15 MOVEMENTS GIVE US DEPTH

After teaching long forms, I found that people were focused so much on the choreography that they did not develop the internal energies. Teaching a form with only 15 movements allows students to internalize the physical movements much more quickly. Students can learn the basic choreography and body mechanics in about 12 weeks.

Once comfortable with the choreography, the students are then free to delve into the deeper aspects of energy movement for healing as well as martial application. I believe that the cultivation of correct body mechanics, mind state, and internal energies is by far the most important part of t'ai chi. So our training methods really prioritize those aspects over the collection of choreography. Our training also includes the best methods of internal development that I have encountered. These include neigong energy practices and push hands. While our form may only have 15 primary movements, we are working far more than 15 dynamics.