The Definitive Guide to 24 Step Simplified Yang Style Taijiquan

The 24 Step Simplified Yang Style Taijiquan or some people refer it as the Beijing 24 Step Taijiquan, is one of the most popular Yang style Tai chi routine in the world.

It was structured in 1956 by my great uncle - Late Grand Master Li Tian Ji, based on the traditional long Yang Style long form.

As well as the creator of this amazing routinesfirst, he was aslo the first Wushu Coach of China’sWushu team, one of China’s 10 greatest Martial Arts treasures in the 20th century, signified as the father of Taiji in Japan.

Traditional long form was long and repetitive, and perceived by many as complicated and difficult to learn. A simpler and standardisedversion was needed in order to make it more enjoyable and accessible to people of all ages with various physical abilities. The 24 Step Taijiquan routine retains the inner essence and finesse of this great traditional art and yet it is easy for beginners to learn.

With tradition and practicality in mind, Master Li Tian Ji based his creation on the traditional 81 step Yang style Taijiquan (believed to be the oldest Yang routine created by Grand Master Yang Chen Fu). In the routine he took on 24 of the most representational postures, took away most of the repetitions and repositioned the postures to make this routine more symmetrical and easier to teach, to learn and to practise. It is recognised and supported by the Sport Council of China.

The 24 step Taijiquan has detail teaching materials with detail step by step guide to each individual movements, directions and focus etc. The routine has given general public a simple but effective way of exercising for health and wellbeing and a stepping stone to progress onto the long form. Furthermore it offers enthusiasts from all over the world a common platform to share their enjoyments, learning experiences and exchange their cultures.

The task of promoting and teaching of this routine throughout the country was given to young Martial Arts, and exercise coaches in various provinces and cities.

One of the main persons who lead the way in popularising the 24 step in China and the world was my father professor Li De Yin, one of China’s 100 Martial arts treasures, creator of the 42 step Taijiquan, 48 Step Taijiquan, Taiji Kung Fu fan routines, Head judge for most international Taiji competitions. He hastravelled all over China, Japan, USA, UK and many other parts of Europe since early 1960 and has written numerous books in Chinese and English on how to better learn, teach and practise the 24 step Taijiquan. He is now the highest authority on the routine.

The creation of the 24 step Taijiquan was a groundbreaking attempt to make Taiji more accessible to wider public and it has proven to be a massive success. It not only became the most widely practisedstandardised Taijiquan routine in China, but also the most popular form all over the world with over 100 million people practising it daily.

There is a saying “When you know the 24 step Simplified Taijiquan; you will find friends in any corner of the Earth”.

Although the 24 step Taijiquan was simplified from the traditional long form, none of the inner essence and external requirements was compromised or watered down. It retains all the principles, characteristics, external and internal practising essentials of this great system of arts.

Health Benefits 
As one of the greatest traditional oriental life nourishing art, Taijiquan are famous for its tremendous health benefits. That is due to its unique characteristics, inner essence philosophy and special way of exercising the body and mind. In one of the most famous Taijipoems “Song of the practice of the 13 postures (Taiji)”, it says at the end “what is the whole point of it? health and longevity! “

Numerous researches and surveys have been conducted in China, USA and around the world into the physical and mental health effect Taijiquan practice. These researches shown that Taiji practice offers excellent health benefits. As an important part of Taijisystem, the 24 step offers the same health benefits, which include;

Key points to better practice 
The 24 Step Taijiquan offers tremendous health benefits. but in order to maximise these benefits, it is vital we practise in a more systematic and correct manner.

We can categorise the practice of the 24 step Taijiquan into three stages of progression, foundation stage (learning and remembering postures, focus is on body and limbs), improvement stage (coordination and use of waist and legs) and instinctive stage (expressing emptiness and solidness, hardness and softness and mind / intention leads the movements).

The foundation stage is like learning calligraphy, every stroke should be slow and careful to make sure all steps are performed properly. Eyes, hands, body, feet, legs should be well coordinated. Practising every move slowly, check on postures, coordination regular will help lay a good foundation for future progression.

Conclusion:
There may only be 24 postures in the 24 step Taijiquan, but all the requirements and inner essence in practising this routine are the same as any traditional long forms.

I have taught this routine in the UK & Europe for more than 20 years. and regularly conduct seminars throughout Europe. I am very pleased that many enthusiasts, with high standard of the 24 step Taijiquan, attended my seminars because they feel there are so much details and essence to learn.

However, a small number of practitioners have the wrong perception that the 24 step Taijiquan is a beginner’s routine, there is no need to pay too much attention to detail and essentials. Their practice become as what Taiji critics described “simply waving hands about with no substance or finesse”.

As my family tradition passed down from my great uncle Li Tian Ji and my father Professor Li De Yin, I hold the 24 Step Taijiquanroutine dearly in my heart. And I believed that in order to reap the maximum benefits of the 24 step Taijiquan, it is imperative to study every detail, practise with diligence, patience and determination. Master each posture before progressing onto the next.

Finally, Taiji practice is a lifetime of passion, which brings great pleasure and tremendous health benefits. Practise the 24 stepTaijiquan will enable Taiji enthusiasts to attain a solid foundation for future progress, and grasp the inner essence and finesse of one of China’s greatest treasures ever made available to the world.

The 24 step simplified Taijiquan consists of 24 representational postures from traditional Yang style Taijiquan, below is the sequence of the routine (in English & Chinese Pronunciations);

1. Opening stance / Qi Shi

2. Part the horse mane (left & right) / Ye Ma Fen Zong

3. White crane spreads it’s wings / Bai He Liang Chi

4. Brush knee, twist steps / Lou Xi Ao Bu

5. Strum the lute / Shou Hui Pi Ba

6. Repulse the monkey (left & right) / Dao Zhuang Gong

7. Grasp the peacock’s tail (left) / Zuo Lan Que Wei

8. Grasp the peacock’s tail (right) / You Lan Que Wei

9. Single whip / Dan Bian

10. Waving hands like clouds / Yun Shou

11. Single whip / Dan Bian

12. High pat the horse / Gao Tan Ma

13. Right heel kick / You Deng Jiao

14. Double punch to the Ears / Shuang Feng Guan Er

15. Turn round and left heel kick / Zhuang Shen Zuo Deng Jiao

16. Creep down and golden cock stand on one leg (left) / Zuo Xia Shi Du Li

17. Creep down and golden cock stand on one leg (right) / You Xia Shi Du Li

18. Fair lady works the shuttle (left & right) / Zuo You Yu Nv Chuan Shuo

19. Needle at the bottom of the sea / Hai Di Zhen

20. Fan through back / Shan Tong Bi

21. turn round block, parry and punch / Zhuang Shen Ban Lan Chui

22. Apparent close up / Ru Feng Si Bi

23. Cross hand / Shi Zi Shou

24. Close stance / Shou Shi