The Hwa Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan Form

The Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Long Form is believed to be the creation of Grand Master Chen Hsi-I almost one-thousand years ago.

Chen Hsi-I received the Hwa Shan Mountain Range as a gift and developed the exercise known as Lop Hop Pak Fat (Liu Ho Pa Fa). The exercise was later named Hwa Yu after the Hwa Yu Mountain peak.

The Life, Health and Self Defense Principles of Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan are alive in the Form.

Just what form Liu Ho Pa Fa took in the early history of Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan is difficult, if not altogether impossible to ascertain. Probably the original movements were similar to other newly developing internal Kung Fu forms popular to the time. It is believed that sometime during the Sung Dynasty, with or without Hsi-I, the Liu Ho Pa Fa exercise incorporated two other carefully guarded forms of Internal Kung Fu: Pa-Kua and Hsing-I. This merger created the exercise practiced today as Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi, adopting the highly martial aspect of Hsing-I and the yielding nature of Pa-Kua.

Training in the Long Form begins with Standing and is followed by training in Rowing, Walking and Pushing Hands.

The Long Form of Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan has almost 700 individual movements divided into a Preparation and Beginning and 67 Short Forms. Each movement and series of movements can be practiced as Standing, Rowing, Walking and Pushing Hands in addition to the Long Form.

The Long Form is taught in two parts. Part One is for Building Chi. Part Two is for Expressing Chi.

Here are the names of each of the Short Forms that make up the Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan Long Form. You can learn the Forms from Hwa Yu instructors and from video tapes.

Part One

A. Preparation

B. Beginning

1. Stop the Carriage, Inquire the Way (Right)

2. Stop the Horse at the Cliff (Left)

3. Close the Door, Push Out the Moon

4. Scatter the Clouds to See the Sun

5. Stop the Carriage, Inquire the Way (Left)

6. Stop the Horse at the Cliff (Right)

7. Pluck the Stars, Change to the Dipper

8. Wild Geese Flying in Pairs

9. Close the Door, Push Out the Moon (not like # 3)

10. Lone Goose Leaving the Flock

11. Wild Horse Chases the Wind

12. Streams Flow Incessantly

13. The Crouching Tiger Listens to the Wind

14. Point East (Left), Attack West (Right)

15. Green Dragon Stretches Its Claws

16. Complete the Elixir in Nine Turns

17. Scatter the Clouds to See the Sun (not like # 4)

18. Push the Boat with the Current

19. Surround the Horse to Turn It Back

20. Flowers From the Vase Drop to Ink Slab

21. High Mountain, Flowing Water

22. The Boy Presents the Book

23. The Woodcutter Carries Firewood

24. The Heavenly Ruler Points to the Star

25. Five Colored Clouds Hold Up the Sun

26. Support the Sky, Cover the Earth

27. The Swallow Skims the Water

28. Facing the Sun, Strike the Ears with Fists

29. Intercept and Push With Both Hands

30. Gentle Breeze Sweeps the Leaves

31. Swallow Holds the Mud

32. Nimble Monkey Picks the Fruit

33. Fierce Tiger Turns Its Head

Part Two

34. Circle Heaven and Earth

35. Wind Sweeps the Lotus Leaves

36. Press the Hand and Punch

37. Guitar Hides the Face

38. Falling Star Chases the Moon

39. Swallow Flies on a Slant

40. The Phoenix Faces the Sun

41. Overturn the River, Pour Out the Sea

42. Facing Rear, Mount the Dragon

43. The Wild Cat Catches the Butterfly

44. Take Out the Beam, Replace the Pillar

45. The Wind Rolls Away the Scattered Clouds

46. Hibernating Dragon Reveals Itself

47. The Black Dragon Flaps Its Tail

48. Equally Observe the Autumn Beauty

49. Passing on Horse-Back, Look at Flowers

50. Angel of Literature Offers the Dipper

51. The Swallow Flies Through the Clouds

52. Raise the Hand to the Seven Stars

53. The Wild Geese Flying in Formation

54. The Yellow Dragon Turns Its Body

55. Five Saints Visit the Kingdom of Heaven

56. The Lotus is Concealed Under Leaves

57. The Phoenix Spreads Its Wings

58. The White Crane Pecks the Food

59. The Moon Hangs on the Pine Tree Top

60. Lift the Ox Tail Upward

61. The Boy Carries the Lute

62. The Rhinoceros Watches the Moon

63. Sparrow-Hawk Flies Through the Forest

64. The Red Dragon Disturbs the Water

65. The Wind Moves the Duckweed

66. The Chi Rises to the Koulkun Mountain

67. Sink the Chi, Concluding Hwa-Yu T'ai-Chi


"Those who set out to learn the exercise, do not misjudge the value of The Chinese Five Word Song."

Verses 133-134

"The Chinese Five Word Song" was written by Master Li Tung Fung during the early part of China's Sung Dynasty. Master Li learned Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Liu Ho Pa Fa Ch'uan Fa) from Master Chen Hsi-I, creator of the martial art and health exercise. Master Li Tung Fung took refuge in the mountain of Yun, southeast from the Lok district. While living on Yun, he authored the famous Chinese Five Word Song, which serves today as the only extant treatise explaining the principles of the original Liu Ho Pa Fa.

Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan was a closed-door martial art for almost 1,000 years. Master John Chung Li opened the door to hundreds of students in China, the United States and Europe. Master Li translated The Chinese Five Word Song and added his commentary to each of the 134 verses to help students understand the truth within Internal Martial Arts.

We are extremely pleased to announce the publication of The Chinese Five Word Song. It's filled with tremendous insights into the philosophy and guiding principles of Internal Martial Arts from one of the true masters of the 20th Century.

You can purchase "The Chinese Five Word Song" from top online book sellers (Barnes and Noble, Borders Books, Amazon.com and Books A Million).

You'll also enjoy the new book by Master Glenn Newth titled "Hwa Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Five-Word Song." You can purchase this book through any of the major booksellers websites.

For more information about Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Ch'uan

mmcgee@gmaf.org

Copyright 1998-2008 Hwa-Yu T'ai Chi Health and Wellbeing