Video summary
The video presents a complete practice session of the Yang style Long Form Tai Chi, offering viewers an immersive look into this traditional martial art through clear verbal instructions and rhythmic movement cues. The instructor guides participants through the entire sequence by calling out specific postures such as Ward Off Left and Right, Roll Back, Press, Withdraw, Push, Single Whip, and White Crane Spreads Wings, effectively breaking down the fluid choreography of the form into manageable segments for learners to follow along with at their own pace.
As the routine progresses, the transcript highlights a variety of dynamic techniques that define the Yang style's characteristic slow, continuous motion punctuated by moments of power. Key movements like Brush Knee Left and Right, Lift Hands, Deflect, Parry and Punch, Apparent Closure, Carry Tiger to Mountain, Part the Wild Horse's Mane, Fair Maiden Work Shuttles, Snake Creeps Down, Golden Right and Left, Repulse Monkey, Diagonal Flying, High Pat the Horse, Butterfly Breath, Pick Up Needle on Sea Bottom, Fan Through the Back, Turn and Chop with Fist, Hit the Tiger, Double Wind to Ears, Step up to Form Seven Stars, Retreat to Ride the Tiger, Shoot the Tiger, Bend the Bow, Five Darts to the Cave, Parting the Wild Horse's Mane again, Wave Hands Like Clouds, Low Punch, Parent Closure, Cross Hands, and Close are all recited in order, ensuring that students can synchronize their physical actions with the intended mental focus of each step.
The instructional style emphasizes repetition and mindfulness throughout the practice, as evidenced by the frequent cues for breathing techniques like Butterfly Breath integrated into kicking sequences and leg separations. The instructor occasionally uses sighs or snorts to mark transitions between sections or to indicate pauses where students should reset their posture before continuing with the next phrase of the form, creating a meditative atmosphere that is central to Tai Chi training.
The session concludes smoothly after completing the final sequence which includes closing movements like Cross Hands and Close followed by a formal bow, signaling the end of the Long Form Yang style practice. This structured approach allows practitioners to internalize the flow of energy known as Qi while mastering the precise alignment and timing required for each posture, making it an excellent resource for both beginners learning the basics and experienced students refining their understanding of this classical Tai Chi form.
Read the full video transcript
[music]
>> Welcome
to Uptown Social. This is Tai Chi class.
This is the
uh Yang style long form.
Wuchi
preparation
ward off left
ward off right
>> [sighs]
>> roll back
and press
withdraw
and push
single whip
>> [sighs]
>> lift hands right
kick
white crane spreads wings
brush knee left
lift hands left
brush knee left
brush knee right
Brush knee left.
Lift hands
left.
Brush knee left.
Deflect.
Parry and punch.
Apparent closure.
Push.
Turn.
Cross hands.
Carry tiger to mountain.
Roll back
and press.
>> [sighs]
>> Withdraw
and push.
Single whip.
Fist under elbow.
>> [sighs]
>> Repulse monkey right.
Repulse monkey left.
Repulse monkey right.
Diagonal flying.
Lift hands left right.
Kick.
White crane spreads wings.
Brush knee left.
Pick up needle on sea bottom.
Fan through the back.
Turn and chop with fist.
Deflect.
Parry and punch.
Ward off right.
Roll back.
And press.
Withdraw.
And push.
Single whip.
Wave hands like clouds.
Single whip.
>> [sighs]
>> High pat the horse.
Separate the right leg.
Butterfly breath.
Kick.
Separate the left leg.
Butterfly breath.
Kick.
Turn.
Butterfly breath.
Kick.
Brush knee left.
>> [snorts]
>> Brush knee right.
Low [snorts] punch.
Turn and chop with fist.
Deflect. Parry and punch.
Parent
Butterfly breath.
Kick, step.
Hit the tiger left.
A parent closure.
Hit the tiger right.
A parent closure.
Butterfly breath in.
Kick.
Double wind to ears.
Turn.
Butterfly breath.
Kick.
Turn.
Butterfly breath.
Kick.
Low punch.
A parent closure.
Push.
Turn.
Cross hands.
Carry tiger to mountain.
Roll back.
And press.
Withdraw.
And push.
Single whip.
Part the wild horse's mane.
Right.
Part the wild horse's mane.
Left.
Part the wild horse's mane.
Right.
A ward off left.
Ward off right.
Roll back.
And press.
Withdraw
and push.
Single whip.
Fair maiden work shuttles.
Ward off left.
>> [sighs]
>> Ward off right.
>> [sighs]
>> Roll back
and press.
Withdraw
and push.
Single whip.
Wave hands like clouds.
Single whip.
Snake creeps down.
Golden right.
Golden left.
Repulse monkey right.
Repulse monkey left.
Repulse monkey right.
Diagonal flying.
Lift hands right.
Kick.
White crane spreads wings.
Brush knee left.
Pick up needle on sea bottom.
Fan through the back.
Turn and chop with fist.
Deflect. Parry.
Punch.
Ward off right.
Roll back.
And press.
Withdraw.
And push.
Single whip.
>> [sighs]
>> Wave hands like clouds.
>> [snorts]
[sighs]
>> Single whip.
High pat the horse.
Five darts to the cave.
Turn,
butterfly,
kick,
low punch,
ward off right,
roll back,
and press,
withdraw,
and push,
single whip,
snake creeps down,
step up to form seven stars,
retreat to ride the tiger,
turn,
kick right,
shoot the tiger,
bend the bow,
kick left,
deflect,
parry and punch,
apparent closure,
push, [snorts]
>> [sighs]
>> turn,
cross hands,
close,
and bow.
That's the end of the long form Yang
style.
>> [music]