Nick Gudge's Taijiquan (Tai Chi) School's Curriculum

 The complete curriculum offered in this school is as follows:

 1. Beginners Process: 

• Loosening exercises
• Short Yang Style taijiquan form
• Stretching
• Beginning taiji theory (song, peng & ding)

 2. 18 Step Form:  

• Stationary & moving Reeling Silk Exercises (chan su jin)
• 18 Step Form
• Standing exercises (zhan zhuang)
•  Taiji theory (song, peng, ding, chen & chan si jin)

3. Old Frame first form: 

• Stationary & moving Reeling Silk Exercises (chan su jin)
• 74 step foundation form (laojia yilu - xue jia zi)
•  Taiji theory emphasis (song, peng, ding, chen & chan si jin)

4. Form Revision: 

• Correction & practice of the 74 step foundation form (laojia yilu - lian jia zi)
•  Push hands foundation and stationary pattern exercises
•  Taiji theory emphasis (song kua, dang zou ho hu & xia hu)

 5. Form moulding: 

• Moulding postures in the 74 step foundation form (laojia yilu - nie jia zi)
• Push hands stationary and stepping pattern exercises

 6. Extension training:  

• Practicing the foundation form
• Short Weapons Forms: Straight sword (jian) & sabre (dao)
• Push hands stationary and stepping pattern exercises

 7. Releasing  training:  

• Practicing the foundation form
• Second form / Cannon Fist Form (laojia erlu / pao chui)
• Individual movement exercises
• Push hands stationary and stepping pattern exercises
• Rooting

 8. Training Power: 

• Practicing the foundation form
• Heavy/Long Weapons Forms: Halberd (dadao / guandao) & Pole training, Spear
• Push hands stationary and stepping pattern exercises, Dalu

Supplementary Forms:  56 Step Competition Form (for those wishing to compete.)

 n.b. There are other Chen Style forms. There are several different shortened forms e.g. 19 Step, 24 Step and 38 Step Forms, created by various teachers as stepping stnes for students to reach the foundation form. All the forms mentioned in sections 3 to 8 exist in all three of the common training system/method/frame used in Chen Style, namely the Old Frame (laojia), New Frame (xinjia) and Small Frame (xiaojia). In the main these are the similar forms with differences in training emphasis.

Nick Gudge teaches taijiquan (tai chi) classes in Limerick.