Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance Practice vs Yang Style Simplified 8 Form

Older adults that are students of the Tai chi Moving for Better Balance practice often wonder if the Balance Practice is really Tai chi. It is. It's a modified version of the Yang Style Simplified 8 Form, which is a modification of the Yang Style 24 Short Form which is a modification of the Full Yang Style 108 Form! In between there is also a 40 Form. Whew!

In other words, it encapsulates the principles of Tai chi with the purpose of improving balance. Some Balance Forms are also derived from other styles of Tai chi or a mixture of styles. A logical step after learning the Balance Practice and becoming familiar with the moves is to continue on to the Simplified 8 Form or the Yang Style 24 Short Form. Some traditional schools require all beginners to start immediately learning the Yang Style 108 Form! Go for it or try it if you are curious. It takes a lot of practice and it's worth every minute but a gentle way to be introduced to Tai chi is to start with the Balance, Simplified 8 or 24 Short Form. Some students of 108 just give up if they are overwhelmed. If that is you, return to a shorter form.

Moving for Better Balance

• Opening

• 1. Hold the Ball

• 2. Part the Wild Horses Mane

• 3, Single Whip

• 4. Wave Hands Like Clouds

• 5. Repulse the Monkey

• 6. Brush Knee

• 7. Fair Lady Works the Shuttle

• 8. Grasp the Peacocks Tail (Ward Off sequence)

• Close

Simplified 8 Form

• Open

• Preparation

• 1. Repulse the Monkey

• 2. Brush Knee

• 3. Part the Wild Horses Mane

• 4. Wave Hands Like Clouds

• 5. Pheasant Stands

• 6. Lift and Kick

• 7. Ward Off sequence

• 8. Return the Tiger to the Mountain

• Close

Both forms have 8 movements, some repeated to the left and to the right. Both forms include Hold the Ball as part of the movements. Only the Simplified 8 includes kicking, but it's not required. Point the toe if you cannot lift your foot in the air to kick! Repulse the Monkey requires you to walk backward in the Balance Form, not in the 8 Form (but it is required in the 24 Form!) Do you have a headache yet? Don't. Tai chi is meant to improve balance AND tranquility. The more you practice, the more tranquil you will become. The point is to just keep moving, become more graceful and tranquil, improve leg strength and balance, and induce a sense of calm and tranquility.

Anyone that practices the Moving for Better Balance Form will notice the main difference with the Yang Forms. TCMFBB allows a step up and reset before the next move. That is the Hold the Ball part. The Preload position is the launch into the next move. The Simplified 8 skips this step and reset and that is why it is a smoother flow. The Short Form 24 is even smoother, where Hold the Ball is a gathering of Chi (energy) with almost every move and depends heavily on the ability to "Chi Walk." From the Tai chi page on bcalmbzen.com/taichi to the blog, various forms are explored.

Learn how to Chi Walk, Push Chi and Wave Hands Like Clouds and you can create your own practice! Pay attention to breathing as described on the site and the Principles (extremely important) and you too will be Tai chi literate! Perfection is not the Goal. Continuous Improvement is the Goal. There is no perfect.

Peace to All