Page 40 - Simplifying T'ai Chi Rev3 2017
P. 40
Chapter 12 Introductory Practice 115
A Few Basic Sun Style Movements
If you are learning Sun Style, the following few pages may be a help when your
teacher is not around.
Sun style T'ai Chi is the style that I practise most, and the one that I always
recommend for beginners, especially those who may have balance or arthritic
problems.
Sun style T'ai Chi was the last major form style to be created. It has elements
taken from other traditional T'ai Chi styles, plus elements of Ba Gua and Xing Yi
martial arts, making it a more diversified form adaptable to mixed abilities and
applications.
The form - often referred to as 'Nimble T'ai Chi' - is characterised by its upright
stance, agile steps and powerful internal and external movements. Unlike Yang
Style, generally whenever one foot moves forward or backward the other foot
follows creating a flowing “lapping wave” effect. Easy on the knee joints, this form
is particularly suitable for all age groups, and its therapeutic properties make it
ideal for people with balance and joint problems. This attribute has been adopted
by Dr Paul Lam who uses Sun form as the basis for his T'ai Chi for Health modified
forms.
The generally accepted variants of Sun style hand form are:
The original Sun 97 step Long Form devised by Sun Lutang in 1919 and a
Sun 42 step Short Form created by Sun's daughter, Sun Jian Yun.
A Sun 73 step Competition Form sequence devised by a Wu Shu
committee for the first Asian games in 1991. This was based on the 97, with
a few movements modified to test athletes' flexibility, stamina and control of
balance.
A traditional Sun 13 and 38 step Short Form by Professor Li Deyin (a
member of the committee above).
Dr Paul Lam's 'T'ai Chi For Arthritis'. This is a short form modified for
health and age related support. It incorporates mirrored versions of some of
the easier Sun style movements specifically to ensure that both sides of the
body are equally and safely exercised.
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