The Tai Chi 8 movements is a form created by Nils Klug for his students. Its aim is to enable home training of the different aspects of the Tai Chi form (Yang Style 60 movements) over a longer period of time. The students, long-time students as well as beginners, may train the whole 60 form, the first part or as many postures as they have already learned. Doing this, they work on different aspects, following the instructions and demonstrations of the additional videos. In situations of restricted space, they may also stick to the 8 movements presented below. The 8 form is suitable for „endless“ repetition.
All other interested people are invited to train with us and learn something new! Full instructions for new beginners will be given in the videos, if you want to learn this new form.
Tai Chi 8 movements and 60 movements (Yang Style, Cheng Man Ching tradition)
The eight movements contain the postures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 20a/b (end of first part) of the Yang Style 60 movements in the lineage of Yang Chengfu, Cheng Man Ching, William C. C. Chen. For those practising the „4 postures“ in the tradition of Cheng Man Ching (Push, press, role away, yield chest): You will find the first three movements covered in movements 6-5-4.
The purpose of the 8 movements
Doing the Tai Chi form is a way of moving in itself, not only a chain of postures, one following after the other. Yet, in Yang Style Taijiquan, all these aspects and principles of movements are required to be present in every single movement. However, this does not mean that one movement is enough to learn all principles. On the one hand, the possibilities to move in the Tai Chi way are endless – traditionalists would say: there are 10.000 possibilities. On the other hand, the historical conception speaks of 13 original postures – which has recently led to a wealth of new mother forms being invented.
The Tai Chi 8 movements are first of all a didactical means to demonstrate and teach in a concise way aspects of movement, body mechanics, biomechanics and neuro-physiological aspects of the Tai Chi form – in this case the Yang Style 60 movements as created and developed by William C. C. Chen. Secondly, for those generally interested in Tai Chi, it may provide an easy interactive access point to learn more about this fascinating living art.
8 Movements online course
Fancy learning the 8 movements? – Have a go at it in our free online course!
Video Tai Chi 8 Movements with Music
More videos you’ll find on our YouTube channel!
Tai Chi at home
https://taiji-forum.com/tag/martialmonday/
Author: Taiji-forum
Images: Nils Klug
