Tai Chi / Qigong for Health

"No school of Chinese martial arts is as well known and popular as Taijiquan. It is suitable for both the young and the old, not only because Taijiquan possesses special features of stretching, flexing the joints, softly twining, exercising both the inside and the outside, dispelling diseases and prolonging life, but it is also the martial art that best reflects Chinese traditional philosophy. More and more people from other countries, especially those interested in Chinese culture, are beginning to practice Taijiquan. Taijiquan is becoming popular all over the world. Because of this, Taijiquan has no national boundary and is beyond the category of culture, and belongs to people everywhere." - Fan Chun-Lei and A. Frank Shiery, Traditional Chen Style Taijiquan

The Standard Simplified 24 Taijiquan Form, the short form, could be taught fairly quickly to students of various ages in physical education programs. The brevity of the form appealed to students of all ages. The short form could be done by large groups of people in rows since the movement choreography is in straight lines. The short form provided a standard form for use in some competitions. The new short form was less physically demanding than longer forms and other Tai Chi styles, and appealed to older beginners. It provided a good introduction to the basic elements of the Yang Family Taijiquan long form. When done properly, the short form can exemplify grace, beauty, and many fundamentals of the art. For these reasons, the Standard Simplified 24 Taijiquan Form has become quite popular and is now taught, practiced and played all over the world.