YANG AND HAO FORMS

TRADITIONAL YANG FORM

This is the best known and most popular form among Tai Chi practitioners. It is fairly easy to perform and to memorize, with positions that are not overly high or low. The Yang form, universally accessible, was designed to improve health, and well-being.

This form was made popular in the early 20th century by Yang Chengfu, and then by some of his disciples, notably Tung Ying-chieh.

It is made up of 38 poses and includes 108 movements (81 excluding repetitions). The Yang form is to be practiced slowly, between 22 and 30 minutes depending on the pace of the practitioner and/or the group, and on breathing rate.

This form is the foundation of all the other forms. Students of the Yang form learn the basic principles: how to position yourself, move, advance, pull back, maintain a straight and flexible posture, and increase your energy level.

For more details, see the complete forms page

HAO FORM

This form was made popular by Li I’Yu in the 1850s. Tung Ying-chieh studied Tai Chi with Master Li Hsiang Yuan for about twelve years.

This form follows almost the same routine as the Yang form, on which it is based, but that’s where the similarities end. For the Hao form, feet and hands are positioned differently, the level of intention is much higher, and it takes 30 to 40 minutes to carry out all the movements.

It includes 73 movements. For more details, see the complete forms page