The Form for Internal Strength - Discover Yang Tai Chi's Old Six Roads Form

The Yang Tai Chi family developed different forms for different purposes. Yang Chengfu's long form, the most popular form, shows the Tai Chi applications in a large and comfortable frame. Yang Banhou developed forms to emphasize Fajin. This form in this video, the Old Six Roads, was created by Yang Jianhou, 3rd son of the founder of Yang Tai Chi, and teacher of the famous Yang Chengfu. It especially emphasizes the internal elements of Spirit, Intent, and Qi to develop Neijin, Internal Power. It's a particularly wonderful form too for improving our health, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The repeated movements in this form were removed to create a short form that preserves all original movements and its emphasis on Shen (spirit), Yi (intent), and Qi (energy). There is a dense amount of detail to each action. For instance, in a simple ward off movement, one is taught thus: The weight begins 4/5 back, and hands develop wardoff Jin and rises, then weight shifts to 2/5 forward, as Ji jin shifts forward along with An Jin balancing the rising Wardoff Jin. The rear hand expresses Lie Jin gliding around the body and An Jin to settle downwards. The Qi first sinks down the center of the body, and rises the outside with the Wardoff Jin. The Qi forms a wall gliding forward with the Ji Jin. Concurrently, the three gates open and elongates. The rear hand glides along the hip Qi circle. During Ji Jin the forward hand glides forward along the shoulder Qi circle to its forward edge. in addition to all the geometric spatial details of the movements. So you can imagine that even a short series of movements can create a rich internal experience and growth. This video is informally filmed and shared for our in person students to review and practice with. But it's also shared for you to enjoy a look at this less commonly seen form. Please enjoy your video and feel free to share your thoughts on it, on similarities and differences from your own experience!