The Form
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The Taiji form comprises of a series of movements performed in a continuous flow of motion. The number of postures in any given form can vary from the modern 24 step style, to the nearly 300 steps of the original Yang form.
Although the newer, cut-down versions of the form are probably suitable for the elderly or infirm, the long forms are the only way to practice real Taijiquan. The "old" Yang style of Yang Luchan in particular, is great for both health and self defense with it's twisting and turning, it's leaping kicks and Fajing strikes.
Pushing
Hands
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Tui Shou or "Joining Arms", to give this method it's real name is a fantastic two-person exercise which creates good health and self defense ability.
With practice, joining arms help to develop sensitivity, balance, coordination, as well as training the legs and waist to power arm movement.
Beginners usually start with an easy, single handed, large version of Joining Arms to build up strength, gradually moving on to a very subtle "small circle" form which also teaches about the hidden "Dim Mak" strikes of Taijiquan.
Similar techniques include, Sticking Hands and Pushing Feet, which may sound strange but are in fact very important training methods.
Da Lu
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The "Great Repulse" is a great series of techniques, similar in appearance to Joining Arms but involving stepping into different directions, strikes with the elbow and shoulder and methods for getting out of difficulty.
The primary objective of this method is to train the feet in the use of the four corners and five directions of Taiji in coordination with striking, blocking, grasping and breaking techniques.
With practice, two people can connect to each other and move in a seemingly effortless way, hence this method's nickname " The Dance". At this stage the exercise is more like a game of chess with each side trying to out wit the other but without any aggression.
Fast Forms
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Pauchui or "Cannon Fist" has been an element of Chen style Taiji for many years, but Yang style Taiji also has a Cannon Fist form of it's own, a legacy of the "hard" side of the Yang family.
Commonly known as San Sau, meaning Free Hands, this form is taught firstly as a two set solo form (Pauchui) before training with a partner begins. Usually, when two people start to learn this form, it is done at a very slow, gentle pace to build coordination and balance with each move. Eventually, with experience, San Sau becomes fast and furious, with both partners going flat out with each movement and strike. This is a very impressive sight indeed.
Also from the Yang system comes another form, unknown until very recently thanks to Master Erle Montaigue. This form is recognized by the name of Small San Sau and is basically a very short, powerful street fighting method. It is particularly suited to beginners as it is based around the first section of the Taiji form known as " Grasping the Sparrows tail".
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