Learning Chen Taijiquan, Week Two

Old Frame (Lao Jia), First Form (Yi Lu)
Chen Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan, 74 Movement Hand Form

Learning the Chen Taijiquan First Form
Journal and Notes by Michael P. Garofalo

Week Two, May 7-16, 2021

The first five movements of the Laojia Yilu (First Form) are the same as the he first five movements of the Chen 18, so my start is a little easier than other beginners since I learned that Chen 18 short form around 2010.


List of Movements in Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei's Short 18 Form (1 Page, PDF) English Only

List of Movements in Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei's Short 18 Form (1Page, PDF) English and Chinese

List of Movements in Chen Taijiquan, Old Frame, First Form, Laojia Yilu (2 pages, PDF) English and Chinese

Comparison of Chen 18 Taijiquan Form with the Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form Laojia Yilu.

Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan in 1840, 74 Movements, 
Old Frame, First Form, Laojia Yilu, Section 1:

1. Beginning Posture of Taijiquan (MPG)   Taiji Qi Shi 
2. Pounding the Mortar  Jin Gang Dao Dui  
3. Lazily Tying One's Coat  Lan Zha Yi
4. Six Sealing and Four Closing  Liu Feng Si Bi
5. Single Whip  Dan Bian 
6. Pounding the Mortar, Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds the Mortar  Jin Gang Dao Dui  
7. White Crane Spreads Its Wings  Bai E Liang Chi  
8. Walking Obliquely  Xie Xing  
9. Brush Knee, Withdraw Hands  Lou Xi  
10. Stepping to Both Sides  Ao Bu

Practiced movements 1-5 each day of Section 1 in Week Two.  These movements appear many times in the 74 Old Frame First Form.   

Updated webpages on this subject:  Chen Taijiquan First Form Laojia Yilu  and  Learning the First Form

For Section 1, I viewed, many times, instructional DVDs by Grand Master Dr. Jesse Tsao and Master Ken Gullette. 

 I studied the many photographs for each movement in the fine book by Ren Guangyi  "Taijiquan Hand and Sword."  I find this book extremely useful!  It is a must have printed resource for a beginning Chen First Form student.  

"If one is persistent and practices every day, proficiency in the form will be achievable within half a year."  -  Davidine Siaw-Voon Sim

 

Silk Reeling     Standing     Fang Song - Loosen, Relax

Rooting     Eight Gates Energies and Five Directions       

Journal of Michael P. Garofalo - Case Study - Learning the Chen First Form - Weekly Notes