Notes about this web page
During my study of Tai Chi, I have been able to learn the individual parts of the forms by much study and practice. Putting my thoughts onto paper has helped me greatly in the learning process (since I am the type of person that needs visual and audio (and sometimes even tactile) input). It takes a lot of time (and thinking) to write notes, and all of the time that I am thinking about what to put down on paper helps me to remember the notes.
But I have found that learning the sequence of the forms has proven difficult for me. When I try to recall the forms in order by number, I will reach a point where I cannot remember the name of the next form. I have to look it up on my paper list.
I have tried to use some aides to help me with that but have not been fully successful; successful, in the sense that I can recall more of the form names (now, as opposed to some months ago) before I reach my “point-of-blank-wall” as I call it.
I have thought much about what I could do to form a mental chain of the form names, but I have yet to discover that secret technique.
My latest hope, therefore, is to connect a picture image with a small group of form names. Perhaps, by remembering the sequence of pictures, I will be able to remember the associated form names and therefore, remember the entire set of Tai Chi form names.
With that quest in mind, I have organized the forms into groups and associated a picture with each group. I have found pictures (from my purchased copy of Broderbund ClickArt 200,000 Image Pak) that are indicative of at least one form in each group.
So the following set of pictures is my idea of a pictorial reference to the forms of Tai Chi.
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Welcome to Tai Chi (Forms 1-16) |
| 1. Prepartory Form | Â Â 9. Brush Knee and Twist Left |
| 2. Beginning Form | 10. Brush Knee and Twist Right |
| 3. Step Forward and Grasp Swallow's Tail | 11. Brush Knee and Twist Left |
| 4. Single Whip | 12. Play Guitar |
| 5. Raise Hands to High Position | 13. Brush Knee and Twist Left |
| 6. White Stork Spreads its Wings | 14. Step Forward, Swerve, Parry and Punch |
| 7. Brush Knee and Twist Left | 15. Seeming Counter and Closure |
| 8. Play Guitar | 16. Cross Hands |
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Carry Tiger Back to the Mountains (Forms 17-25) |
| 17. Carry Tiger Back to the Mountains | 22. Diagonal Flying |
| 18. Fist Under the Elbow | 23. Raise Hands to High Position |
| 19. Twisting Monkey Right | 24. White Stork Spreads its Wings |
| 20. Twisting Monkey Left | 25. Brush Knee and Twist Left |
| 21. Twisting Monkey Right | |
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Needle at Sea Bottom (Forms 26-35) |
| 26. Needle at Sea Bottom | 31. Single Whip |
| 27. Fan Through the Back | 32. Move Hands Like Floating Clouds 1 |
| 28. Turn and Strike with Elbow and Fist | 33. Move Hands Like Floating Clouds 1 |
| 29. Step Forward, Swerve, Parry and Punch | 34. Move Hands Like Floating Clouds 3 |
| 30. Step Upward and Grasp Swallow's Tail | 35. Single Whip |
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High Stroke on Horse (Forms 36-45) |
| 36. High Stroke on Horse 1 | 41. Brush Knee and Twist Left |
| 37. Blossom Right | 42. Brush Knee and Twist Right |
| 38. High Stroke on Horse 2 | 43. Step Forward and Punch Downward |
| 39. Blossom Left | 44. Turn and Strike with Elbow and Fist |
| 40. Turn and Kick with Left Sole | 45. Step Forward, Swerve, Parry and Punch |
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Kicking (Forms 46-55) |
| 46. Turn and Kick with Right Sole | 51. Turn and Kick with Left Sole |
| 47. Strike Tiger Left | 52. Swerve and Kick with Right Sole |
| 48. Strike Tiger Right | 53. Step Forward, Swerve, Parry and Punch |
| 49. Turn and Kick with Right sole | 54. Seeming Counter and Closure |
| 50. Two Peaks Transpierce Ears | 55. Cross Hands |
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Parting and Weaving (Forms 56-72) |
| 56. Carry Tiger Back to the Mountains | 65. Fairy Weaving at the Shuttle Left |
| 57. Slanting Whip | 66. Fairy Weaving at the Shuttle Right |
| 58. Parting the Right Mane | 67. Step Forward and Grasp Swallow's Tail |
| 59. Parting the Left Mane | 68. Single Whip |
| 60. Parting the Right Mane | 69. Move Hands Like Floating Clouds 1 |
| 61. Step Forward and Grasp Swallow's Tail | 70. Move Hands Like Floating Clouds 2 |
| 62. Single Whip | 71. Move Hands Like Floating Clouds 3 |
| 63. Fairy Weaving at the Shuttle Left | 72. Single Whip |
| 64. Fairy Weaving at the Shuttle Right | |
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Lion Creeps Down (Forms 73-82) |
| 73. Lion Creeps Down | 78. Twisting Monkey Right |
| 74. Golden Pheasant Stands on Left leg | 79. Diagonal Flying |
| 75. Golden Pheasant Stands on Right Leg | 80. Raise Hands to High Position |
| 76. Twisting Monkey Right | 81. White Stork Spreads its Wings |
| 77. Twisting Monkey Left | 82. Bush Knee and Twist Left |
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Needle at Sea Bottom (another group) (Forms 83-92) |
| 83. Needle at Sea Bottom | 88. Single Whip |
| 84. Fan Through the Back | 89. Move Hands Like Floating Clouds 1 |
| 85. Turn and Strike with Elbow and Fist | 90. Move Hands Like Floating Clouds 2 |
| 86. Step Forward, Swerve, Parry and Punch | 91. Move Hands Like Floating Clouds 3 |
| 87. Step Upward and Grasp Swallow's Tail | 92. Single Whip |
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High Stroke on Horse (another group) (Forms 93-98) |
| 93. High Stroke on Horse 3 | 96. Step Forward and Punch Navel |
| 94. Belt Thrusting Hand | 97. Step Upward and Grasp Swallow's Tail |
| 95. Rotation Blossom Kick | 98. Single Whip |
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Watch the Stars (Forms 99-108) |
| 99. Lion Creeps Down | 104. Step Forward, Swerve, Parry and Punch |
| 100. Watch the Seven Stars of the Dipper | 105. Seeming Counter and Closure |
| 101. Step Back to Ride the Tiger | 106. Cross Hands |
| 102. Turn and Sweep the Lotus | 107. Conclusion of Tai Chi |
| 103. Draw the Bow and Shoot the Arrow | 108. Bow |