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The Beijing 24 is aimed at the beginner and uses 24 representative moves from the Yang style. Although it has been simplified by reducing the repetition of moves and some of the more difficult kicks it contains the important and traditional characteristics and features of Yang style forms.
The short form enables beginners, old and young, to concentrate on, and appreciate, the essential principles of Tai Chi of effortless movement, relaxation and awareness of the mind and body as one.
Depending on how fast or slow you like to do your form the whole form takes between 4 and 8 minutes to do.
One of the things you learn about tai chi, it’s really Qi Gong and can reduce stress, and help improve your ability to deal with difficult situations
Master Chen Zhonghua
Grandmaster Hong Junsheng was the most prominent disciple of the 17th generation standard bearer of the Chen family, the renowned Chen Fake. In 1928, Grandmaster Chen accepted the invitation to teach in Beijing. Thus, he became the first master from the Chen Village of Wen County, Henan Province, to teach the Chen family style openly to the public.
With his comprehensive understanding and the ability to apply it, Hong arrived at a profound level of integration of the art, experiencing Taiji as a microcosm of all human activity. He then returned to Beijing for high level training from the Grandmaster, in 1956.
The term “practical” took shape in Hong’s mind 1956, when he went to Beijing to receive his final instructions from his master Chen Fake. Hong had always recognized that the movements in the routines were not exactly the same as those which were taught in the applications. He asked his master whether it might be beneficial to practice movements in the form exactly the way they would be applied in fighting or push hands.
Chen Fake gave his blessings to this advancement of the teaching. He proceeded to dissect the two forms, Yilu and Erlu Cannon Fist, in the greatest detail, from the most advanced perspective. Hong absorbed this detailed instruction in every move in both forms.
When Grandmaster Chen Fake demonstrated the applications, he would always say, “This is the practical way of using it (movement in forms).” He would also steadfastly maintain that “Every move in this form is practical.” Enriched so deeply during this process of the highest levels of “indoor” transmission, Hong’s “Practical Method” crystallized. This is the form Grandmaster Hong taught in Jinan from 1957 until his passing in 1997.
In form training, movements connect with each other in slow, smooth and comfortable ways so that they flow into each other. This method of training creates a special flow and beauty, as we observe it in form demonstrations. It is an integral part of Taiji practice.
In Hong’s Practical Method, this physical cultivation is perfectly complemented by the systematic and comprehensive integration of the practical applied value of every movement in the forms, to provide a fast track to higher levels of mastery of the complete discipline.
