Tai Chi 24 Form – Instructions & Videos

Tai Chi 24 Form – Beijing or Simplified Form

This page focuses on the Tai Chi 24 form (also known as the Beijing form or simplified form). This form was created in 1956 by the Chinese Government’s National Sports Committee in order to create a simplified Tai Chi form for the “masses” (because many traditional Tai Chi forms were seen as too long or complex). For information on other Tai Chi forms, please visit the main Tai Chi Forms (Ch’uan) section.

For the forms of other martial arts (i.e. Karate and Taekwondo), please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main Kata & Forms section.

Written Instructions for Tai Chi 24 Form – Beijing Form

  1. Beginning Posture
  2. Part the Wild Horse’s Mane
  3. White Crane Spreads Its Wings
  4. Brush Knee and Step Forward
  5. Playing the Lute (or Guitar)
  6. Step Back or Reverse Reeling Forearm (Repulse Monkey)
  7. Left Grasp Sparrow’s Tail
  8. Right Grasp Sparrow’s Tail
  9. Single Whip
  10. Wave Hands Like Clouds
  11. Single Whip
  12. High Pat on Horse or Stroke Horse
  13. Cross Hands, Right Heel Kick
  14. Strike to Ears with Both Fists
  15. Turn Body, Cross Hands, Left Heel Kick
  16. Left Single Whip Low, Bird Stand on One Leg
  17. Right Single Whip Low, Bird Stand on One Leg
  18. Shuttle Back and Forth
  19. Needle at Bottom of Ocean
  20. Ward Off, Push Away (or Fan Through Back)
  21. Turn Body, Deflect, Parry, and Punch
  22. Appears Closed or Closing Shut
  23. Cross Hands
  24. Ending Posture

Tai Chi 24 Form