Wudang Mountain, Sanfeng Style 18 Movement Tai Ji Quan

In this 8 Week Class Series, students will be introduced to Wudang Style Tai Chi and guided through learning the 18 Movement Tai Chi taolu. A taolu is a set sequence of movements choreographed into a routine, sometimes called a “form”. Students will learn 2-3 new Tai Chi movements per class, along with supporting qigong exercises and single technique drills. The final class will be review and practice of the entire taolu.

With regular weekly attendance through the course, plus some practice at home between classes, most students will be able to memorize the 18 movement Tai Chi taolu for continued practice at home. The entire 18 movement taolu only takes 3-4 minutes to practice once learned, and will be part of the warm-ups for future Tai Chi classes learning longer forms.

Those who complete this 8 week course can continue their Tai Chi studies in future series on the 28 movement Tai Chi taolu, Tai Chi Push Hands Partner Practice, 13 section taolu, 108 movement Tai Chi taolu, and eventually Tai Chi weapons.

This video is meant to aid those learning the 18 Movement Wudang Sanfeng Style Tai Ji Quan Form at Waypoint Sanctuary in North Kingstown Rhode Island.

Class Outline

Over the course of 8 weeks, students will be introduced to foundational Tai Chi practices of Wu Ji and Zhan Zhuang meditation, supporting qigong, and the 18 movement Tai Chi practice routine.

Tai Chi principles will also be introduced and discussed in an ongoing fashion including: song - relaxation, chen - sinking, duan - roundness, man - slowness, ting - listening, rou - softness, xu - emptiness, and more.

Schedule

  • Emphasize Tai Ji Principles of “Man / Slowness”

    Wuji Standing Meditation

    3 Treasures Qi Gong

    9 Spiral Gates Qi Gong

    Tai Ji Stance Training: Horse, Bow, Crouching, Empty, Cat, Hanging, Side Bow

    Drills

    Tai Ji Walking Qi Gong

    Ward Off Left & Right

    Grasp the Birds Tail Left & Right

    Learning Form Moves: 0 -3

    0.Supreme Emptiness Posture - Wu Ji Shi /  Preparatory Posture - Yu Bei Shi

    1. Beginning - Qi Shi

    2.Step Backward to Ward Off - Tui Bu Peng Shi

    3. Grasp the Bird’s Tail - Lan Que Wei


  • Emphasize Tai Ji Principle of “Chen / Sinking”

    Warm Ups/Supporting Preparatory Exercises

    Wuji Standing Meditation

    3 Treasures Qi Gong

    9 Spiral Gates Qi Gong

    Tai Ji Stance Training: Horse, Bow, Crouching, Empty, Cat, Hanging, Side Bow

    Zhan Zhuang Standing Meditation

    Drills

    -Review Previous

    New Drills

    Single Whip: Left, Right, Side, Straight

    Tuo Shi - Lifting Technique - Left & Right

    Ti Shou Shang Shi -Raise Hands and Step Up - Left and Right

    Tao Lu - Form Practice

    -Review Previous

    Learning New Moves: 4 & 5

    4.Single Whip - Dan Bian & Straight Single Whip - Zheng Dan Bian

    5.Raise Hands and Step Up - Ti Shou Shang Shi


  • Emphasize Tai Ji Principle of “Song”- “Relaxation”

    Warm Ups/Supporting Preparatory Exercises

    Wuji Standing Meditation

    3 Treasures Qi Gong

    9 Spiral Gates Qi Gong

    Tai Ji Stance Training: Horse, Bow, Crouching, Empty, Cat, Hanging, Side Bow

    Zhan Zhuang Standing Meditation

    Drills

    -Review Previous

    New Drills

    Brush Left Knee, Bent Leg Step - Zuo Luo Xi Ya Bu

    Part the Wild Horse’s Mane -Ye Ma Fen Zong

    Tao Lu - Form Practice

    -Review Previous

    Learning New Moves: 6 & 7

    6.Brush Left Knee, Bent Leg Step - Zuo Luo Xi Ya Bu

    7.Part the Wild Horse’s Mane (2x) - Ye Ma Fen Zong


  • Emphasize Tai Ji Principle of “Duan”- “Roundness”

    Warm Ups/Supporting Preparatory Exercises

    Wuji Standing Meditation

    3 Treasures Qi Gong

    9 Spiral Gates Qi Gong

    Tai Ji Stance Training: Horse, Bow, Crouching, Empty, Cat, Hanging, Side Bow

    Zhan Zhuang Standing Meditation

    Drills

    -Review Previous

    New Drills

    Fair Maiden Works at the Shuttle (3x) - Yu Nu Chuan Suo

    Cloud Hands - Yun Shou

    Tao Lu - Form Practice

    -Review Previous

    Learning New Moves: 8, 9, & 10

    8. Fair Maiden Works at the Shuttle (3x) - Yu Nu Chuan Suo

    9. Cloud Hands - Yun Shou

    10. Single Whip - Dan Bian

  • Emphasize Tai Ji Principle of “Rou” - “Softness”

    Warm Ups/Supporting Preparatory Exercises

    Wuji Standing Meditation

    3 Treasures Qi Gong

    9 Spiral Gates Qi Gong

    Tai Ji Stance Training: Horse, Bow, Crouching, Empty, Cat, Hanging, Side Bow

    Zhan Zhuang Standing Meditation

    Drills

    -Review Previous

    New Drills

    White Snake Pushing Down - Bai She Xia Shi

    Seven Star Forward Step - Shang Bu Qi Xing

    Beat the Tiger Left and Right - Zuo You Da Hu Shi

    Tao Lu - Form Practice

    -Review Previous

    Learning New Moves: 11, 12, & 13

    11. White Snake Pushing Down - Bai She Xia Shi

    12.Seven Star Forward Step - Shang Bu Qi Xing

    13. Beat the Tiger Left and Right - Zuo You Da Hu Shi

  • Emphasize Tai Ji Principle of “Ting” - “Listening”

    Warm Ups/Supporting Preparatory Exercises

    Wuji Standing Meditation

    3 Treasures Qi Gong

    9 Spiral Gates Qi Gong

    Tai Ji Stance Training: Horse, Bow, Crouching, Empty, Cat, Hanging, Side Bow

    Zhan Zhuang Standing Meditation

    Drills

    -Review Previous

    New Drills

    Stand on One Leg - Du Li Shi

    Step, Parry and Punch - Shang Bu Ban Lan Chui

    Tao Lu - Form Practice

    -Review Previous

    Learning New Moves: 14 & 15

    14. Stand on One Leg - Du Li Shi

    15. Step, Parry and Punch - Shang Bu Ban Lan Chui


  • Emphasize Tai Ji Principle of “Xu” - emptiness.

    Warm Ups/Supporting Preparatory Exercises

    Wuji Standing Meditation

    3 Treasures Qi Gong

    9 Spiral Gates Qi Gong

    Tai Ji Stance Training: Horse, Bow, Crouching, Empty, Cat, Hanging, Side Bow

    Zhan Zhuang Standing Meditation

    Drills

    -Review Previous

    New Drills

    Push

    Tao Lu - Form Practice

    -Review Previous

    Learning New Moves: 16, 17, & 18

    16. Appearing to Close Off - Ru Feng Si Bi

    17.Crossing Hands - Shi Zi Shou

    18.Carry the Tiger Back to the Mountain - Bao Hu Gui Shan

      Finishing/Closing - Shou Shi


  • Warm Ups/Supporting Preparatory Exercises

    Wuji Standing Meditation

    3 Treasures Qi Gong

    9 Spiral Gates Qi Gong

    Tai Ji Stance Training: Horse, Bow, Crouching, Empty, Cat, Hanging, Side Bow

    Zhan Zhuang Standing Meditation

    Drills

    -Review Previous

    Tao Lu - Form Practice

    Review Complete 18 Movement Wudang Tai Chi Form


Movement Name List

     0. Supreme Emptiness Posture - Wu Ji Shi /  Preparatory Posture - Yu Bei Shi

  1. Beginning - Qi Shi

  2. Step Backward to Ward Off - Tui Bu Peng Shi

  3. Grasp the Bird’s Tail - Lan Que Wei

  4. Single Whip - Dan Bian & Straight Single Whip - Zheng Dan Bian

  5. Raise Hands and Step Up - Ti Shou Shang Shi

  6. Brush Left Knee, Bent Leg Step - Zuo Luo Xi Ya Bu

  7. Part the Wild Horse’s Mane (2x) - Ye Ma Fen Zong

  8. Fair Maiden Works at the Shuttle (3x) - Yu Nu Chuan Suo

  9. Cloud Hands - Yun Shou

  10.   Single Whip - Dan Bian

  11.  White Snake Pushing Down - Bai She Xia Shi

  12.   Seven Star Forward Step - Shang Bu Qi Xing

  13.   Beat the Tiger Left and Right - Zuo You Da Hu Shi

  14.   Stand on One Leg - Du Li Shi

  15.   Step, Parry and Punch - Shang Bu Ban Lan Chui

  16.   Appearing to Close Off - Ru Feng Si Bi

  17.   Crossing Hands - Shi Zi Shou

  18.   Carry the Tiger Back to the Mountain - Bao Hu Gui Shan

  Finishing/Closing - Shou Shi