The hand form is a series of interconnected, flowing movements performed slowly. Traditionlly, in Wudang Tai Chi Chuan, there is the long form which consists of 119 movements and takes from 15 to 30 minutes to complete. In recent years many teachers have started to teach "short forms"; these have many of the techniques of the tradition forms but with most of the repetitions removed. Short form typically lasts four minutes.
Both the long and the short form can be taught by breaking down the movements into more simplified movements known as square form. Square form is easier for students to follow.



Tai Chi Long Form Section 1
  1. The ready style
  2. Tai Chi beginning style ( Vanguard arms, extend the arms )
  3. Seven stars
  4. Grasping the bird's tail
  5. Single whip
  6. Flying oblique
  7. Raise hands and step up ( single then double seize the legs )
  8. White crane spreads its wings ( break arm style )
  9. Brush knee twist step
  10. The seven stars style ( left )
  11. Brush knee twist step (x3)
  12. The seven stars style ( left )
  13. Stroke the lute
  14. Step up, deflect, parry and punch
  15. As if shutting the door
  16. Embrace the tiger and return to mountain
  17. Cross hands
  18. Oblique brush knee twist step
  19. Turn body brush knee twist step
  20. The seven stars style
  21. Grasping the birds tail
  22. Oblique single whip
Tai Chi Long Form  Section 3
  1. Pat horse high ( left )
  2. Left drape body ( separate hands ) ( tiger embraces head )
  3. Right separate feet
  4. Pat horse high ( right )
  5. Right drape body (separate hands)
  6. Left separate feet
  7. Turn around and kick with heel
  8. Brush knee twist step (x2)
  9. Step forward and plant punch
  10. Turn body and swing fist
  11. Step up, and pat horse high ( left )
  12. Left drape body
  13. Right separate feet
  14. Step back  seven stars style
  15. Step back to strike the tiger
  16. Drape the body and kick
  17. Boxing the ears
  18. Right drape body
  19. Left separate feet
  20. Turn body and kick with the heel
  21. Swing the fist
  22. Step up, parry and punch
  23. As if shutting a door
  24. Embrace the tiger and return to mountain
  25. Cross hands
  26. Turn body, brush knee twist step
  27. Oblique brush knee twist step
  28. Seven stars
  29. Grasping the birds tail
  30. Oblique single whip
Tai Chi Long Form Section 2

  1. Fist under elbow
  2. Step back and repulse monkey (x3)
  3. Flying oblique
  4. Raise hands and step up
  5. White crane flaps its wings
  6. Brush knee twist step
  7. Seven stars style  left
  8. Needle at sea bottom
  9. Fan through back
  10. Turn body and swing fist
  11. Step back, deflect, parry and punch
  12. Step up grasping the bird's tail ( reverse seven stars )
  13. Single whip
  14. Cloud hands ( turning hands )
  15. Single whip
Tai Chi Long Form Section 4
  1. The seven stars style
  2. Parting the wild horses mane
  3. The seven stars style
  4. Parting the wild horses mane
  5. The seven stars style
  6. Parting the wild horses mane
  7. Fair lady works at shuttle
  8. The seven stars style
  9. Parting the wild horses mane
  10. Fair lady works at shuttle
  11. The seven stars style
  12. Grasping the birds tail
  13. Single whip
  14. Wave hands in clouds ( turning hands )
  15. Single whip
Tai Chi Long Form section 5
  1. Snake creeps down
  2. Golden cockerel stands on one leg ( right ) ( white snake spits out its tongue )
  3. Step back repulse monkey ( golden cockerel stands on one leg left ) (x3)
  4. Step aside flying oblique
  5. Raise hands and step up ( double seizing legs )
  6. White crane flaps its wings
  7. Brush knee twist step
  8. The seven stars style left
  9. Needle at sea bottom
  10. Fan though back
  11. Turn body swing fist
  12. Step up, deflect, parry and punch
  13. Step up grasping the birds tail
  14. Single whip
  15. Cloud hands  ( turning hands )
  16. Single whip
Tai Chi Long Form Section 6
  1. Pat horse high left
  2. Slap the face
  3. Cross and single hand sweep lotus leg
  4. Brush knee twist step
  5. Step up and punch to the groin
  6. Step up grasping the birds tail
  7. Single whip
  8. Snake creeps down
  9. Step up Seven stars
  10. Step back to ride the tiger
  11. Turn the body and slap the face
  12. Turn body and double hand sweep lotus leg
  13. Draw the bow to shoot the tiger
  14. Pat horse high ( left )
  15. Slap the face
  16. Turn body and swing the fist
  17. Step up and pat horse high
  18. Step up grasping the birds tail
  19. Single whip
  20. Tai Chi in unity
  21. Completion style