Yang 88 Tai Chi Long Form
This is the variation of the Yang 108 long form first promoted by Yang Cheng Fu to reduce the number of movements (forms) present in the preceding earlier practice routines and to design a set of forms which could be more easily learned and practiced. There are a number of form sets referred to as long forms and they vary in the number ascribed to them such as 81, 85, 88, 103,108, and 150. The variation in number listed relates to how the movements are counted as well as to whether forms are added or deleted to a given variation. The number 108 is retained for its significance as an auspicious number in Chinese numerology. For the most part the listed forms sets although differing in numbers listed, are largely the same in their sequence of movements
The sequence below has been promoted by Li Deyin, a prominent and influential grand master who taught for many years in Beijing and continues his teaching throughout the world.
This is the variation of the Yang 108 long form first promoted by Yang Cheng Fu to reduce the number of movements (forms) present in the preceding earlier practice routines and to design a set of forms which could be more easily learned and practiced. There are a number of form sets referred to as long forms and they vary in the number ascribed to them such as 81, 85, 88, 103,108, and 150. The variation in number listed relates to how the movements are counted as well as to whether forms are added or deleted to a given variation. The number 108 is retained for its significance as an auspicious number in Chinese numerology. For the most part the listed forms sets although differing in numbers listed, are largely the same in their sequence of movements
The sequence below has been promoted by Li Deyin, a prominent and influential grand master who taught for many years in Beijing and continues his teaching throughout the world.
Yang 88: Sequence of Movements
PART I
1 Commencing form
Ward off left
Ward off right
2 Grasp the bird’s tail
3 Single Whip
4 Raise Hands
5 White Crane Spreads Wings
6 Brush Knee and push
7 Play the Lute
8 Brush Knee and push left
Brush Knee and push right
Brush Knee and push left
9 Play the Lute
10 Deflect, Parry and Punch
11 Apparent Closing
12 Cross Hands
PART I
1 Commencing form
Ward off left
Ward off right
2 Grasp the bird’s tail
3 Single Whip
4 Raise Hands
5 White Crane Spreads Wings
6 Brush Knee and push
7 Play the Lute
8 Brush Knee and push left
Brush Knee and push right
Brush Knee and push left
9 Play the Lute
10 Deflect, Parry and Punch
11 Apparent Closing
12 Cross Hands
PART II
13 Embrace the Tiger and Return to the Mountain
14 Diagonal Grasp the Bird’s Tail
15 Fist Under Elbow
16 Repulse the Monkey- slip back forearm (3 times)
17 Flying Diagonal
18 Raise Hands
19 White Crane Spreads Wings
20 Brush Knee and Push left
21 Needle to the Bottom of the Sea
22 Flash Arms Like a Fan- fan through back
23 Turn Body and Chop with Fist
24 Step Forward Deflect, Parry and Punch
25 Step Forward Grasp the Bird’s Tail
26 Single Whip
27 Cloud Hands (5 times)
28 Single Whip
29 High Pat on the Horse
30 Right Separation Kick (with toe)
31 Left Separation Kick (with toe)
32 Turn Body (180 degree counter clockwise)
Left Heel Kick
33 Brush Knee and push left
Brush Knee and push right
34 Step Forward Push down with Fist
35 Turn Body and Chop with Fist and Snake spit poison
36 Step Forward Deflect, Parry and Punch
37 Right Heel Kick
38 Strike the Tiger Left
39 Strike the Tiger Right
40 Right Heel Kick
41 Twin Fist Strike to the Ears
42 Left Heel Kick
43 Turn Body (360 clockwise) and Right Heel Kick
44 Step Forward Deflect, Parry and Punch
45 Apparent Closing
46 Cross Hands
13 Embrace the Tiger and Return to the Mountain
14 Diagonal Grasp the Bird’s Tail
15 Fist Under Elbow
16 Repulse the Monkey- slip back forearm (3 times)
17 Flying Diagonal
18 Raise Hands
19 White Crane Spreads Wings
20 Brush Knee and Push left
21 Needle to the Bottom of the Sea
22 Flash Arms Like a Fan- fan through back
23 Turn Body and Chop with Fist
24 Step Forward Deflect, Parry and Punch
25 Step Forward Grasp the Bird’s Tail
26 Single Whip
27 Cloud Hands (5 times)
28 Single Whip
29 High Pat on the Horse
30 Right Separation Kick (with toe)
31 Left Separation Kick (with toe)
32 Turn Body (180 degree counter clockwise)
Left Heel Kick
33 Brush Knee and push left
Brush Knee and push right
34 Step Forward Push down with Fist
35 Turn Body and Chop with Fist and Snake spit poison
36 Step Forward Deflect, Parry and Punch
37 Right Heel Kick
38 Strike the Tiger Left
39 Strike the Tiger Right
40 Right Heel Kick
41 Twin Fist Strike to the Ears
42 Left Heel Kick
43 Turn Body (360 clockwise) and Right Heel Kick
44 Step Forward Deflect, Parry and Punch
45 Apparent Closing
46 Cross Hands
PART III
47 Embrace the tiger and Return to the Mountain
48 Diagonal Grasp the Bird’s Tail
49 Diagonal Single Whip
50 Part the Horse’s Mane (4 times)
51 Step Forward Grasp the Bird’s Tail
52 Single Whip
53 Fair Lady Works at the Shuttles (4 quadrants)
54 Step Forward Grasp the Bird’s Tail
55 Single Whip
56 Cloud Hands (5 times)
57 Single Whip
58 Snake Creeps Down
59-60 Golden Cockerel Stands on one Leg right and left
61 Repulse the monkey - slip forearm (3 times)
62 Flying Diagonal
63 Raise Hands
64 White Crane Spreads It’s Wings
65 Left Brush Knee
66 Needle to the Bottom of the Sea
67 Flash Arms Like a Fan- fan through the back
68 Turn Body and Chop with Fist
69 Step Forward Deflect, Perry and Punch
70 Step Forward and Grasp the Bird’s Tail
71 Single Whip
72 Cloud Hands (3 times)
73 Single Whip
74 High Pat on the Horse
75 Left Palm Thrust
76 Turn Body and Heel Kick Right
77 Brush Knee and Punch
78 Step Forward Grasp the Bird’s Tail
79 Single Whip
80 Snake Creeps Down
81 Step Forward 7 Stars
82 Step Back and Ride the Tiger
83 Turn Body and Swing over the Lotus
84 Bend Bow and Shoot the Tiger
85 Step Forward Deflect, Parry and and Punch
86 Apparent Closing
87 Cross Hands
88 Closing Form
47 Embrace the tiger and Return to the Mountain
48 Diagonal Grasp the Bird’s Tail
49 Diagonal Single Whip
50 Part the Horse’s Mane (4 times)
51 Step Forward Grasp the Bird’s Tail
52 Single Whip
53 Fair Lady Works at the Shuttles (4 quadrants)
54 Step Forward Grasp the Bird’s Tail
55 Single Whip
56 Cloud Hands (5 times)
57 Single Whip
58 Snake Creeps Down
59-60 Golden Cockerel Stands on one Leg right and left
61 Repulse the monkey - slip forearm (3 times)
62 Flying Diagonal
63 Raise Hands
64 White Crane Spreads It’s Wings
65 Left Brush Knee
66 Needle to the Bottom of the Sea
67 Flash Arms Like a Fan- fan through the back
68 Turn Body and Chop with Fist
69 Step Forward Deflect, Perry and Punch
70 Step Forward and Grasp the Bird’s Tail
71 Single Whip
72 Cloud Hands (3 times)
73 Single Whip
74 High Pat on the Horse
75 Left Palm Thrust
76 Turn Body and Heel Kick Right
77 Brush Knee and Punch
78 Step Forward Grasp the Bird’s Tail
79 Single Whip
80 Snake Creeps Down
81 Step Forward 7 Stars
82 Step Back and Ride the Tiger
83 Turn Body and Swing over the Lotus
84 Bend Bow and Shoot the Tiger
85 Step Forward Deflect, Parry and and Punch
86 Apparent Closing
87 Cross Hands
88 Closing Form
