Notes on Yang Style Taijiquan

108 Movement Yang Style Long Form
Tsung Hwa Jou, "Tao of Tai-Chi Chuan," 1980.
T. T. Liang, S. A. Olsen, "Imagination Becomes Reality," 1992.
Videotapes: Terence Dunn, Fong Ha, Lu Gui Rong, Wong Doc Fai,
Yu Cheng Hsiang, Ye Xiao Long

85 Movement Yang Style Long Form
Yang Cheng-Fu 1931-1936 Published Versions of the Yang T'ai Chi Ch'uan Long Form
Fu Zhongwen "Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan", 1963, 1999.
Yang Zhenduo. " Yang Style Taijiquan," 1985.
Zhang Fuxing, "Handbook of T'ai Chi Ch'uan Exercises", 1996

Why do some Taijiquan teachers want the number of movements in
the long form to add up to 108? Speculations:

The word "Upanisad" means "to come and sit down near the sage for a lesson." There
are over 200 Upanisads, although the traditional number is 108.
- A Source Book in Indian Philosophy, p.38

Yang Style Taijiquan Long Form
Comparison of 108 Movement to 85 Movement Listings
First Section

Posture Number 108 Moves	Name of Move	Posture Number 85 Moves

1	Preparation	1
2	Step Out, Opening Move	2
3	Ward-Off Left	3 Part One, Peng Left
4	Grasping the Sparrow's Tail	3 Part One, Peng Right 3 Part Two, Roll-back (Lu) 3 Part Three, Press (Ji) 3 Part Four, Push (An)
5	Single Whip	4
6	Raise Hands, Shoulder Stroke	5
7	White Crane Spreads Its Wings	6
8	Brush Left Knee and Push	7
9	Play the Pi Pa (Lute)	8
10	Brush Left Knee, Push and Twist Step	9 Part One
11	Brush Right Kneen, Push and Twist Step	9 Part Two
12	Brush Left Knee and Push	9 Part Three
13	Play the Pi Pa (Lute)	10
14	Brush Left Knee and Push	11
15	Step Forward, Deflect, Parry and Punch	12
16	Apparent Withdraw then Push	13
17	Cross Hands	14

Yang Style Taijiquan Long Form
Comparison of 108 Movement to 85 Movement Listings
Second Section, Part I

Posture Number 108 Moves	Name of Move	Posture Number 85 Moves

18	Embrace the Tiger, Return to the Mountain	15, Part One, Brush Knee
19	Grasping the Sparrow's Tail	15 Part Two, Roll Back 15 Part Three, Press 15 Part Three, Push
20	Fist Under Elbow	16
21	Step Back, Repulse Monkey - Right	17 Part One
22	Step Back, Repulse Monkey - Left	17 Part Two
23	Step Back, Repulse Monkey - Right	17 Part Three
24	Diagonal Slant Flying	18
25	Raise Hands, Shoulder Stroke	19
26	White Crane Spreads Its Wings	20
27	Brush Left Knee and Push	21
28	Needle at Sea Bottom	22
29	Fan Through the Back	23
30	Turn, Chop with Fist	24
31	Step Forward, Parry and Punch	25
32	Ward-Off Right	26
33	Grasping the Sparrow's Tail	26
34	Single Whip	27
35	Wave Hands Like Clouds	28
36	Single Whip	29
37	High Pat on Horse	30

Yang Style Taijiquan Long Form
Comparison of 108 Movement to 85 Movement Listings
Second Section, Part II

Posture Number 108 Moves	Name of Move	Posture Number 85 Moves

38	Kick with Right Toe
39	Kick with Left Toe
40	Turn, Kick with Left Sole
41	Brush Left Knee, Right Hand Push, Twist Step
42	Brush Right Knee, Left Hand Push
43	Step Up, Punch Downward
44	Turn, Chop with Fist
45	Step Forward, Parry, Punch
46	Kick with Right Sole
47	Strike Tiger, Left Side
48	Strike Tiger, Right Side
49	Kick with Right Sole
50	Strike Opponent's Ears with Fists
51	Kick with Left Sole
52	Pivot Around, Kick with Right Sole
53	Step Forward, Deflect, Parry, Punch
54	Apparent Withdraw, Push
55	Cross Hands

Some argue that the popular version of the Yang style long hand form is a watered down,
inauthentic, easy version of the "true" Yang style of the founder, Yang Lu-Chan (1799-1872).
They argue that Yang Cheng-Fu created the popular version for many reasons, such as:
he was physically unable perform the more demanding older Yang family forms, he wanted
to attract more persons to practice the art who were less athletic and not as interested in
martial applications, he kept the more demanding forms for inner-school disciples, he
developed a form with longer, more open, and higher stances that matched his physique
and his more easy going and friendly personality, and he was more creative and experimental
that his ancestors. Since no published books, manuscripts, or illustrated manuals exist
to document the forms practiced by his grandfather, it is somewhat difficult to assess these
arguments. However, whatever the reasons are that led Yang Cheng-Fu to modify previous
forms, we thank him for his creative efforts, influential teaching, and for creating an elegant,
challenging, relaxing, and energizing sequence that has become the preeminent Taijiquan
form practiced all around the world.

"In the life time of Yang Lu-chan there was no photography or video technology. So we can only
surmise and take from the recorded literature and hear-say and create an image of what his form
and style was like. In Chen Wei Ming's questions and answers on Taijiquan, he mentions that
Yang Lu-chan when performing 'snake creeps down' was reputed to be able to pick up a coin
with his mouth, he was so low that it was like sitting on the floor. He was also accredited with
being able to use elbow stroke to an opponent's knee. From these records we can gather than
Yang Lu-chan's form was rather low. Also, Yang Ban Hou and Yang Shao Hou when they practised
their style was closer to Chen style. One of the Yang family taught the Wu family so we know the
Wu style developed from Yang style. How close the many styles are to Yang Lu-chan is difficult
to ascertain with the material and information made available."
- Professor Li Deyin

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Notes on Yang Style Taijiquan

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