Yang Cheng Fu Long Form Part 1: Video
Training and teaching videos of Part 1 of the Yang Cheng Fu Long Form.
At Applied Tai Chi and Qi Gong, we teach our students the traditional Yang style Tai Chi long form, also known as the Yang Cheng Fu long form after its creator, Yang Cheng Fu. Beginners learning Part 1 of the form often ask whether there are any online videos they can watch to support their learning.
There are many videos of the Yang Cheng Fu long form available online. These can be confusing for beginners because there are many ways of performing the long form, and online videos can be different from what you are learning from your teacher.
The variation of the Yang Cheng Fu long form closest to the one taught at Applied Tai Chi is that performed by the late, great Earle Montaigue. I have compiled the ones related to the first part of the form below.
Even though Earle’s form is closest to the one we teach, there are still some differences in how the form is performed. These differences are largely because the form is simplified when taught to beginners, and different teachers do this differently. The differences become fewer when the form progresses to a more advanced level. If you see something in these videos different from what you are being taught in class, ask your instructor to clarify how you should be practicing.
The videos below are reproduced with the kind permission of Eli Mongtaigue, head of the World Taiji Boxing Association (WTBA). The WBTA website https://www.taijiworld.com/ is great source of information for Tai Chi students and contains lots of resources to support your learning, many of which are free. There is also a YouTube channel Moontagu - YouTube with lots of other videos.
The videos below are all extracts from a longer video produced by Earle. This video is available to purchase through the Taiji World website at MTG1 Basic Yang Cheng-fu form -MTG1. This video is very reasonably priced and is a useful aid to students learning the form. I recommend you buy it.
Introduction and Demonstration
This video is a general introduction to the Yang Cheng Fu form and includes a good demonstration of a large section of the form. The first part of the form ends at the Cross Hands posture, about 3 minutes into the video. The rest of the video focusses on standing Qi Gong exercises. This is interesting but is a different type of exercise than the form itself and so it’s not essential to watch this.
Part 1: Opening Section to Ward Off Left
This video covers the opening section of the first part of the form, up the posture Ward Off Left.
Part 1: Ward Off Left Into Grasp Bird’s Tail
This video covers the Ward Off Left posture in more detail and includes good instruction on correct stepping. The video also covers the first part of the Grasp Bird’s Tail sequence of movements up to Squeeze (Ji).
Part 1: Grasp Bird’s Tail to Crane Spreads Wings
This video covers the remainder of the Grasp Bird’s Tail sequence, the transitional movement Fishes in Eight, SIngle Whip, Lifting Hands, and finishes at Crane Spreads Wings.
Part 1: Brush Knee and Twist Step to Cross Hands
This video takes you through the Brush Knee and Twist Step Sequence which includes the posture Strum Pipa (Play Guitar). It goes on to cover the Deflect, Parry, Punch sequence, and Sealing as if Closing, before ending the first part of the form with Cross Hands.