Excerpts from the Tai Chi Book

Li Yaxuan’s 43 Movement
Yang Style Tai Chi Form
By Chen Longxiang
Translated from the Chinese by Matthew Miller

1. Preparatory Stance
2. Opening
3. Peng Hand and Step Forward
4. Grasp Sparrow's Tail
5. Single Whip Palm
6. Clouds Hands (Right)
7. Clouds Hands (Left)
8. Clouds Hands (Right)
9. Single Whip Palm
10. Draw back, Downward Posture
11. Golden Cock Stands on One Leg (Right)
12. Golden Cock Stands on One Leg (Left)
13. Step Backward and Repulse Monkey (Right)
14. Step Back, Repulse Monkey (Left)
15. Step Back, Repulse Monkey (Right)
16. Diagonal Flying
17. Raise Hands and Step Forward
18. White Crane Spreads Its Wings
19. Brush Knee, Twist Step (Right)
20. Hands Playing the Pipa
21. Brush Knee, Twist Step (Right)
22. Brush Knee, Twist Step (Left)
23. Brush Knee, Twist Step (Right)
24. Needle at the Bottom of the Sea
25. Fan Through Arm
26. Turn and Strike with Back of Fist
27. Withdraw Step, Deflect, Parry, Punch
28. Part the Wild Horse's Mane (Right)
29. Part the Wild Horse's Mane (Left)
30. Turn, Jade Woman Works the Shuttles (Left)
31. Jade Woman Works the Shuttles (Right)
32. Separation of Feet (Right)
33. Hit the Tiger (Left)
34. Hit the Tiger (Right)
35. Turn and Kick with Sole of Foot (Right)
36. Strike Ears with Both Fists
37. Drape Body, Kick with Sole of Foot (Left)
38. Bend Bow Shoot Tiger
39. Turn, Sweep Lotus Feet
40. Withdraw Step, Deflect, Parry, Punch
41. Apparent Closure
42. Cross Hands
43. Closure

Sample Movement:

      
Figs 19 & 20

6.  Clouds Hands (Right)

Movement:
a.   The left foot pivots on the heel, turning the toes in.  The body sinks into horse stance, then the weight shifts entirely to the left leg.  The right foot retracts to the left and settles down next to the left foot to form a parallel stance (legs together, both feet planted firmly on the ground, without raising the heels); the toes of the right foot touch the ground first followed by the heel.  Both knees are bent.   At the same time, the hooked right hand opens and lowers.  Coordinated with the retraction of the right foot, the right hand, passing in front of the body, moves in an arc to arrive in front of the left chest.  The upper body, embracing emptiness, turns to the right with the lower back as its axis.  Carried by the twisting of the lower back, the right hand moves across to the right like a cloud, no higher than the level of the nose.  The right arm is rounded and embracing empty space, the elbow slightly bent.  The right palm is facing the body.  At the same time, the left hand moves down in an arc to arrive in front of the right hip, passing in front of the abdomen.  The left palm is facing inward with the fingers pointing downward.  The eyes follow the movement and are looking in the direction of the right hand.  (See Fig. 19)

Application:

The right hand passes to the right like a cloud, neutralizing the force of the opponent’s attack toward my chest.  My left hand follows the movement, protecting my abdomen and groin.  The left hand can also hook the hand or foot of the opponent as he strikes at my lower body.

Important Points:
When doing cloud hands, you must pay attention to feeling the head as if suspended from above, relaxing the shoulders, the posture embracing emptiness, the two arms being carried by the lower back without moving independently.

7.  Clouds Hands (Left)

Movement:
a.   The weight gradually shifts to the right leg.  The left leg steps horizontally to the left.  First the toe touches the ground, then the heel roots firmly, forming a horse stance.  The upper body, embracing emptiness, twists to the left along the axis of the lower back.  At the same time, the left hand is carried by the rotating of the lower back and rises from below to above, passing in front of the face and moves like a cloud to the left.  The left elbow is bent, as if embracing a sphere, the palm facing inward.  The right hand descends in an arc to the left, passing in front of the hips, the palm facing inward, fingers pointing downward.  The eyes follow the movement and are looking in the direction of the right hand. (See Fig. 20)

Application:

Here the left hand protects the chest and face and the right hand protects the abdomen and groin.  Shifting to the left, the opponent’s attacking force is neutralized.

• from the Translator’s Preface
• Breathing Lessons
• Standing Post Exercises
• Fundamental Principles of Yang-Style Tai Chi
• The 43 Movement Form
• Selections from Master Li Yaxuan's Notebooks