[Masterclass] The Ultimate 24-Step Guide to Yang Style Tai Chi 24 Form with Animated Images

Index – Jump to Any Form

Use this index to navigate directly to each form. (I will update the links as we build the thread.)

• Form 1： →
• Form 2： →
• Form 3： →
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Form Name: 一、起式 – Beginning Posture (Form 1)

Key Points:
Stand naturally, with chest slightly in and back rounded (含胸拔背).
Crown of head suspended as if pulled by a string (头顶悬).
Knees slightly bent, waist relaxed, eyes looking forward.
Shoulders dropped, elbows down, Qi sinks to Dantian.

Common Mistakes:
Stiff shoulders and arched chest.
Locked knees or bent too much.
Looking down or up instead of forward.

Form Name: 二、左右野马分鬃 – Part the Wild Horse's Mane (Both Sides) (Form 2)

Key Points:
Start with "holding a ball" posture.
One arm forward and up, the other down by the side.
Step forward like a cat – smooth and light.
Clear empty‑full (虚实) weight transfer.

Common Mistakes:
Bow stance too long or too short.
Arms too stiff or not rounded.
Weight stuck in between, not fully shifted.

Form Name: 三、白鹤亮翅 – White Crane Spreads Its Wings (Form 3)

Key Points:
Left hand presses down, right hand lifts to eyebrow level.
Right leg solid (70% weight), left foot lightly touching with toes.
Shoulders sunk, elbows dropped.

Common Mistakes:
Raising the shoulder when lifting the arm.
Leaning forward or back, losing balance.
Right hand too high or too low.

Form Name: 四、左右搂膝拗步 1 – Brush Knee & Twist Step (Left) (Form 4)

Key Points:
Brush the knee with one hand while the other pushes forward.
The movement is diagonal – not straight forward.
Coordinate the brush and push with the step.

Common Mistakes:
Hand and knee not synchronized.
Pushing hand too low or too high.
Upper body leaning forward.

Form Name: 五、左右搂膝拗步 2 – Brush Knee & Twist Step (Right) (Form 5)

Key Points:
Extend the wrist and palm when pushing.
Strike forward with a relaxed yet focused palm.
Maintain clear empty‑full as you shift weight.

Common Mistakes:
Wrist bent or stiff.
Weight not fully transferred, making push weak.
Forgetting to turn the waist.

Deepen your understanding: This movement is a classic example of "empty‑full" (虚实) – a core concept in Tai Chi. Learn more about the philosophy of Yin Yang in our article Yin Yang in Tai Chi

Form Name: 六、手挥琵琶 – Play the Lute (Form 6)

Key Points:
Hands form a shape like holding a lute – left forward, right near chest.
Right leg solid, left leg empty with heel lightly touching.
Shoulders and elbows relaxed and sunk.

Common Mistakes:
Arms too straight or too wide.
Weight too far forward on the empty leg.
Elbows sticking out instead of dropping.

Form Name: 七、左右倒撵猴 – Step Back & Repulse Monkey (Both Sides) (Form 7)

Key Points:
Step back with toes touching first, then settle into empty stance.
Turn waist and relax hips as you bring hands forward.
Maintain a steady height – no bobbing up and down.

Common Mistakes:
Rising up when stepping back.
Losing balance because of hasty steps.
Hands moving independently of waist turn.

Form Name: 八、左拦雀尾 – Grasp the Bird's Tail (Left) (Form 8)

Key Points:
Peng (ward off): Arms rounded, forward energy.
Lu (rollback): Draw back with palms facing each other.
Ji (press): One hand presses with the other supporting.
An (push): Push forward with power rooted in the waist.

Common Mistakes:
Peng arms not rounded.
Lu becomes a pulling instead of a yielding redirect.
Ji lacks coordination – hands not working together.
An uses only arms, not whole body.

Form Name: 九、右拦雀尾 – Grasp the Bird's Tail (Right) (Form 9)

Key Points:
Same as left side, mirrored.
Remember to maintain the same quality of Peng, Lu, Ji, An.

Common Mistakes:
Same as left side, but often less coordinated on non‑dominant side.

Form Name: 十、单鞭 – Single Whip (Form 10)

Key Points:
Left hand pushes, right hand forms a hook behind.
In bow stance, the heel of front foot lands first.
Clear weight shift before forming the hook.

Common Mistakes:
Hook hand too tight or too loose.
Front knee extending beyond toes.
Upper body leaning to the side.

📖 This form contains both Peng and An energies. To explore the meaning of the eight gates (Ba Fa), visit our dictionary: What is Ba Fa? The 8 Methods For an interactive map of the eight gates and five steps, see the Taiji Thirteen Postures.

Form Name: 十一、云手 – Wave Hands Like Clouds (Form 11)

Key Points:
Hands trace circles in front of the body, moving with the waist.
Step sideways with left foot, then bring right foot alongside.
The movement is continuous, like clouds drifting.

Common Mistakes:
Moving hands without turning the waist.
Feet not synchronized – stepping and weight shift off.
Circles too large or too small.

Form Name: 十二、高探马 – High Pat on Horse (Form 12)

Key Points:
One hand cuts forward at face level, the other rests near the waist.
Rear leg solid, front foot empty (toe touching).
Shoulders sunk, elbows down.

Common Mistakes:
Striking hand too low or too high.
Front foot bearing weight (not empty).
Elbow lifted instead of dropped.

Form Name: 十三、右蹬脚 – Kick with Right Heel (Form 13)

Key Points:
Power originates from the waist.
Left leg stable, right heel kicks forward with focus.
Keep body upright – don't lean back to kick higher.

Common Mistakes:
Falling or wobbling on standing leg.
Kicking with toe instead of heel.
Upper body bending forward or back.

Form Name: 十四、双峰贯耳 – Strike to Ears with Both Fists (Form 14)

Key Points:
Both fists form a circular shape, striking forward like pincers.
Fists aim at ear level, arms slightly bent.

Common Mistakes:
Fists too high or too low.
Arms locked straight.
No power from the waist – only arm movement.

Form Name: 十五、转身左蹬脚 – Turn & Kick with Left Heel (Form 15)

Key Points:
Lift knee, pivot on right foot, then step into bow stance.
Turn smoothly, then kick with left heel.
Keep turning foot stable.

Common Mistakes:
Losing balance during the turn.
Kicking without fully turning the body.
Kicking foot too low.

📖 Kicks challenge your balance and root. Learn how to improve your stability with Tai Chi for Balance

Form Name: 十六、左下势独立 – Push Down & Stand on One Leg (Left) (Form 16)

Key Points:
Sink down into a deep squat on left leg, right leg straight.
Right hand hooks, left hand reaches forward.
Rise up onto left leg, right knee lifted, right palm forward.

Common Mistakes:
Bending the upper body forward when sinking.
Not keeping the back straight during the rise.
Losing balance in the independent stance.

Form Name: 十七、右下势独立 – Push Down & Stand on One Leg (Right) (Form 17)

Key Points:
Mirror of left side.
Maintain the same fluidity and height control.

Common Mistakes:
Same as left side; often weaker on non‑dominant side.

Form Name: 十八、右玉女穿梭 1 – Fair Lady Works at Shuttles (Right) (Form 18)

Key Points:
One arm spirals up and forward, the other pushes forward.
Imagine threading a shuttle – coordinated arm movement.
Step diagonally forward.

Common Mistakes:
Arms moving independently, not as a unit.
Stepping too wide or too narrow.

Form Name: 十九、左玉女穿梭 2 – Fair Lady Works at Shuttles (Left) (Form 19)

Key Points:
One arm spirals up and forward, the other pushes forward.
Mirror of the right shuttle – same mechanics, opposite side.
Step diagonally forward toward the left front corner.

Common Mistakes:
Arms moving independently, not as a unit.
Stepping too wide or too narrow.

Form Name: 二十、海底针 – Needle at Sea Bottom (Form 20)

Key Points:
Right hand stabs downward like a needle, left hand presses by side.
Left leg empty (toe touch), right leg solid.
Keep head upright – don't bend forward excessively.

Common Mistakes:
Bending too much at the waist.
Stabbing hand too high or too low.
Weight shifting onto empty leg.

📖 This movement requires deep relaxation in the waist and hips. Read our guide on How to Relax in Tai Chi

Form Name: 二十一、扇通臂 – Fan Through Back (Form 21)

Key Points:
Right arm lifts and supports, left palm pushes forward.
Lift knee, step into bow stance.
Keep waist and hips relaxed.

Common Mistakes:
Lifting arm with shoulder tension.
Push and lift not coordinated.
Losing the bow stance alignment.

Form Name: 二十二、转身搬拦锤 – Turn, Deflect, Parry & Punch (Form 22)

Key Points:
Turn, then deflect with right hand (搬).
Parry with left hand (拦).
Step forward and punch with right fist (锤), left hand protecting near elbow.
Right foot turns out, left foot steps in.

Common Mistakes:
Deflect, parry, punch disconnected.
Punch without waist power.
Footwork clumsy – not following the order.

Form Name: 二十三、如封似闭 – Apparent Close Up (Form 23)

Key Points:
Cross hands to "seal" (封), then press forward to "close" (闭).
Lean back slightly, press down, then push forward.
Maintain a centered, upright posture – no leaning.

Common Mistakes:
Leaning too far back or forward.
Hands not working together in the close.
Losing the connection to the waist.

Form Name: 二十四、十字手 – Cross Hands (Form 24)

Key Points:
Cross forearms in front of chest, forming a cross.
Right foot draws in to shoulder width.
Relax waist and drop elbows.

Common Mistakes:
Arms too high or too low.
Crossing too tightly or loosely.
Tension in shoulders.

📖 Cross Hands symbolizes the union of yin and yang. Discover how this philosophy applies to everyday life in Yin Yang & Wuji in Daily Life

Form Name: 二十五、收势 – Closing (Form 25)

Key Points:
Press hands down slowly, then stand upright.
Bring left foot back to shoulder width.
End with a calm, collected feeling.

Common Mistakes:
Rushing the closing.
Not bringing the foot back fully.
Losing the relaxed state.

You've Completed the 24 Forms – What's Next?

Congratulations! You've just gone through the entire Yang Style 24 Simplified Tai Chi Form step by step. But learning a form is just the beginning.

Your journey continues:

Practice on your own: Now that you know the sequence, consistent self‑practice is key. Our guide How to Learn Tai Chi by Yourself will help you build a safe and effective home practice.

Dive deeper into each form: If you want to revisit the theory, history, and applications of any movement, head back to our main post and explore the linked articles. The Complete Guide to 24-Step Simplified Tai Chi is a great place to start.

Explore other Tai Chi topics: Our blog covers everything from push hands to philosophy. Check out (Tai Chi for Beginners) [https://www.taichiwuji.com/tai-chi-for-beginners] for more foundational knowledge.

Keep practicing, stay relaxed, and enjoy the journey! 🧘