What is Tai Chi 18 Movement Form?

Series Summary

Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art that has been practiced and adapted throughout the years to encompass many different styles. Though not as "hard" a martial art as say, Taekwondo in that it does not overtly foster sparring and contact fighting, Tai Chi is nevertheless made up of forms which mimic blocks and strike of "harder" martial arts. It is now primarily used as a form of spiritual and mystic exercise that incorporates body and mind through meditation and movement.


In this free video series, our martial arts expert will teach you a beginner's tai chi movement. You will learn about the origins of this particular movement, called the tai chi 18 movement form and how to warm up with a beginning form. You will also get step by step instructions for each part the movement. Finally, see a demonstration of the complete movement and get tips on incorporating harmony and connection into each tai chi form.

Video Transcript

"Today I'll be discussing the Chen style 18-movement style that was created by a grand master named Chen Zheng-Lei of Chen village, in Hernon province China. This is an abbreviated form; it's abbreviated from the 74 or 75 movement, Loudga form which is the long form of Chen style. Grandmaster Chen Zheng-Lei created this form in order to have this Chen style to be accessible to people at seminars and to give beginners a form they can learn relatively quickly and that complete form that would introduce a lot of the important movements from the 74-movement form. This form is aforementioned it's a Chen style form, Chen is one of the four major Tai Chi family styles. The others being Yung style, Ho style and or Wu style. This form is, it takes about five or six minutes to complete and I would recommend anyone performing this style get a good basis in Silk reeling and learn Tai Chi warm-ups before attempting this form as it will help the energy flow and the openness of the joints. Then we'll get started."