24-form tai chi chuan

The 24 posture Simplified Form of tai chi chuan, sometimes called the Beijing form for its place of origin, is a short version of composed of twenty-four unique movements.

History

The form was the result of an effort by the Chinese Sports Committee which, in 1956, brought together four tai chi teachers to create a simplified form of tai chi as exercise for the masses. The creators truncated the traditional hand form to 24 postures; taking between four and eight minutes to perform and to give the beginner an introduction to the essential elements of tai chi chuan, yet retain the traditional flavor of Yang style's longer hand forms . Henceforth this form was avidly promoted by the People's Republic of China for general exercise, and was also taught to internees in Communist "re-education" camps. Due to this official promotion, the twenty-four form is most likely the tai chi form with the most practitioners in China and the world over .

Movements

Variations

5 Section Taijiquan: includes 5 routines, each modelled on the choreography of the Beijing 24 Taijiquan form.