International Standard Tai Chi Routine

The 42 Form is an international standard routine created for competition.

As wushu competitions grew in popularity there was a growing need for some kind of standardization for judging. One solution was to create standard choreographed routines that would put competitors "on and equal footing". This standardization was a bit controversial, but many masters saw the potential benefit of uniformity. So, in 1989, a committee* was organized by the Chinese Wushu Research Institute of China in order to create seven standard routines for the various categories of wushu taolu (form) competition. These categories included:

• Long Fist (Changquan)
• Southern Fist (Nan Quan)
• Tai Chi (Taijiquan)
• Broadsword (Dao)
• Spear (Qiang)
• Sword (Jian)
• Cudgel (Gun)

The tai chi routine which was created for this purpose was the 42 posture international standard routine, combining elements of Chen style, Yang style, Wu style, and Sun style.

List of movements for the 42 Form Combined Tai Chi

Section One

1. Commencing form
2. Grasp the peacock's tail (right)
3. Single whip (left)
4. Raise hands
5. White crane spreads its wings
6. Brush knee and twist step on both sides
7. Parry and punch
8. Deflect and press on both sides
9. Parry and push
10. Apparent close
11. Open and close hands
12. Single whip (right)
13. Punch under elbow
14. Turn body and push palm on both sides
15. Fair lady works the shuttles on both sides
16. Kick with heel on both sides
17. Cover hands and punch
18. Part the wild horse's mane on both sides
19. Wave hands like clouds
20. Step back and beat the tiger
21. Separate legs (right)
22. Strike opponent's ears with both fists
23. Separate legs (left)
24. Turn body and slap foot
25. Step forward and punch downward
26. Oblique flying
27. Snake creeps to the right
28. Golden rooster stands on one leg (right and left)
29. Step back and thrust palm
30. Press palm in empty stance
31. Hold palm up and stand on one leg
32. Lean with body in horse stance
33. Turn body for large roll back
34. Grab and punch in resting step
35. Thread palm and push down
36. Step forward to seven-star posture
37. Mount the tiger and stand on one leg
38. Turn body with lotus kick
39. Bend the bow to shoot the tiger
40. Grasp the peacock's tail (left)
41. Cross hands
42. Closing form