Tai Chi 24 Short Form Cheat Sheet
- bcbz blogger
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Here is your memory‑friendly cheat sheet for the Yang Style 24 Short Form, written so you can recall the entire sequence at a glance. It’s compact, pattern‑based, and designed to stick in your mind without (too much) effort.
Keep in mind that you cannot learn the moves or the principles from this cheat sheet. It just helps you to remember the order of the moves in this particular form. Other forms use the same moves plus more but in different or repeating order.
⭐ THE WHOLE FORM IN FOUR CHUNKS
1️⃣ OPENING & FOUNDATIONS (1–6)
Commencement (Preparation - Open)
Part the Wild Horse’s Mane ×3
White Crane Spreads Wings
(Arm Circles to transition)
Brush Knee ×3
Play the Lute (Guitar)
Repulse Monkey ×4
2️⃣ GRASP THE BIRD’S TAIL (7–8)
Ward Off Left → Grasp the Bird's Tail - Roll Back → Rotate and Press → Pushing Chi
Ward Off Right → Grasp the Bird's Tail - Roll Back → Rotate and Press → Pushing Chi
This is the center of the form — everything before leads into it, everything after flows out of it. Without completing the entire 24 form, this movement alone is a good daily practice. It contains the 4 energies.
3️⃣ CLOUDS & WHIPS (9–11)
Single Whip
Wave Hands Like Clouds ×3 (to left)
Single Whip
4️⃣ EXPRESSIONS/CLOSING (12–24)
High Pat on Horse
Right Heel Kick (Kick)
Strike Ears with Both Fists (Smash and Box the Ears)
Turn → Left Heel Kick
Snake Creeps (left leg out)
Pheasant Stands ( Right leg up)
Snake Creeps (right leg out)
Pheasant Stands (Left leg up)
Fair Lady Works the Shuttle (Left, Right)
(Pick the) Needle up from the Sea Bottom
Fan Through the Back
Deflect–Parry (Intercept)–Punch
Pushing Chi
Apparent Close (Return the Tiger to the Mountain)
Close
🌱 PATTERN ANCHORS
Your strongest memory tool
Triples
Horse’s Mane ×3
Brush Knee ×3
Clouds ×3
Repulse Monkey ×4 (yes, this one is 4 in this particular form)
Pairs
Ward Off Sequence (L + R)
Snake Creeps, Pheasant Stands (L + R)
Shuttle (R + L)
Singles
White Crane
Play the Lute (Guitar)
High Pat on Horse
Punch
Closing Form
Don't forget to practice. Find a good instructor! Many of these moves involve first gathering your energy, sometimes called "Hold the Ball" (of energy). You must gather energy to obtain any benefit! Gather and Release! Coordinate your breathing! And REAL chi walking (not those TV commercial versions or what you may find on YouTube) is the basis for learning how to balance and place your weight. Yes, it is a journey. Yes, you can do it.
Never give up.
Peace
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