San Francisco 
 Hunyuan Taiji Academy 

Beginning Tai Chi - I



The Hunyuan 24 Beginning Form, performed by Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang, the founder of Hunyuan Tai Chi, sometime in the mid-1980's (he would have been roughly 60 at the time). As always, GM Feng's form reflects his martial focus. Another video performance of the form, by Ms. Cheng Yurong, one of Grandmaster Feng's disciples, is shown below, bottom of page.      



The Hunyuan 24 Yilu


• Hunyuan, pronounced hun-yu'en, meaning "original, primordial" 

• Yilu, pronounced ee-loo, meaning "first road"; it refers to the series of

  forms that focus on the softer, slower energies of Tai Chi 

 

The Beginning Tai Chi – I class will learn the Hunyuan 24 Yilu, an introductory form of twenty-four movements which focuses on the softer, slower energies of Tai Chi. After working through the basic choreography of the "24," attention in class will shift to detailed form corrections, and to developing continuity, flow, and intention in movement. Prerequisite: Two to four months of Foundation Classes, or permission of instructor. 


The Hunyuan 24  

 

Section I

1   Starting Posture

2   Buddha’s Warrior Pounds the Mortar

3   Leisurely Tie Coat

4   Six Blocking Four Closing

5   Single Whip

6   White Crane Spreads Wings

           

Section II

7   Walk Obliquely and Twist Step

8   Lift Hands and Raise Knee

9   Wade Forward and Twist Step

10 Cover Hand Punch

11 Shield Body Punch

12 Fold and Lean with Back

           

Section III

13 Green Dragon Emerges from Water

14 Double Push Hands

15 Change Palms Three Times

16 Reverse Arm Roll

17 Step Back Press Elbow

18 Middle Winding

           

Section IV

19 Dodge through Back

20 Punch the Ground

21 Elbow to Heart

22 Punch Head 

23 Snap Waist Press Elbow

24 Closing Posture 


A beautiful performance of the Hunyuan 24 by Ms. Zheng Yurong. Note the inclusion of extensive Qigong both before and especially after the form itself. To perform at this level, with such integrity, technical perfection, and personal expression, takes many years of study and practice.