42 style (42式国际套路太极拳)
The Characteristics in the Structure of The Routine
1. Compatibility
The competition routine of 42 style Tai Chi Chuan was created based mainly on the Yang Style while synthesizing the movements from several other Tai Chi Chuan styles, such as Chen, Wu, Sun and 48 styles. It is comprehensive competition routine which reflects the characteristic of the compatibility of several different styles of Tai Chi Chuan from the arrangement of the routine to the performance of the movements.
1.2 Considerable degree of difficulty
The competition routine of 42 style Tai Chi Chuan was mainly created for competing. So it is rather difficult in terms of its distribution, the quantity of movements and the standard requirements. The compulsory movements demanded in formal Tai Chi Chuan championships most reflect the difficulty of 42 style Tai Chi Chuan.
1.3 Differentiability
Though the competition routine of 42 style Tai Chi Chuan complies with characteristics of Yang style Tai Chi Chuan, the arrangement of movements which absorbed from other Tai Chi Chuan is quite different. The whole routine can be divided into four segments:
Segment 1 mainly uses the movements of Yang style Tai Chi Chuan with the extensive posture and the slow and gentle performance. Segment 2 emphasizes the characters of "opening and closing hands" of Sun style Tai Chi Chuan, "jade girl working shuttles" of Wu style and "hide hands and strike fist" of Chen style. Segment 3 focuses on the movement s of "wave hands like clouds" of Yang style and "beating tiger" of Wu style to practice the control and balance of toes kicking and slapping foot. Segment 4 is based on the fourth segment of 48 style Tai Chi Chuan which displays the characteristics of Yang style.
1.4 The characteristics in the Technique of the Routine
The 42 style Tai Chi Chuan is very popular now. Its main technical characteristics are as the followings: The movements are stemmed from all other Tai Chi Chuan styles and are standardized; the momentum of the movements is broad and well coordinated, the connection is smooth and coherent; the force is generated by the soft one and at times with the hard force; the speed of the movements has the changes of fast and slow. When practicing, perform the movements accurately and follow the clear demands.
* Key points to remember
First section - 第一段
1. Qi Shi - Commencing Form - 起势
Stand with feet together
* Concentrate on the movements and let your whole body relax from head to toes. Make yourself calm to straighten and relax your body. Relax your neck, keep your head aligned vertically with your body and inhale deeply into the abdomen. Drop your shoulders while keeping the elbows naturally down. Ease the chest inward while extending the back. Relax the waist with the buttocks tucked in. Keep the inner hip relaxed and breath naturally.
Left foot steps aside.
* Raise and drop the left foot lightly. While opening the step, move your weight steadily across. Pay attention to the requirements of the commencing form, as they will be practiced throughout the routine. So do not neglect them.
Raise arms forward and upward
* Relax the whole body and the force is generated from the feet, Drop your shoulders, straighten the back and raise your arms forward naturally. While raising the arms, the whole body should be agile and the feet are served as the roots. Make the force run to the fingers. In fact, the arms can rise up naturally when you move your hands instead of the elbows.
Bend knees and press down
* Bend the knees, press the palms and drop the elbows. Use the body to steer the movement of pressing your palm downward with the palm facing forward and the fingers up and make the force reach the fingers. Remember to bend your wrist naturally and never form the angle at 90 degree. This two movements should be performed continuously without any breaking. You may feel very comfortable to exhale while dropping down.
2. You Lan Que Wei - Right grasp the peacock's tail - 右拦雀尾
T-stance and hold ball
* Relax and drop the body to the left. Use your waist to turn your body right. The force is penetrated to the right arm with palm to palm
Bow stance and ward off
* Relax your ankle, your knee and your hips in turn to form the left bow stance and coordinate these movements with the left arm. The force runs through the legs and arms with the arms forming a circle.
T-stance and hold ball
* Draw the left hip in with the weight on the left leg. Relax the right hip to draw the right leg in to form T-stance. Don't drop your toes to the floor and make the arms rounded.
Bow stance and Ward off
* While stepping the right leg forward, draw the left hip in and don't bend the right knee over the toes or inward. Coordinate the movements of making the right leg in bow stance, warding off with the left arm and relaxing the waist. When completing the movements, drop your groin and hips with "Wei Lu" drawn forward in, pull and straighten the back, breathe comfortably and hold the force.
Sit back and deflect downward
* Relax your waist and stretch the palms forward. Move the weight backward and retreat the left hip slightly. Bend the knees and sit back. Relax your waist to steer the movement of palms deflecting to the side.
Bow stance and squeeze forward
* Relax your right hip and adjust your body straight and centered. Push the left leg against the floor and bend the right leg. Relax your waist and drop the hips while pressing hands forward. The force runs through the ulna of the right arm.
Sit back and bend elbow
* Relax your body and sit back on the hips to steer the movements of bending the right elbow and drawing it in.
Turn foot inward and rotate palm
* Draw your right hip in. Turn the toes inward and the body left. Use your waist to steer the movement of swinging the arms. Rotate and push the right palm with your body straight.
3. Zuo Dan Bian - Left single whip - 左单鞭
>Raise leg and hook hand
* Shift your weight to the right leg with distinct emptiness and solidness. Coordinate the movements of the lifting hook and the lifting leg.
Bow stance and Single whip
* Release the left palm and bend the left leg at the same time. Align the left palm, the left toes and the tip of the nose and coordinate the movements of the right palm and the right foot.
4. Ti Shou - Lift hands - 提手
Turn foot inward and sway palm. Relax the hips and turn the waist to steer the movement of the arms. Empty stance and close hands. Do this move with a sense of lifting up
5. Bai He Liang Chi - White crane spreads wings - 白鹤亮翅
Turn body and hold ball. Turn waist and raise palm. Empty stance and separate hands. Open your arms in an arc form with a pulling force
6. Zuo You Lou xi Ao Bu - Brush knee and twist steps on both sides
- 搂膝拗步
Turn body and drop hands. Relax both sides of the body in turn to steer the movements of moving arms up and down. Withdraw foot and lift arm. Step out forward and bend elbow. Bow stance and brush push
* The distance between your two foot is about 30 centimeters.
Turn body and move foot outward
* Shift your weight back slightly with the toes raised up from the floor. Withdraw foot and lift arm. Step out forward and bend elbow
Bow stance and brush push
* Similar to "brush knee and twist steps" on both sides. The movement which is performed twice here employs the continuous advancing techniques. We can review the former key techniques while performing it.
7. Pie Shen Chui - Dodge body and throw fist - 撇身捶
>Turn body and separate palms. Shift your weight back but don't sit on your hips totally. Withdraw foot and put down palm. Step forward and turn fist over
Bow stance and block hand fist. Penetrate the force collected from turning your waist and arms to the back of the right fist.
8. Lu Ji Shi - Deflect and squeeze - 捋挤势
>Turn foot inward and change palm. Turn body and feel palms. Withdraw foot and deflect palm. Use the waist to steer the movement of deflecting back with palms. Step forward and place hand. Bow stance and press forward. Turn foot inward and open palms. Turn body and feel palms. Withdraw foot and deflect palm. Step forward and place hand against wrist. Bow stance and press forward
9. Jin Bu Ban Lan Chui - Advance, parry and punch - 进步搬拦捶
Turn foot outward and separate arms. Withdraw foot and punch down. Step forward and punch. Relax your waist and hips, drop your groin and step forward with the agility and steadiness. Press the left palm down while punching and don't exceed the width of the chest.
Turn body and parry palm. Bow stance and punch.
* Coordinate the movements of bending leg, parrying and punching. The distance between your two feet is about 10 centimeters
10. Ru Feng Si Bi - Apparent close up - 如封似闭
Pierce hands and turning palms. Sit back and withdraw palms. Relax your waist and drop the hips. Sit back to bend the elbows and draw the palms back.
* Keep the upper body straight and centered with the round groin and relax the hips.
Turn and drop palms. Follow up step and push press. Drop your groin and push your right foot against the floor. Shift your weight while pushing the palms forward in an arc route.
Second section - 第二段
11. Kai He Shou - Open and close hands - 开合手
>Turn body and open palms
* Perform the movements of turning your body and opening the palms simultaneously by turning your waist. Use the movement of the chest to steer the movement of opening the palms with palms always facing each other and shift your weight to the right leg.
Raise heel and close palms
* Shift your weight slightly to the left, and exhale and close your palms. Draw your chest in and expand the back with the palms facing each other. Drop the elbows and don't shrug the shoulders. If you do it correctly, you will feel the expanding of the chest and the back and the sensation of the "Qi" while performing
12. You Dan Bian - Right single whip - 右单鞭
>Open step and turn palm. Step aside and single whip. Open your hips and bend the knees. Push the palms outward and opened to either side just like stroking a long pole with two hands.
13. Zhou Di Chui - Fist under elbow - 肘底捶
>Turn foot inward and sway palm. Withdraw foot and hold ball. While shifting your weight left or right, don't raise the body or down. Turn body and open palms. Use the waist and the backbone as the axis to steer the movements of the arms. Follow up step and sway palm
* Cover fist and empty stance. Shift your weight with the distinct emptiness and the solidness. Bend the limbs to collect the force
14. Zhuan Shen Tui Zhang - Turn body and push palm - 转身推掌 (2)
Turn body and raise palms. Turn body and bend elbows. Turn the right foot inward and turn your body. Follow up step and push knee, while turning the body, keep the left arm rounded. Turn body and raise palm, step forward and bend elbow. Turn the left foot inward and turn your body. Follow up step and push palms
15. Zuo You Chuan Suo - Jade girl working with shuttles on both sides
- 玉女穿梭 (2)
Retreat step and stretch palms. Withdraw foot and deflect palm. Step forward and ward off arm. Follow up step and sway palm. Step forward and rotate palm. Bow stance and block push. Turn your waist to steer the movement of twisting the arm by using the perpendicular of the body as the axis.
* Don't shrug shoulders while blocking with the palms
Sit back and drop palm. Bow stance and feel palm. Withdraw foot and deflect palm. Step forward and ward off. Step forward and rotate palm. Bow stance and block push
16. You Zuo Deng Jiao - Heel kick on both sides - 右左蹬脚
Sit back and sway palms. Turn body and open palms. Withdraw foot and close palms
* Closing palms should be coordinated with raising the knee. Align the right elbow and the right knee. Heel kick and open palms. Open palms while kicking with the right heel. Keep your head up and the "Qi" down. Bend the supporting leg a little and don't stand stiff. Drop leg and sway palm
Turn body and separate palms. Withdraw foot and close palms. Heel kick and separate palms
17. Yan Shou Gong Chui - Hide Hands and strike fist - 掩手肱捶
Drop foot and cover palms. Open step and close palms. Horse stance and separate palms. Turn body and close palms. Bow stance and punch fist.
Drop the hips and turn the waist. Release the force from the waist and the spine and pull back the left hand.
18. Zuo You Ye Ma Fen Zong - Parting the wild horse's mane on both sides
- 野马分鬃 (2)
Turn waist and deflect. Turn waist and ward off. Turn waist and shake waist. Turn waist back and rotate wrist.
Lift knee and raise palms. Bow stance and pierce palm. Turn foot outward and press palm. Lift knee and raise palm. Bow stance and pierce palm.
* This movement is taken from Chen Style Tai Ji Quan which stresses on the movement of using the waist to steer the arms.
Third Section - 第三段
19. Yun Shou - Wave hands like clouds - 云手
Turn foot inward and sway palms. Turn body and palms. Turn body and wave hands. Withdraw foot and stretch palms.
* Turn the body by using the waist as the axis. Relax the waist and hips, shift the weight across steady and use the waist to coordinate the movements of arms and legs.
Turn body and wave hands. Open step and wave hands. Turn body and wave hands. Withdraw foot and stretch palms.
* Move the waist backward in an arc route.
Turn body and wave palms
20. Du Li Da Hu - Beat tiger on single leg - 独立打虎
Retreat step and pierce palms. Turn body and turn foot inward. Lift knee and hold fists.
* Align the right elbow and the right knee
21. You Fen Jiao - Right toes kick - 右分脚
Lift knee and close palms
* Don't drop the right leg to the floor while the left leg bended slightly. Toes kick and stretch palm. While separating the legs, do no tense the toes in case the leg will tremble.
22. Shuang Feng Guan Er - Striking the opponents ears with both fists
- 双峰贯耳
Hook feet and drop hand.
Bend the right leg back as if you were hanging it on a hook. Step forward and drop palm. Bow stance and strike punch
* Low down your palms by using the force collected from relaxing your body and hips. Move the force collected from expanding the back to the fist eyes and punch.
23. Zuo Fen Jiao - Left toes kick - 左分脚
Turn body and open palms. Withdraw foot and cross arms. Open palms and leg.
24. Zhuan Shen Pai Jiao - Turn body and slap foot - 转身拍脚
Drop foot and turn body. Turn body and close hands.
* When turning your body, relax the right hip and drop the left leg. Use the waist to steer the movement of turning the body and don't raise the right heel.
Slap foot on one leg
* Use your waist to steer the movement of raising the right leg to meet the right hand. Relax the right palm to slap the right instep.
25. Jin Bu Zai Chui - Advance and punch down - 进步栽捶
Turn body and sway palm. Step forward and raise fist. Bow stance and punch down.
26. Xie Fei Shi - Flying obliquely - 斜飞势
Turn body and open palms. Step forward and close palms. Bend knee and turn body. Bow stance and open palm obliquely.
* Separate your right arm by moving the shoulder, elbow and hand in turn.
27. Dan Bian Xia Shi - Single whip and push down - 单鞭下势
Hook hand and sway palm. Crouch stance and pierce palm.
* Turn left foot outward and lower your body with hips sunk and body upright and centered. The right arm is brought back by the waist and pushed out.
28. Jin Ji Du Li - Golden rooster stands on one leg - 金鸡独立 (2)
Bow stance and raise body.
* While rising, bend the right leg and push up with the left leg. Relax your waist and hips and move the upper body forward horizontally. The force comes from the foot to the waist with the right knee bend.
Stand on one leg and snap palm.
* Bend the right knee which supports your weight and draw back the hips. Use the waist to steer the movements of the left leg and palm.
Stand on one leg and snap palm
* Drop the left palm and foot and thrust up the right palm and foot with coordination. Have your ever seen a rooster standing on one leg? The secret is that it relaxes its thigh and bends its knees with toes griping the ground.
29. Tui Bu Chuan Zhang - Step back and pierce palm - 退步穿掌
Bow stance and pierce palms.
* Relax the left hip and lower the weight. Retreat the right leg.
Fourth Section - 第四段
30. Xu Bu Ya Zhang - Press palm in empty stance - 虚步压掌
Turn foot inward and turn body. Turn your right foot 90 degrees inward. Empty stance and press palms.
31. Du Li Tuo Zhang - Stand on one leg and raise palm - 独立托掌
Lift knee and raise palm.
* Push the right palm forward and the left palm inside with balance.
32. Ma Bu Kao - Lean and horse stance - 马步靠
Drop foot and sway palm. Step forward and raise palm. Horse stance and lean arm.
* Use the force collected from the whole body to lean.
33. Zhuan Shen Da Lu - Turn body and deflect - 转身大捋
Turn foot outward and sway palms. Step forward and raise palms. Turn body and deflect horizontally. BOw stance and deflect elbow.
* Turn your right foot and roll your right arm pressing downward while turning your body.
34. Xie Bu Qin Da - Cross legged sitting stance and lock strike - 歇步擒打
Twist arm and pierce fist. Turn body and snap palm. Cross legged sitting stance and strike fists.
* Drop and twist your waist to steer the movement of the arms.
35. Chuan Zhang Xia Shi - Pierce palm and push down - 穿掌下势
Withdraw foot and raise palm. Step forward and sway palm. Crouch stance and pierce palms. Bow stance and snap palm. Empty stance and cross fists
* While stepping the right foot forward, complete the movements of hands and feet simultaneously. Cross your wrists and round the back and arms.
37. Tui Bu Kua Hu - Back step and straddle the tiger - 退步跨虎
Retreat step and sway palm. Turn body and drop hands.
* While stepping back, shift the weight from your waist to hips naturally and separate the arms at the same time. Relax the body from the head to the bottom of the feet, and align the right elbow and the left knee.
Stand on one leg and snap palm.
38. Zhuan Shen Bai Lian - Turn body and lotus kick - 转身摆莲
Drop foot and sway palm. Pivot foot and sway palm
* Shift the weight with a distinct emptiness and solidness and pivot your foot. Turn body and palm.
* Use the backbone as the axis to turn and keep the axis vertical to the floor.
Sway leg and slap foot.
* Releasing the force from the waist. Coordinate the movements of the hands and feet.
39. Wan Gong She Hu - Bend bow to shoot tiger - 弯弓射虎
Bend knee and sway palm. Drop foot and palm. Turn body and clench fist. Bow stance and push forward.
* Use your waist to steer the movements of the arms. Relax your hips with "Qi" sunk and make the force flow through the back to the arms.
40. Zuo Lan Que Wei - Left grasp the peacock's tail - 左拦雀尾
Turn body and drop hands. T-stance and hold ball. Turn body and step forward. Bow stance and right ward off.
* Bend the left leg forward in bow stance by relaxing the ankle, the knee and the hips with the coordination of the left arm and push the arms outward with the force.
Turn body and stretch hands. Stretch out arms before relaxing the waist. Sit back and deflect downward.
* Shift your weight back with the right hip slightly opened backward. Bend your knee and sit back on your leg. Relax the waist to steer the movement of deflecting the palms.
Turn body and place hand against wrist. Bow stance and squeeze forward.
* Relax your left waist and hip. Adjust the body and keep it centered. Push the right foot against the floor and bend the left leg with the waist relaxed and the hips dropped. Squeeze hands with the force focused on the left ulna.
Turn palm and stretch forward. Sit back and draw palm
* Relax your body and sit back on your hips to draw the arms back by bending the elbows.
Bow stance and push forward.
41. Shi Zhi Shou - Cross hands
- 十字手 Turn foot inward and turn body. * Turn your left foot inward and turn your
body. Use the waist to steer the arms swaying across horizontally. Turn body and widen palms * Relax the right hip with your waist
stretched. Turn the body and stretch your arms. Withdraw foot and close hands. * Drop the left hip and keep your weight
steady. Relax the right hip to draw in the right hand and foot and shift
your weight to the center of both feet. 42. Shou Shi - Closing form
- 收势 Turn palm and open arms. Press both
palms down. Stand with feet together. * Calm down with concentration. Complete extract from The Completion
Routine of 42 Style Tai Chi Quan by Zhang Shan,
Wu Dong & Li Wei More information from the links below:- A Guide to Learning and Practicing the
Competition Routines of Tai Ji Quan