The 24-form Simplified Tai Chi was created in 1956 by experts assembled by China’s National Sports Commission. It is a standardized introductory routine based on traditional Yang-style Tai Chi.
The entire form has 24 movements, including classic postures like:
- Commencement
- Parting the Wild Horse’s Mane
- White Crane Spreads Its Wings
- Brush Knee and Twist Step
- Cloud Hands
Despite having just 24 movements, it covers most fundamental Tai Chi techniques in a streamlined, well-structured sequence. The routine preserves the essence of Yang-style movements while organizing them into a standardized, accessible format.
🌀 Movement Style
The 24-form is characterized by soft, slow, rounded, and continuous movements performed at an even pace from start to finish without haste or abrupt stops.
It eliminates complex and difficult moves from the traditional 108-form Yang-style (no jumps, stomps, or explosive strikes). Each posture is relaxed and natural, emphasizing:
It eliminates complex and difficult moves from the traditional 108-form Yang-style (no jumps, stomps, or explosive strikes). Each posture is relaxed and natural, emphasizing:
- Upper-lower body coordination
- Intention guiding movement
- Sunken shoulders
- Dropped elbows
- Rounded back
- Clear weight shifts
- Distinct separation of empty and full steps
These qualities reflect the hallmarks of classic Tai Chi style.
🎯 Training Purpose
The 24-form was designed to promote traditional Chinese culture and health exercise. As an entry-level form, it is:
- Accessible to all ages
- Easy to learn and practice
- Ideal for home morning exercise
Practicing the 24-form helps calm the mind, strengthen the body, and improve health through slow, aerobic movements that relax the body and stimulate the meridians.
It is widely used in school PE programs and community martial arts promotion. For many, the 24-form is their first Tai Chi experience.
Because of its standardized, unified movements, it is popular for group performances and mass competition events, making it the most widely promoted Tai Chi routine.
It is widely used in school PE programs and community martial arts promotion. For many, the 24-form is their first Tai Chi experience.
Because of its standardized, unified movements, it is popular for group performances and mass competition events, making it the most widely promoted Tai Chi routine.
🆚 Key Differences
As a simplified routine, the 24-form:
- Greatly reduces practice time (usually under 6 minutes)
- Lowers the learning threshold compared to traditional long forms
- Preserves Tai Chi’s core characteristics (softness, slowness, continuity, balance)
Compared to the 13-form:
- The 24-form is richer in content, with twice the number of movements and more typical combinations, providing a more complete workout.
Compared to higher-difficulty forms like the 42-form or 48-form:
- The 24-form has no complex or difficult movements
- Emphasizes health rather than competition
- Is primarily used for health cultivation and widespread adoption