Cheng Man-Ching's Sequence-37 Steps

Sequence Health Benefits

Part I
1. Preparation - Also known as wu chi or hun-yuan
(Undifferentiated Unity)
2. Beginning - or ch'i shih (where you perform the
opening breath). Raise hands back and down, more
familiarly known as "the ch'i exercise."
(3a. Preparation for Ward Off, Left - where you
relax your shoulders and gain spatial understandings)
3. Ward Off, Left - Also known as tso peng, the
foundation of Yang Tai Chi. This is also a great stance
to practice rooting in.
4. Ward Off, Right
5. Roll Back - One of Professor Cheng's favorite
defensive postures: essential for the small to
overcome the large
6. Press - an opportunity to transmit power through
the wrist of the opposite-side hand
7. Push - a vertical movement, unlike the Yang Style
Long Form "Push." The knee and elbow coordinate in
this posture.
Postures 3 through 7 are collectively known as This group of Postures act upon the eliminative
"Grasping the Sparrow's Tail", which gives the organs of the body, i.e. colon, large intestine,
impression of one playing a tugging game with a bird. etc. Also treats constipation.
Your motions should move forward and backward, like
waves lapping at the seashore.
8. Single Whip - An excellent posture for chi Benefits the liver and digestive tract and
circulation heals arthritic joints.
9. Raise Hands Treat the liver and makes the spinal column
more elastic.
10. Shoulder Stroke - A great inside fighting Treat the central nervous system. Expand the
technique back and chest.
11. White Crane Cools Wings Treat the central nervous system and the full
length of the vertebrae.
12. Brush Knee, Left Treat the heart, lower digestive tract and
stomach disorders.
13. Play Guitar - Also known as Play "Pipa" Treat digestive disorders.
Repeat Brush Knee, Left Treat the heart, lower digestive tract and
stomach disorders.
14. Step Up and Block Treat the glands. Benefits the stomach.
15. Parry and Punch - a neutralization is hidden
here

Cheng Man-Ching Tai Chi Form

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Postures 14 and 15 are collectively called Chin Pu,
Pan Nan Ch'ui. Professor Cheng distinctly indicated
there are two postures here.
16. Apparent Close-up - Also called "Withdraw and Treat gastric problems.
Push"
17. Cross Hands Benefits gastric problems
Part 2
Posture 17 marks the end of the first section of the
kung chia, which we call the "Short Half." This is
because it contains approximately half of the total
postures in the form and lacks some of the repetitions
we find in the second half (thus requiring less time for
its performance).
18. Embrace or Carry Tiger and Return to Assist gastric-intestinal functions and generally
Mountain rejuvenate the organs.
This is followed by Roll Back, Press, Push; then Single
Whip in the direction of the corner (or diagonal).
19. Fist Under Elbow - A good stance to practice Help in weight loss. Benefits the large
one-legged rooting intestine and pancreas.
20. Step Back and Repulse Monkey, Right - Good Benefits the small and large intestines,
for loosening hips and improving digestion (front-back gallbladder, kidneys and spinal cord.
foot placement)
21. Step Back and Repulse Monkey, Left - same
as above
Follow these with three more repetitions of Repulse
Monkey: Right, Left, and Right.
22. Diagonal Flying Treat the lungs and small intestine.
23. Wave Hands Like Clouds, Left - Also good for Treat the whole stomach area including spleen
loosening hips and improving digestion (side-to-side and pancreas.
foot placement)
24. Wave Hands Like Clouds, Right
Follow these with three more repetitions of "Cloud
Hands": Left, Right, and Left; then go into Single
Whip.
25. Single Whip, Lower Style - Also known as Treat the digestive tract and heal arthritic joints.
"Snake Creeps Up" (or Down). An excellent posture Benefits the large intestine, kidneys and
for increasing flexibility, power and single- helps with general body conditioning.
weightedness
26. Golden Cock Stands on One Leg, Right - Also Treat stomach disorders.
known by "Golden Pheasant", this posture teaches
balance
27. Golden Cock Stands on One Leg, Left
28. Separation of the Right Foot - Coordinates the Help to treat excessive yang energy in the
hands with kicking body, i.e. having a red face, too hot, etc. Also
29. Separation of the Left Foot help to lose weight.
30. Turn Body and Kick With Heel - Teaches Treat the kidneys and stomach.
balance while turning and improves flexibility
This posture is followed by Brush Knee, Left and then
Brush Knee, Right.
31. Step Forward and Punch Strengthen the legs and flexibility of the lower
back. Benefits the stomach.
Part 3
Next, step up into Ward Off, Right; followed by Roll
Back, Press, Push, and Single Whip.
32. Fair Lady Weaves (Works) Shuttle I- A Treat cramps, and the whole chest area is
textbook example of how defense proceeds offense in invigorated. Benefits the small intestine.
Tai Chi
33. Fair Lady Weaves (Works) Shuttle II - A
different hand position (opposing hand position).

Cheng Man-Ching Tai Chi Form

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Web site: www.LaiTaiChi.com Page 2
These postures are followed by Fair Lady Weaves
Shuttle III & IV, which are all done towards different
corners. Together they are called the "Four Corners".
The "Four Corners" are followed by "Grasping the
Sparrow's Tail" (Ward Off, Left & Right, Roll Back,
Press, and Push), Single Whip, and "Snake Creeps
Down" or Single Whip, Lower Style.
Part 4
34. Step Up to Seven Stars - A devastating solar Improve blood circulation. Benefits the small
plexus attack. intestine.
35. Retreat to Ride Tiger
36. Turn Body Sweep Lotus Leg - Teaches balance Treat yin dullness, i.e. introverted, sick, small,
while spinning with a crescent kick. dull, pale, etc. Activate yang energy. Benefits
the kidneys and spleen.
37. Bend Bow Shoot Tiger Benefits the lungs.
This posture is followed by Step Up, Block, Parry and
Punch then Apparent Close-up, and lastly Cross
Hands, which leads to the close of the Tai Chi form

Cheng Man-Ching Tai Chi Form

Cathryn Lai (Instructor) – 406-862-5457, email: [email protected],
Web site: www.LaiTaiChi.com Page 3