108-form Wu family tai chi chuan

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 , they are usually called the ''hand form'' or just the ''form''; in it is usually called ''ch'uan'': 拳 . They are performed slowly by beginners and are said to promote concentration, condition the body and acquaint students with the inventory of motion techniques for more advanced styles of martial arts training. There are also solo weapons forms, as well as much shorter and repetitive sequences to train power generation leverages as a form of . The various forms of Wu style pushing hands have their own one person drill routines, as well, which fulfil some of the same functions as the power generation drills.

Differences between schools

The following list is an English translation from Chinese of the empty hand or fist form list published in Wu Kung-tsao's ''Wu Family T'ai Chi Ch'uan''. Different schools will use different translations. Notably, the family's Shanghai branch has a different enumeration scheme, numbering the same "long form" routine sequence with 89 posture names instead of 108. Almost all of the individual posture names are the same, however.

Wu style form list

The postures of the family style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan are listed below. For each unique form name there is a literal translation, the Hong Kong school's translation and then the Shanghai school's translation in italics where they differ, followed by the original Chinese characters:

1. Begin T'ai Chi Form - The Beginning of T'ai Chi - ''The Preparation Form''

2. Raise Hands Above Posture - Raise Hands - ''Raise Hand and Step Up''

3. Hand Plays - Play Guitar - ''Hand Strums the Lute'' 手]

4. Grasp Bird's Tail

5. Single Whip

6. Slant Flying Posture - ''Flying Oblique'' 勢

7. Raise Hands Above Posture 提手上勢

8. Spreads Wings - ''White Stork Flaps its Wings''

9. Brush Knee Push Step Left and Right 4 Times - ''Brush Knee Twist Step''

10. Hand Plays P'i P'a 手揮琵琶

11. Step Forward, Deflect, Parry, - ''Step Up Diverting and Blocking Fist'' 步

12. As If Seemingly Sealed Shut - ''As if Closing Up'' ]

13. Carry Tiger to the Mountain - ''Tiger and Leopard Spring to the Mountain''

14. Cross Hands 手

15. Slant Brush Knee Push Step 斜摟膝拗步

16. Turn Body Brush Knee Push Step 摟膝拗步

17. Grasp Bird's Tail 攬雀尾

18. Single Whip 單鞭

19. Fist Under Punch 捶

20. Fall to Repulse Monkey Left and Right 3 Times 左右度

21. Slant Flying Posture 斜飛勢

22. Raise Hands Above Posture 提手上勢

23. White Crane Spreads Wings 白鶴亮翅

24. Brush Knee Push Step 摟膝拗步

25. Sea Bottom Needle - Needle at Sea Bottom - ''Needle at the Bottom of the Sea''

26. Fan Through Back - Play Arms like a Fan

27. Rotate Body Away Body Punch - Strike Fist to Back - ''Parry and Punch'' 身身捶

28. Step Back, Deflect, Parry, Punch - ''Move Step Diverting and Blocking Punch'' 步搬攔捶

29. Step Up Grasp Bird's Tail 上步攬雀尾

30. Single Whip 單鞭

31. Cloud Hands 手

32. Single Whip 單鞭

33. Left High Pat Horse 左

34. Right Separate Foot Kick - ''Right Parting Leg'' 右

35. Right High Pat Horse 右高探馬

36. Left Separate Foot Kick - ''Left Parting Leg'' 左分腳

37. Turn Body Kick with Heel - ''Turn Body Pedalling Foot'' 轉身

38. Brush Knee Push Step Twice 摟膝拗步度

39. Step Forward Punch Down 進步捶

40. Rotate Body Away Body Punch 翻身撇身捶

41. High Pat Horse 高探馬

42. Right Separate Hands 右分手

43. First Raise Foot Kick 腳

44. Step Back Seven Stars 退步

45. Step Back Hit Tiger Posture - ''Retreat Step Beat the Tiger'' 退步虎勢

46. Second Raise Foot Kick 二起腳

47. Double Peaks Pierce Ears - ''Strike the Ears with Double Fists''

48. Lean Back Kick with Toe - ''Open Body and Kick'' 身腿

49. Turn Body Kick with Heel 轉身蹬腿

50. High Pat Horse 高探馬

51. Step Forward, Deflect, Parry, Punch 進步搬攔捶

52. As If Seemingly Sealed Shut 如封似閉

53. Carry Tiger to the Mountain 抱虎歸山

54. Cross Hands 十字手

55. Slant Brush Knee Push Step 斜摟膝拗步

56. Turn Body Brush Knee Push Step 轉身摟膝拗步

57. Grasp Bird's Tail 攬雀尾

58. Single Whip 單鞭

59. Hand Plays P'i P'a 手揮琵琶

60. Wild Horse Separate Mane - ''Parting the Wild Horse's Mane'' 馬分

61. Hand Plays P'i P'a 手揮琵琶

62. Wild Horse Separate Mane 3 Times 野馬分鬃三度

63. Hand Plays P'i P'a 手揮琵琶

64. Wild Horse Separate Mane 野馬分鬃

65. Jade Lady Works Shuttles Twice - ''Jade Girl Works at the Shuttle'' 二度

66. Hand Plays P'i P'a 手揮琵琶

67. Wild Horse Separate Mane 野馬分鬃

68. Jade Lady Works Shuttles Twice - ''Jade Girl Works at the Shuttle'' 玉女穿梭二度

69. Grasp Bird's Tail 攬雀尾

70. Single Whip 單鞭

71. Cloud Hands 雲手

72. Single Whip 單鞭

73. Downward Posture 勢

74. Left Golden on One Leg - ''Golden Cockerel Standing on One Leg'' 左

75. Right Golden Rooster on One Leg 右金雞獨立

76. Fall to Repulse Monkey Left and Right 3 Times 倒攆猴左右三度

77. Cross Slant Flying Posture 斜飛勢

78. Raise Hands Above Posture 提手上勢

79. White Crane Spreads Wings 白鶴亮翅

80. Brush Knee Push Step 摟膝拗步

81. Sea Bottom Needle 海底針

82. Fan Through Back 扇通背

83. Rotate Body Away Body Punch 翻身撇身捶

84. Step Up, Deflect, Parry, Punch 上步搬攔捶

85. Step Up Grasp Bird's Tail 上步攬雀尾

86. Single Whip 單鞭

87. Cloud Hands 雲手

88. Single Whip 單鞭

89. High Pat Horse 高探馬

90. Slap Face Palm - ''Palm Goes to Meet the Face''

91. Rotate Body Single Swing - ''Turn Body Cross Swing Lotus'' 翻身單[[wiktionary:擺|�br />
92. Brush Knee Push Step 摟膝拗步

93. Step Up Finger Stop Punch - ''Pointing to the Crotch Punch'' 上步捶

94. Step Up Grasp Bird's Tail 上步攬雀尾

95. Single Whip 單鞭

96. Downward Posture 下勢

97. Step Up Seven Stars 上步七星

98. Step Back Ride Tiger 退步虎

99. Turn Body Slap Face Palm - ''Turn Body Hit Face Palm'' 轉身撲面掌

100. Rotate Body Double Swing Lotus - ''Turn Body Double Swing Lotus'' 翻身雙擺蓮

101. Bend Shoot Tiger - ''Curve Bow Shoot Tiger'' 虎

102. High Pat Horse 高探馬

103. Slap Face Palm 撲面掌

104. Rotate Body Away Body Punch 翻身撇身捶

105. Step Up High Pat Horse 上步高探馬

106. Step Up Grasp Bird's Tail 上步攬雀尾

107. Single Whip 單鞭

108. Conclusion of T'ai Chi - ''Closing T'ai Chi'' 太極