Forms

The 108 Traditional (or Standard, or Segmental) Form is the treasure chest of the style, as Master  Wu Kwong Yu says, as within it lie all the principles, the techniques and the secrets of Tai Chi Chuan.

In the beginning the student learns the “segmental” version of the Forms, with emphasis on the details and the components of each posture. Gradually, the movement becomes more smooth, round and fluid. Through the “segmental” learning, the student learns to position and align his body properly and understands the exact purpose and mechanics of each movement.

When the student learns well the Traditional Form, he begins to practice the Form with fluidity and more smooth transitions among the movements. In the future, when the student will start to practice the Round Form, he learns that fluidity and smoothness are based on the strong bases he already built through the practice in the Traditional Form, and avoids imprecise movements and errors that are common when students learn right away the Round Form, with no previous practice in the Traditional.

1. Beginning of Tai Chi Chuan
2. Raise Hands
3. Play Guitar
4. Grasp Bird’s Tail
5. Single Whip
6. Slant Flying
7. Raise Hands
8. White Crane Spreads Wings
9. Brush Knee and Push (Left & Right, 4 Times)
10. Playing Guitar
11. Step Forward, Parry and Punch
12. Push Forward
13. Carry Tiger to the Mountain
14. Cross Hands
15. Slant Brush Knee and Push
16. Turn Body, Brush Knee and Push
17. Grasp Bird’s Tail
18. Single Whip
19. Fist Under Elbow
20. Step Back, Repulse Monkey (Left & Right, 3 Times)
21. Slant Flying
22. Raise Hands
23. White Crane Spreads Wings
24. Brush Knee and Push
25. Needle at Sea Bottom
26. Play Arms Like a Fan
27. Turn Body and Strike Fist to Back
28. Step Back Parry and Punch
29. Step Forward and Grasp Bird’s Tail
30. Single Whip
31. Wave Hands Like a Cloud (Turning Hands)
32. Single Whip
33. Left High Pat on Horse
34. Right Foot Kick (Separate)
35. Right High Pat on Horse
36. Left Foot Kick (Separate )
37. Turn Body, Kick with Heel
38. Brush Knee and Push (Right & Left)
39. Step Forward and Punch Down
40. Turn Body and Strike Fist to Back
41. High Pat on Horse
42. (Right) Separate Hands
43. 1st Raise Foot
44. Step Back Seven Stars
45. Step Back and Hit the Tiger
46. 2nd Raise Foot
47. Hit Opponent’s Ear with Fist
48. Lean Back and Kick
49. Turn Body and Kick with Heel
50. High Pat on Horse
51. Step Forward Parry and Punch
52. Push Forward
53. Carry Tiger to the Mountain
54. Cross Hands
55. Slant Brush Knee and Push
56. Turn Body, Brush Knee and Push
57. Grasp Bird’s Tail
58. Single Whip
59. Play Guitar
60. Wild Horse Separate Mane (Right)
61. Play Guitar
62. Wild Horse Separate Mane (Left)
63. Play Guitar
64. Wild Horse Separate Mane (Right)
65. Fair Lady Works at Shuttle (Twice)
66. Play Guitar
67. Wild Horse Separate Mane
68. Fair Lady Works at Shuttle (Twice)
69. Grasp Bird’s Tail
70. Single Whip
71. Wave Hands Like a Cloud (Turning Hands)
72. Single Whip
73. Snake Creeps Down (Push Down)
74. Golden Cock on Left Leg
75. Golden Cock on Right Leg
76. Step Back and Repulse Monkey (Left and Right Three Times)
77. Cross Slant Flying
78. Raise Hands
79. White Crane Spreads Wings
80. Brush Knee and Push
81. Needle at Sea Bottom
82. Play Arms Like a Fan
83. Turn Body and Strike Fist to Back
84. Step Forward Parry and Punch
85. Step Forward and Grasp Bird’s Tail
86. Single Whip
87. Wave Hands Like a Cloud (Turning Hands)
88. Single Whip
89. High Pat on Horse
90. Slap Face with Palm
91. Turn Body, Cross and Single Hand Sweep Lotus Leg
92. Brush Knee and Push
93. Step Forward and Punch to Opponent’s Lower Abdomen
94. Step Forward, Grasp Bird’s Tail
95. Single Whip
96. Snake Creeps Down (Push Down)
97. Step Forward Seven Stars
98. Step Back Ride the Tiger
99. Turn Body and Slap Face with Palm
100. Turn Body and Double Hand Sweep Lotus Leg
101. Draw the Bow to Shoot the Tiger
102. High Pat on Horse
103. Slap Face with Palm
104. Turn Body and Strike Fist to Back
105. Step Forward and High Pat on Horse
106. Step Forward Grasp Bird’s Tail
107. Single Whip
108. Conclusion of Tai Chi Chuan

The 108 Round Form has the same series of movements with the 108 Wu Style Traditional Form. However, these two forms are quite different because unlike the Traditional Form that stresses the detailed straight line movements and strong postures, the Round Form stresses circular movements and the body moving as a whole. The movements cease to have many straight lines and “corners” and the details seem to vanish. However, in actuality the details merge into the circular patterns and become part of the whole movement. After long practice in circular movements, the student learns to perform the form in different speeds, from very slow to very fast. For all the reasons above, and many more, the 108 Round Form can be practiced only by advanced students, because it is very demanding. A student must be very experienced in order to maintain the quality and the details of the Form while performing it in various speeds.

1. Beginning of Tai Chi Chuan
2. Raise Hands
3. Play Guitar
4. Grasp Bird’s Tail
5. Single Whip
6. Slant Flying
7. Raise Hands
8. White Crane Spreads Wings
9. Brush Knee and Push (Left & Right, 4 Times)
10. Playing Guitar
11. Step Forward, Parry and Punch
12. Push Forward
13. Carry Tiger to the Mountain
14. Cross Hands
15. Slant Brush Knee and Push
16. Turn Body, Brush Knee and Push
17. Grasp Bird’s Tail
18. Single Whip
19. Fist Under Elbow
20. Step Back, Repulse Monkey (Left & Right, 3 Times)
21. Slant Flying
22. Raise Hands
23. White Crane Spreads Wings
24. Brush Knee and Push
25. Needle at Sea Bottom
26. Play Arms Like a Fan
27. Turn Body and Strike Fist to Back
28. Step Back Parry and Punch
29. Step Forward and Grasp Bird’s Tail
30. Single Whip
31. Wave Hands Like a Cloud (Turning Hands)
32. Single Whip
33. Left High Pat on Horse
34. Right Foot Kick (Separate)
35. Right High Pat on Horse
36. Left Foot Kick (Separate )
37. Turn Body, Kick with Heel
38. Brush Knee and Push (Right & Left)
39. Step Forward and Punch Down
40. Turn Body and Strike Fist to Back
41. High Pat on Horse
42. (Right) Separate Hands
43. 1st Raise Foot
44. Step Back Seven Stars
45. Step Back and Hit the Tiger
46. 2nd Raise Foot
47. Hit Opponent’s Ear with Fist
48. Lean Back and Kick
49. Turn Body and Kick with Heel
50. High Pat on Horse
51. Step Forward Parry and Punch
52. Push Forward
53. Carry Tiger to the Mountain
54. Cross Hands
55. Slant Brush Knee and Push
56. Turn Body, Brush Knee and Push
57. Grasp Bird’s Tail
58. Single Whip
59. Play Guitar
60. Wild Horse Separate Mane (Right)
61. Play Guitar
62. Wild Horse Separate Mane (Left)
63. Play Guitar
64. Wild Horse Separate Mane (Right)
65. Fair Lady Works at Shuttle (Twice)
66. Play Guitar
67. Wild Horse Separate Mane
68. Fair Lady Works at Shuttle (Twice)
69. Grasp Bird’s Tail
70. Single Whip
71. Wave Hands Like a Cloud (Turning Hands)
72. Single Whip
73. Snake Creeps Down (Push Down)
74. Golden Cock on Left Leg
75. Golden Cock on Right Leg
76. Step Back and Repulse Monkey (Left and Right Three Times)
77. Cross Slant Flying
78. Raise Hands
79. White Crane Spreads Wings
80. Brush Knee and Push
81. Needle at Sea Bottom
82. Play Arms Like a Fan
83. Turn Body and Strike Fist to Back
84. Step Forward Parry and Punch
85. Step Forward and Grasp Bird’s Tail
86. Single Whip
87. Wave Hands Like a Cloud (Turning Hands)
88. Single Whip
89. High Pat on Horse
90. Slap Face with Palm
91. Turn Body, Cross and Single Hand Sweep Lotus Leg
92. Brush Knee and Push
93. Step Forward and Punch to Opponent’s Lower Abdomen
94. Step Forward, Grasp Bird’s Tail
95. Single Whip
96. Snake Creeps Down (Push Down)
97. Step Forward Seven Stars
98. Step Back Ride the Tiger
99. Turn Body and Slap Face with Palm
100. Turn Body and Double Hand Sweep Lotus Leg
101. Draw the Bow to Shoot the Tiger
102. High Pat on Horse
103. Slap Face with Palm
104. Turn Body and Strike Fist to Back
105. Step Forward and High Pat on Horse
106. Step Forward Grasp Bird’s Tail
107. Single Whip
108. Conclusion of Tai Chi Chuan

The 54 International Competition Round Form was created by Master Wu Kwong Yu, assisted by a committee of Family Members and Senior Disciples. Through this form, Wu Style students have the ability to participate in international and local championships. The Form is aligned with the international tournament regulations and is very round and fluid. Thus, it impresses the audience (and the referees!) although it does not deviate from the principles and the quality of Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan.

This Form can be taught in coaches and athletes of Wushu or other styles of Tai Chi Chuan who do not wish to dedicate themselves to Wu Tai Chi Chuan, but only to participate in championships with this Form.

1. The Beginning (Raise Hands) (Play Guitar)
2. Grasp Bird’s Tail
3. Single Whip (Slant Flying)
4. Raise Hands
5. White Crane Spreads Wings
6. Brush Knee and Push
7. Step Forward, Parry and Punch
8. Push Forward
9. Carry Tiger to The Mountain
10. Cross Hands
11. Brush Knee and Push (Left)
12. Needle at Sea Bottom
13. Play Arms Like a Fan
14. Fist Under the Elbow
15. Repulse Monkey (Once)
16. Slant Flying
17. Wave Hands Like A Cloud (Turning Hands)
18. Single Whip
19. High Pat on Horse (Left)
20. Right, Left Separate Foot
21. Turn Body and Kick With Heel
22. Shift Forward and Punch Down
23. Turn Body and Strike With Back of Fist
24. High Pat on Horse
25. First Raise Foot
26. Step Back and Hit Tiger
27. Second Raise Foot
28. Strike Opponent’s Ears With Fists
29. Lean Back and Kick
30. Turn Body and Kick With Heel
31. Wild Horse Separate Mane (Once)
32. Fair Lady Works at Shuttle (Twice, Front And Back) (Grasp Bird’s Tail)
33. Single Whip
34. Snake Creeps Down (Push Down)
35. Left, Right Golden Cock on One Leg
36. Repulse Monkey (Twice – Left & Right)
37. Slap Face With Palm
38. Turn Body, Cross and Single Hand Sweep Lotus Leg
39. Brush Knee and Push
40. Step Forward and Punch To Opponent’s Lower Abdomen
41. Step Forward, Grasp Bird’s Tail
42. Single Whip
43. Snake Creeps Down (Push Down)
44. Step Up Seven Stars
45. Step Back Ride Tiger
46. Turn Body Slap Face
47. Turn Body Double Hand Sweep Lotus Leg
48. Draw the Bow to Shoot the Tiger
49. Slap Face With Palm
50. Turn Body and Strike With Back of Fist
51. Step Forward High Pat on Horse
52. Step Forward Grasp Bird’s Tail
53. Single Whip
54. Conclusion of Tai Chi Chuan