Long Yang Tai Chi Form - 108 postures
After learning the ‘Yang’ short from (link), in both right and left directions, Wutan students may progress to the ‘Long Yang’ form. Perhaps you will see it called the ‘Yang traditional form’, or the ‘Old Yang form’. We describe it as having 108 postures and this matches content you will find on-line.
Sweep lotus kick
After learning the ‘Yang’ short from (link), in both right and left directions, Wutan students may progress to the ‘Long Yang’ form. Perhaps you will see it called the ‘Yang traditional form’, or the ‘Old Yang form’. We describe it as having 108 postures and this matches content you will find on-line.
The closest I can find on Wikipedia is this so called ‘103 posture’ version (link). I think it’s very like ours, but a little easier, as all repeated moves are all done in threes, not five, then four then three.
You can find many versions on YouTube. When performed well you can see the underlying similarities of softness, grace, strength and control.
But you will also see differences to how we practice the form, and also between the many genuine skilled students, practitioners and masters of the Yang Long Form themselves. In the example videos shared below you will see one version with a double lotus sweep kick. You will often also see separating kicks being done high and kicking the hand, sometimes with a shout or exclamation.
Each video shown is conducted with almost all the moves done at a very slow ‘breath speed’ and they all have a duration, longer than 22 mins.
Lastly, you might also enjoy reading this comparison between short and long form (link).
Taiji Yang traditional 108 form - unknown practitioner
Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Traditional Form - Grandmaster Yang Jun, 5th generation lineage holder
Classic demonstration of the 108 "Old Yang" taijiquan - Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming
Short Form Tai Chi (37 postures)
The Short Yang form comes in many variations. The one we teach consists of thirty seven ‘postures’, and is much abbreviated from Yang’s original ‘long form’, but can still take anywhere from six to ten minutes to complete when focusing carefully on technique and breathing.
There are five main family styles of Tai Chi, and Wutan schools start by teaching the Yang family style (link).
An application of single whip by Yang Chengfu from his 1931 book.
Specifically, the head of our school, Master They SoonTuan, recommends we initially teach what is colloquially called ‘Short Yang’.
The Short Yang form comes in many variations. The one we teach consists of thirty seven ‘postures’, and is much abbreviated from Yang’s original ‘long form’, but can still take anywhere from six to ten minutes to complete when focusing carefully on technique and breathing.
Wutan’s ‘Yang’ short form is actually derived from a form created by Cheng Man-ch’ing (Zheng Manqing and sometimes referred to as ‘CMC’) (link), who studied with Yang Chengfu for a number of years.
Cheng Man-ch’ing in Single Whip
The changes from the traditional Yang ‘long form’ reduced some of the repetition and made it easier to teach larger numbers of students.
The moves, steps and transitions in the following video will be familiar to students, although you will notice some differences and omissions from the way this form is taught by Wutan.
Can you spot them? Maybe something to talk to your instructor about 😉
Here is another version of CMC doing his short form.
Look at the high hand finger positions in the double pushes
The so called ‘hold the ball’ is minimised and transitory
No donkey kicks
Elbow/shoulder strike (stroke) is very subtle as is White Crane Spread’s its wings
Five Repulse Monkeys and five Cloud Hands. The Cloud Hands are also punctuated with a tiny pause in the middle of the move
Stepping back for Golden Rooster
In the kick section, the two separating kicks are followed immediately by the heel kick without stepping down (as in Long Yang)
There’s a fast 360 turn just prior to the Sweep Lotus Kick
Bend the Bow to Shoot the Tiger is minimal
Spot any more?
By way of contrast, look at this competition version:
The upper hand of the White Crane Spreads its Wings comes to the centre line like an inner forearm block
One brush knee push
No donkey kicks
No punch under elbow
Three Repulse Monkeys and three Cloud Hands
Stepping backwards for the Golden Roosters
Separating kicks are low and to the diagonal, followed by a quick turn, no foot down for the heel kick
For ‘Four Corners’ (Fair Lady Weaves at Shuttles) the inner hand slides up the forearm of the outer hand
A fast 360 turn prior to the Sweep Lotus Kick
There is a full set of pictures, with notes, on Wutan’s version of Cheng’s short form in Master They SoonTuan’s book, Tai Chi - The Treasure of Mankind (sometimes referred to as the ‘purple book’), Wutan (UK), 1997, ISBN 0-9530917-0-8. Your instructor will be happy to supply a copy.