Taijiquan 24 Form: Standard Simplified

For the past weeks, most of my writing and graphic arts work has been focused on improving my webpage on the Standard 24 Tai Chi Form. I have finished a good third draft of this webpage.

Tai Chi Chuan Standard Simplified 24 Movement Form

Research by Michael P. Garofalo

- Bibliography, Links, Online Videos, Resources

- List of 24 Movement Names in English, Chinese characters, Chinese Pinyin, French, German and Spanish. Source references for movement names.

- Descriptions of each of the 24 movements with B&W line illustrations.

- Performance times, sections, quotations, notes on learning.

- Standard, simplified, Chinese National, Orthodox, 24 Movement Form in the Yang Style of Taijiquan.

Updated in March 2008

300Kb, HTML

http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/short.htm

This webpage was served to over 48,000 persons in 2007. It is one of the more popular webpages on the Cloud Hands Website

Tai Chi 32 Sword

32 Sword Form, Simplified, Yang Style, Taijiquan Jian. By Michael P. Garofalo. This popular webpage includes a comprehensive bibliography, scores of links to webpages; an extensive listing of the names and name variations for each movement in English, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish; a detailed analysis of each posture and movement sequence with explanations and numbered illustrations and detailed instructions; selected quotations; comments on 20 Taijiquan sword techniques; a comprehensive media bibliography; a chart of performance times; and, a comparison of the 32 and 55 sword forms in the Yang style. This is the standard, simplified, orthodox, 1957, 32 Taiji Sword Form, in the Yang Style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. © Michael P. Garofalo, Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California, January 2008. 245Kb+.

32 Taijiquan Simplified Sword Form

Standard Tai Chi 24 Form

Tai Chi Chuan Standard Simplified 24 Movement Form

Research by Michael P. Garofalo

- Bibliography, Links, Online Videos, Resources

- List of 24 Movement Names in English, Chinese characters, Chinese Pinyin, French, German and Spanish. Source references for movement names.

- Descriptions of each of the 24 movements with B&W line illustrations.

- Performance times, sections, quotations, notes on learning.

- Standard, simplified, Chinese National, Orthodox, 24 Movement Form in the Yang Style of Taijiquan.

Updated in February 2008

210 Kb

http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/short.htm

This webpage was served to over 48,000 persons in 2007. It is one of the more popular webpages on the Cloud Hands Website

Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds the Mortar

New Definitions of the 8 Basic Techniques. By Zhenbo Sun. T'ai Chi: The International Magazine of Tai Chi Chuan: Vol. 31, No. 5, October, 2007, pp. 45 - 48. Discussion of the 8 energies (Peng, Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zhou, Kao, Ji) as found in King Kong Pounds Mortar # 2 movement of Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine.

Chen Taijiquan: Old Frame, First Form

2. Pounding the Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui)
Pounding the Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui) [Chen Zenglei]
Diamond King Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui) [Mark Chen]
King-Kong Nailed Fist [Jou Tsung Hwa]
Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Dui) [Sim & Gaffney]
Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds with Pestle (Jin-gang Dao Dui) [Chen Xin 1932, 2007]
Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar [Zhaohua]
Pounding the Mortar [Mike Garofalo]
Martèlement du Mortier
Zerstoßen des Mörsers
Golpear el Mortero
金刚捣碓 : Jin Gang Dao Dui

Cloud Hands Website Usage in 2007

Cloud Hands Website: Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong
http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/index.htm
Published by Michael P. Garofalo


In 2007, there were 1,040,263 webpages (excluding graphics) server to people all around the world.


This website includes webpages on the Yang, Sun, and Chen styles of Taijiquan and many forms on Qigong. It also includes sub-folders on meditation, walking, yoga, and esoterica.


The most popular webpages requested were the Staff, Eight Section Brocade, Yang Long Form, Yang Short Form, Index Homepage, and the Qigong Homepage.


In addition, over 890,000 webpages (excluding graphics) were distributed from the subfolder on Months (http://www.egreenway.com/months/index.htm).


Therefore, the total 2007 traffic in webpages served from the domain www.egreenway.com was 1,930,263 webpages served.

Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine - Performance Times

Today, I studied some instructional DVDs by Chen Masters teaching the Chen Style Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine. Chen Zenglei did the form in 13:46 minutes; DVD 2005, #2, Part V., Essential 18 Movement Chen Style Boxing. Ren Guang Yi did the form in 9:18 minutes; DVD 2006. Jesse Tsao did the form in 11:03; DVD 2004.

List of Movements in Section I, Movements 1 -7, of the Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form.


List of Movements in Section II, Movements 8 -14, of the Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine

Chen Style Taijiquan, Old Frame First Form, Lao Jia Yi Lu. By Michael P. Garofalo. 120Kb. February 2008. Detailed bibliography and links. List of movement names in English, Chinese characters, Chinese Pinyin, French, German, and Spanish. Detailed list of online videos. Notes on learning the Old Frame, First Form, Lao Jia Yi Lu. Record of performance time of this form by many masters. Breakdown by Sections.

Chen Taiji Laojia Yilu: Sections

Sections of Chen Taijiquan, Old Frame, First Form

The Chen Old Frame First Form is often divided into sections for teaching and learning. Chen Zenglei provides a list of these sections which, he says, is based on the the sections proposed by Chen Xin:

Section Movement Numbers
I. 1 - 2
II. 3 - 6
III. 7 - 8
IV. 9 - 11
V. 12 - 15
VI. 16 - 22
VII. 23 - 26
VIII. 27 - 42
IX. 43 - 51
X. 52 - 61
XI. 62 - 67
XII. 68 - 70
XIII. 71 - 74

For my own learning purposes, I have divided the Chen Old Frame First Form into 10 Sections:

Section Movement Numbers
I. 1 - 7
II. 8 - 14
III. 15 - 21
IV. 22 - 28
V. 29 - 35
VI. 36 - 42
VII. 43 - 50
VIII. 51 - 58
IX. 59 - 66
X. 67 - 74


Notes on Learning the Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form
By Michael P. Garofalo

Chen Tai Chi Chuan Old Frame First Form

Chen Tai Chi Chuan, Old Frame, First Form, Laojia Yilu

I have been doing some research on the Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan, Old Frame, First Form, Lao Jia Yi Lu. I have published this research as:

Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form, Lao Jia Yi Lu
By Michael P. Garofalo
February 2008
Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Red Bluff, California
105Kb

This webpage includes:

An extensive bibliography of books and media products.

A comprehensive collection of links to Internet resources.

A detailed comparative list of the names of the 74 movements in this form: in English, Chinese Pinyin, Chinese characters, French, Spanish and German. Six reference sources for the movement names are cited.

Performance times for the form by Chen masters.

A comprehensive list of online videos on the Chen form.

Recommendations for the best learning resources.

Notes on learning the Chen Old Frame, First Form.

Quotes and poems.


Chen Taijiquan: General Index

Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form Lao Jia Yi Lu

I have been doing some research on the Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan, Old Frame, First Form, Lao Jia Yi Lu. I have published this research as:

Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form
By Michael P. Garofalo
February 2008
Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Red Bluff, California
96Kb

This webpage includes a detailed bibliography with links, and a detailed comparative list of the names of the 74 movements in this form.

Chen Taijiquan: General Index

32 Sword Form, Taijiquan, Yang Style

32 Sword Form, Simplified, Yang Style, Taijiquan Jian. By Michael P. Garofalo. This popular webpage includes a comprehensive bibliography, scores of links to webpages; an extensive listing of the names and name variations for each movement in English, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish; a detailed analysis of each posture and movement sequence with explanations and numbered illustrations and detailed instructions; selected quotations; comments on 20 Taijiquan sword techniques; a comprehensive media bibliography; a chart of performance times; and, a comparison of the 32 and 55 sword forms in the Yang style. This is the standard, simplified, orthodox, 1957, 32 Taiji Sword Form, in the Yang Style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. © Michael P. Garofalo, Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California, January 2008. 245Kb+.

32 Taijiquan Simplified Sword Form

20 T'ai Chi Ch'uan Sword Techniques

55 Classical Yang Taiji Sword




The Wild Horse Jumps Over the Mountain Stream




Zhong Kui
Vanquisher of Demons
Protector of the Home

I really appreciated the following email from Brad in Canada,

"I wanted to thank you for your web pages on the Tai Chi 32 sword form. I live in a small town in BC in Canada and have no access to any tai chi instuctors, so I started teaching myself from your website. I can't tell you how much learning tai chi has changed my life for the better. I have never felt so balanced and contented. Your website has changed me for the better. Thank you so much, I just cannot express how thankful I am."

Happy Chinese New Year

"Still lie the sheltering snows, undimmed and white;
And reigns the winter's pregnant silence still;
No sign of spring, save that the catkins fill,
And willow stems grow daily red and bright.
These are days when ancients held a rite
Of expiation for the old year's ill,
And prayer to purify the new year's will."
- Helen Hunt Jackson, A Calendar of Sonnet's: February

February: Quotes, Poems, Lore, and Chores

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Professor Bohn told me that "It`s New Year in China: the year of the rat, the element wood, the celestial stem Wu, and earth branch Zi!"



I am going to take a walk now. Enjoy your day.

Walking: Quotes, Poems, Bibliography, Notes

Trigrams of the I Ching and Bagua

I occasionally get email regarding my webapge:
Eight Trigrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes)
The eight trigrams of the I Ching are the foundation for the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching or "Book of Changes." The I Ching is used in Taoist philosophy, divination, and Chinese symbolism and lore.

A circular arrangement of the Trigrams is a common symbol used in martial arts and is incorporated into banners, scrolls, flags, signs, embroidery on uniforms, patches, certificates, and other artwork. A circular arrangement of the Trigrams is often referred to as "Bagua." There is an internal martial art featuring circular defenses and offense called Ba Gua Zhang (Pa Kau Chang).

Here is an example of a recent email to me on the subject of the Trigrams from Kristo Eshke,

Hi Mike,

Thank you for the reply.

I have enclosed the Bagua sequence research, I have drawn out. It will show the flow of several different relationships, and the fractions they create Yang:Yin. The largely accepted sequence "Early Heaven" swaps 4 and 5 (wind and thunder). I have yet to discover or be educated as to why.

http://www.feng-shui-institute.org/trigrams.htm
The link above shows Yang-Yin-Bi grams-Tri grams, etc. You will notice from Father to Mother the "children" appear in order as well. When the trigrams are applied to the Bagua, the order is altered. It has been alluded that certain trigrams are inward flowing, while others are outward. . . though have not seen that info demonstrating it.

If you have a resource that can help me understand why it was altered and accepted as the "One" that would be great.

Peace,
Kristo"

The Feng Shui webpage on the Trigrams is well worth looking at.

The "One" is always a difficult concept to understand. Since it represents an undifferentiated condition, primordial Chaos, unknowability, and is beyond words ... it is hard to comprehend. Appreciation is probably best left to silence, awe, and mystical sensibility.

"I find circular patterns (i.e., sacred circles, labyrinths, spirals, spheres, etc) to be very interesting. Circular arrangements have a key place in the spiritual practices in my life. I am fascinated by the symbolic, artistic, religious, and psychological aspects of circular arrangements. Some use a cross or sword as the symbol of their religion; which, to me, are symbols which represent violence, torture, fear, death, and the end. Others, like me, find a wheel (Buddhist Dharma Wheel), Tai Chi Tun Yin-Yang Circle (Taoist), or sacred circle of trees (Nemeton) or stones (Labyrinth) more appealing to their spiritual sensibilities. The circle, to me, represents the cycle of the seasons, rebirth and return, new possibilities, union of complementary forces (e.g, male and female), the ring of commitment, complexity, and the pattern and order of the cosmos. My prejudices and preferences are, therefore, reflected in my interpretations."
Trigram Notes

Yoga Classes in Red Bluff, California

Yoga Classes
Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga
2008
Classes at the Tehama Family Fitness Center (TFFC)
2498 South Main Street
Red Bluff, CA 96080
530-528-8656


Tuesday: 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.

Wednesday: 5:30 - 6:15 p.m.

Thursday: 5:30 - 6:45 p.m.

Saturday: 11:00 - 12:15 p.m.


Class Schedule Changes, Exceptions, Cancellations


Instructor
Michael P. Garofalo

YogaFit Level IV Certified Yoga Instructor (200 Hours)
Personal Fitness Trainer
Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) Certified
M.S., B.A. Philosophy
Yoga Director, Tehama Family Fitness Center

For More Information You are Welcome to Telephone Mike at 530-200-3546

Valley Spirit Hatha Yoga Website

Brief Biography

Qualifications and Practice

My Yoga Classes Always Include Some Qigong (Chinese Yoga) Forms and Theory


Mike has completed the YogaFit Level IV Teacher Training certification (200 hours.) Mike has taught Qigong (Chinese Yoga) and T'ai Chi Ch'uan since 2000, and has practiced these internal martial arts since 1986. He has been teaching Hatha Yoga at the Tehama Family Fitness Center since 2004, and is the Yoga Director at TFFC. He has also completed 36 hours of formal training in other styles of Yoga, and over 600 hours of Qigong and Tai Chi training. He is a AFAA certified Personal Fitness Trainer.

Member of the California Yoga Teachers Association.
Member of the International Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association.
Member of the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Taijiquan) Cloud Hands Website

January Days

Winter storms have arrived on the West Coast. It has rained nearly 5 inches in the last 10 days. Snow levels are down to 2,500 feet in the local mountains. Streams and creeks are all running again in the Valley.

Power outages were quite widespread in Northern California. We did not have electricity at our home for four days.

“Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.”
- John Boswell

I've been doing more weight training indoors in the gym.

I subscribe to the DISH sattelite HD television package. One HD channel features Kung Fu films. Lately, I have watched five of the "Zatoichi" films, starring Shintaro Katsu. 25 Zatoichi films were made between 1962-1973, and the character was also featured in a TV series in Japan. Zatoichi is a blind man, a massuese, and a gambler with a shady past; but a kindhearted and brave fellow who defends the poor against thugs and corrupt government officials in the late Edo Period. He is an undefeated master swordsman.

Open a New Door

We wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards All.

“The name, given to the month of ‘January’, is derived from the ancient Roman name ‘Janus’ who presided over the gate to the new year. He was revered as the ‘God of Gateways’, ‘of Doorways’ and ‘of the Journey.’ Janus protected the ‘Gate of Heaven’, known as the ‘Lord of Beginnings’, is associated with the ‘Goddess Juno-Janus’, and often symbolized by an image of a face that looks forwards and backwards at the same time. This symbolism can easily be associated with the month known by many as the start of a new year which brings new opportunities. We cast out the old and welcome in the new. It is the time when many reflect on events of the previous year and often resolve to redress or improve some aspect of daily life or personal philosophy.”
- Mysitcal World Wide Web

"New Year ceremonies are designed to get rid of the past and to welcome the future. January is named after the Etruscan word janua which means door."
- New Year's Customs

"The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months!"
- Edward Payson Powell




January: Quotes, Poems, Lore, Sayings, Garden Chores