inside of the R elbow (fingers point forward to SEø).

Continue as per  2. Grasp Sparrow's Tail on SEø diagonal, from Roll Back.

18          Diagonal Single Whip

IN Move weight backwards onto L leg, keeping arms out straight, straightening wrists, palms horizontal to the floor, fingers pointing forward SEø.

OUT Keep weight on L leg.  Turn R foot, leg, hips and shoulders to Nñ. Arms still extended fingers pointing forward to Nñ. Keep bum tucked.

IN Transfer weight onto R foot.  Turn head, shoulders and arms 45º R to NEö.  Hips remain Nñ.

OUT Lift L foot to protect the R knee and unwind: the hips, head, arms and shoulders turning 90º to face õNW.

IN Step forward, full print with the L leg along the õNW diagonal.

IN Transfer weight onto the L leg and step forward, again on the õNW diagonal with the R heel.  R foot Nñ of L foot, shoulder width apart, toes up pointing õNW, in a North-South stance.

19             Fist Under Elbow

This is the only move that starts with an out breath.

OUT Lower the ball of the R foot, pointing õNW.  Turn palm of the R hand around baby finger, palm facing òS, fingers pointing ïW.  L arm lowers to 45º, directly in front of the body.

OUT Transfer weight fully onto R leg.  Raise the L heel off the ground, make sure to keep foot pointing õNW.  L arms lowers to protect the groin.  Hips, shoulders and head turn 45º L to ïW.  R hand would execute a slap to opponent’s face.

IN Raise the L knee.  Raise the L fingertips to point up, then raise the L hand sharply under the chin, palm forward to ïW.  Deflect across the face with the R hand, to end in the standard 45º position with the R hand in front of the L shoulder.

OUT Lower the L heel to the floor, without putting any weight on it – heel stamp forward to ïW.  L hand strikes out to the opponent's face.  Bring R hand into fist under the L elbow.

20     Fall Back And Twist Like Monkey - RLRLR

Head remains looking forward to ïW throughout the entire fall back sequence.  Do not ‘drag’ moving foot on floor, but lift it just up off the floor.

20a Intro

IN R hand lowers to side, facing thigh.  L hand turns to heaven.  Turn L hand fully to feel rotation in the shoulder.

20b Fall Back And Twist Like Monkey

IN Draw L foot back to R ankle.  Hands start to raise to heaven, palms up.

IN Shoulders, hips and L knee turn 45º R  to õNW as the hands continue moving.

IN L foot goes back on the õNW diagonal as both arms rise, either side of the shoulders, and above shoulder height, finger tips to heaven, so that the Chi can flow down the arms to the shoulders.  Centralise weight, knees bent, back heel off the ground.

IN Turn L foot 90º, so that toes will end up facing ÷SW, as you start to bend R arm at the elbow and bring it to your ear.  When R arm is about a third of the distance, you start to sink weight onto L leg, remembering to keep the hips and shoulders õNW.  When R arm is two-thirds of the way to your ear, you move weight fully back onto the L leg and sit on it.  Hips and shoulders still õNW.

OUT  Hips and shoulders twist forward to ïW. R foot turns forward.  R hand strikes forward to the opponent's face. L hand draws back to the waist (palm up).

Repeat the mirror image of 20b (fall back L).  Then fall back R, L and R again.

21          Slanting Flying

IN Draw R foot back to L ankle.  Arms start to move.  L hand moving forward at waist height, in front of L shoulder.  R hand starting to deflect through face.  Head facing ïW.

IN Shoulders and hips turn 45º L to ÷SW.  R leg goes back on the ÷SW diagonal as R arm continues to deflect through the face, ending at the standard 45º, R hand in front of L shoulder, palm down.  L palm is placed, palm up, under R palm.  Centralise weight, knees bent, back heel off the ground.  Head facing ïW.

IN Turn R foot 90º, so that your toes will end up facing õNW, and place weight fully on it.  Rotate hands clockwise through 90º. L hand barely moving, palm turns to face Nñ.  R hand rotating round, as if holding a ball, palm ending facing Sò.  Keep elbows in. Hips still ÷SW.    Head facing ïW.

OUT The hands go through another 90º rotation, staying on the L side of the body in front of L shoulder, ending with the L hand on top, palm facing the floor, and the R hand underneath, R palm facing up.  The L foot turns 90º to face Nñ, head, hips and shoulders face ïW.

IN Weight is transferred forward ïW to L leg. R foot is lifted just off the floor.  Whole body turns 135º to face NEö, but hips stop at Nñ.  R foot is returned to the floor, pointing NEö on ball of foot.  Arms have remained in same position, and centralised relative to the body.  Head facing NEö.

IN Step forward NEö  and out to shoulder width, heel down, toes up.

OUT Transfer weight onto the R leg.  R arm "flies up" the L side of the body, arcing clockwise out to the R, once it reaches eye height, to end pointing forward NEö, palm up.  R arm quite extended, in front of R shoulder.  L arm comes down to the side of the body and ends with flexed wrist, palm to the floor, fingers pointing Nñ.

22          Raise Hands, Lift Leg

IN Holding arms firmly in position, move weight forward on to R leg.

IN Raise L foot to bum, ankle flexed.

IN Twist hips while holding rest of body still, to face Nñ. i.e. Turn the body within the arms.

IN Replace L foot behind you, and at 45º, toes facing õNW. Hips Nñ and transfer weight onto L leg.

Continue as per rest of 4 Raise Hands Lift Leg.

23             White Stork Displays Wing

Same as 5 White Stork Displays Wing.

24          Brush Knee, Twist Left

Same as 6 Brush Knee, Twist Left

25          Needle At The Bottom Of The Sea

IN Keep arms still.  Move weight fully onto L leg.

IN Bend R knee, lift your R foot to bum.  Flex the foot and endeavour to keep the R knee at the same height. Do not allow the R knee to drop forward.

IN Return R foot to exactly where it came from.  Remember to replace foot at 45º pointing õNW.  Hips facing forward ïW.

IN Transfer weight back onto R foot.  L arms moves forward to strike with fingers extended to the opponent's solar plexus (center body - CV15).  Lift L knee, L foot positioned to protect R knee.  R arm is drawn back in front of the face, palm down, moving to the R across the forehead, ending in a salute at R temple.

OUT Lower the L foot, placing the ball of the foot onto the floor halfway through the move.  Dive the R hand down like a needle, palm facing in to Sò, to the floor.  Bend the knees as you do so.  L hand lowers, wrist flexed palm down, half way down L calf, R hand stops on the other side of the L calf, also halfway down.  Arch back, bum out.  Look up and forward to ïW.  Weight is completely on R foot. Emphasis is on correct posture.  Do not dip upper body to get hand position correct thereby compromising upright body posture.

26     Fan Through The Back

IN Stand up, placing L hand under the chin, palm facing forward to ïW, and R hand in front of the mouth with elbow out, palm also forward ïW. Tuck bum under as soon as possible.

IN Step L leg forward ïW and out to shoulder width.

OUT Transfer weight to L leg.  Strike forward to the opponent's face with L hand.  R hand pushing out to the side, with feeling of opening a window, palm ends facing Nñ.

27     Turn and Strike Opponent with Back of Fist

IN Move weight back onto R leg.  Nothing happens to the arms.

OUT L foot, shoulders, hips and arms turn 135º to NEö, head turns to look Eð.  R arm drops to a fist in front of the L waist, fist is a fist’s distance from the body.  L arm rises at 45º to protect the head. Keep bum tucked.

IN Move weight onto L leg.  Nothing happens to the arms.

IN Lower R foot to L ankle, step forward Eð and out to shoulder width, heel down, toes up.

IN Transfer weight partially onto R foot (ball of foot just off floor). Raise your arms above your head.  R hand still in a fist, back of hand pointing forward to Eð.  L hand open palm facing back ïW.

IN As ball of R foot touches the ground, start to slowly shift weight forward.  Strike back of right fist forward Eð.  L palm push down behind, end with arm at 45º behind the body.

IN Turn L hand clockwise - palm up ïW.

OUT Continue to transfer the weight onto R foot.  Twist hips forward to Eð.  Flex L wrist forward to Eð and then strike forward in an arc from behind to the front, wrist flexed, ending at shoulder height, striking under chin of opponent.  R hand pulls back in a fist to end at the R waist.

28          Deflect Sideways, Parry, Step Forward, Punch

IN Weight moves back onto L leg (pointing NEö).  Open the R hand and deflect through the face, closing into a fist in front of the L shoulder.  Bring L hand in to the waist, palm up. Hips turn to NEö.

OUT Raise R knee, as L arm goes out behind you at 45º.

Continue as per 13 Deflect Sideways, Parry, Step Forward, Punch, but heading Eð

29          Grasp Sparrow's Tail

IN Move weight back to R leg.  Pull R hand to waist, palm up. L arm deflects through face to end at 45º, in front of R shoulder.  Hips square to Eð.

IN Turn L palm around baby finger to face Eð.

OUT Turn Hips, shoulders and L foot 45º L to NEö.  L hand rotates anti-clockwise around the elbow to vertical, in front of L shoulder.

OUT R hand goes forward to same line as L hand, and follows the L hand around in a circle, until the L hand is in front of the L waist, palm up, wrist bent back and fingers pointing down.  R hand also in front of L shoulder, but palm down.

IN Transfer weight forward slowly to L foot.  L hand comes back to chest in a curve, ending under the pectoral muscles.  R hand travels forward Eð to strike opponent's throat.

IN Transfer weight fully to L foot. Lift right heel. Hands roll around an imaginary ball, R hand scooping down in a curve and L hand striking straight forward to throat, ending with L palm on top of R palm, ready to ward off to R.

IN Step forward with R leg, bringing legs together, then forward Eð and out to shoulder width.

Continue as per 2b Ward-off to the Right (Peng) breathe out.

30          Single Whip

Same as 3 Single Whip

31          Wave Hands Like Clouds - R&L x5

31a             Introduction

This move is done to position you at the start of the sequence, facing ïW.

IN Move weight back onto R leg, nothing happens to the arms.

OUT Turn L foot 90º R to Nñ, trying to twist hips, shoulders and head 180º R to Eð.  R hand opens, arm bent, hand in the center of the chest, same height as for 45 degree in front.  L hand lowers to out in front of abdomen area, as though holding a large stomach.  R palm directly above L palm, in center of body, facing ïW.

IN R hand lowers to abdomen position. L hand rises to eye height, palm facing face, L hand on the inside. Step out to shoulder width with L leg.  Weight remains on R leg. 

OUT Transfer weight to L leg. Rotate body 180º from Eð slowly, keeping knees bent, back straight, bum tucked. Just as the body is about to reach the full rotation to ïW, the L palm turns down to face the floor.

31b     Wave Hands Like Clouds - R&L

This is the start of the repeated move; facing ïW, wave to Eð (R) then back to ïW (L).  Feet must stay parallel, just off the floor for the foot changes.

IN Change L and R hand positions, R hand on inside, as you bring R foot “next to” L foot - a fist distance between the feet.  R hand is at shoulder height, center chest.  The L hand in the abdomen region, center body, hands in line with each other.  Feet are parallel and facing Nñ, weight on L leg.  Hips, shoulders and head are ïW. 

OUT Slowly rotate the body 180º around to the Eð, transferring weight from the L leg to the R, looking into the palm of the R hand - thumb is at eye height.  As you are about to reach the Eð extremity - head, hips and shoulder facing Eð, the R palm turns to face the floor and your gaze extends to the horizon.

IN R hand lowers to abdomen position. L hand rises to eye height, palm facing face, L hand on the inside. Step out to shoulder width with L leg.  Weight remains on R leg.

OUT Transfer weight to L leg. Rotate body 180º from Eð to ïW slowly, keeping knees bent, back straight, bum tucked. Just as the body is about to reach the full rotation to ïW, the L palm turns down to face the floor.

Repeat 31b Wave Hands Like Clouds - R&L (another 4 times).

32          Single Whip

Similar to 3 Single Whip

IN Change hand positions again, as in Wave Hands Like Clouds, and bring R foot up to L at a 45º angle õNW, big toes touching.

OUT Transfer weight onto R leg.  Turn hips and shoulders to Nñ. L arm lifts to just in front of the R shoulder (palm facing shoulder). R hand slaps (with back of hand) across the face Nñ and then closes into "dirty nappy", arm just behind the shoulder, at eye height NEö.

IN Lift the L foot and place it facing ïW in a half print while the hips and shoulder (with arms) adjust 45º L to õNW. L hand deflects across the chest to end in front of the L shoulder, palm facing the shoulder. 

IN Turn the L palm to face ïW.

IN Step L foot forward ïW and out to shoulder width.

OUT Strike forward ïW with the L hand to the opponent's face.  Weight moves forward.  Turn hips and shoulders forward.

33     High Pat on Horse

IN Weight stays on L leg. R hand opens and comes to behind R ear.  L arm turns over, palm to heaven.

OUT Weight moves back onto R leg.  L foot pulls back into a half print.  Pull back L hand to the waist, palm up.  R hand strikes, palm-down, to the opponent's throat (higher than the usual Tai Chi arm and slightly more extended).