Contents
Tai Chi Fundamentals
Preparing to Practice Tai Chi
Basic Principles of Tai Chi
Tai Chi Forms
1. Commencing Form
2. Wild Horse Parts Mane
3. White Crane Flashes Its Wings
4. Brush Knee
5. Strum the Lute
6. Curve Back Arms
7. Grasp the Bird’s Tail (Left Style)
8. Grasp the Bird’s Tail (Right Style)
9. Single Whip
10. Wave Hands Like Clouds (Left Style)
11. Second Single Whip
12. High Pat on Horse
13. Kick with Right Heel
14. Strike Opponent’s Ears with Both Fists
15. Turn and Kick with Left Heel
16. Push Down and Stand on One Leg (Left Style)
17. Push Down and Stand on One Leg (Right Style)
18. Work at Shuttles on Both Sides
19. Needle at the Bottom of the Sea
20. Flash Arm
21. Turn Downward to Deflect, Parry, and Punch
22. Apparent Closeup
23. Cross Hands
24. Closing Form
Learn more with these titles from Barnes & Noble
5. Strum the Lute
- Begin in last position of form 4.
- Inhaling, shift weight onto left leg. Extend right arm, palm down
- Move center of right foot against left heel to form a “T” shape. Begin to pull right arm back toward body and raise left arm slowly.
- Lift up left heel. Turn body right, draw back right hand, and extend left hand.
- Exhaling, turn left, move left arm inward at elbow, right hand in toward left elbow.
- Shift left foot onto heel and draw left hand up toward face, right hand just below it.

| Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |






