William C. C. Chen's Tai Chi Short Form Videos

60 movements (variation of Cheng Man-Ching's 37 postures). (00:11:47)

Grandmaster Chen narrates alternating "wake up" and "fall asleep" instructions that correspond to the breathing and energy pattern of the Tai Chi form. "Fall asleep" is when you exhale and relax the most (Yin), and "wake up" is when you inhale and expand your energy (Yang).

The coordination of slow movement and deep relaxed breathing helps explain the medical research findings that the Tai Chi martial arts form promotes blood circulation, increases the oxygen level throughout the body, and enhances the body's healing systems. Tai Chi has a reputation not only for being safe at any age, but also of slowing the aging process itself.

From: William C. C. Chen (Short Form DVD)

To watch Tai Chi form with breath hints, from behind, click picture

60 movements of Tai Chi Chuan. (00:04:19 + 00:07:38)

To watch split screen Tai Chi form, Part A (front view), click on picture

To watch Part B (front view), click here

Through the use of split screen, Grandmaster Chen makes it easier to understand correct positions for hands and feet. In addition, he counts out each of the movements to correspond with the pictures in his books.

From: William C. C. Chen (Short Form DVD)

60 movements of Tai Chi Chuan. (00:04:13 + 00:07:39)

To watch split screen Tai Chi form, Part A (from behind), click on picture

To watch Part B (from behind), click here

The Yang Short Form is broken into two parts (A and B), so that beginners can learn Part A first. This consists of the first quarter (or so) of the entire short form and has the most basic, simple moves.

From: William C. C. Chen (Short Form DVD) (00:04:13 + 00:07:39)

60 movements (variation of Cheng Man-Ching's 37 postures). (00:11:00)

In its many variations, the Yang style Tai Chi form (exercise) is the most widely practised in the world. Grandmaster Chen is one of the world's preeminent teachers of Yang Tai Chi.

He is a senior disciple of the legendary grandmaster, Professor Cheng Man-Ching, who studied with Grandmaster Yang Chengfu, a pivotal figure in making Yang-style the most popular Tai Chi form practiced today. Yang Chengfu was the grandson of Yang Lu-chan, the founder of the Yang style.

From: William C. C. Chen (Short Form DVD)

To watch Grandmaster Chen's forms, click on picture

To watch credits for this DVD (clip with Tiffany and Max Chen), click here

Rare early videos of Master Chen doing the form. (00:11:29)

This is the finest video from the 1970's of Grandmaster Chen doing the Tai Chi form.

He goes through the whole form clearly and slowly in a lovely environment (Greenwich, CT), and this is an excellent version for students to follow. (8mm, no sound, 1977)

From: William C. C. Chen and Wasentha Young

To watch Grandmaster Chen's forms, click on picture

What makes this old video so interesting and calming is Grandmaster Chen's narration while doing the Tai Chi form. (00:12:57)

He quietly explains the principles behind the form, with emphasis on relaxation, flow, balance, and use of the whole body. (8mm, 1975)

From: William C. C. Chen

To watch Grandmaster Chen's forms, click on picture

Here are clips of Grandmaster Chen doing the Tai Chi form with his students in his Hawaii workshop. (00:02:04)

We also see a little bit of the sword form as well. (8mm, no sound, 1970's or early 1980's)

From: William C. C. Chen

To watch Grandmaster Chen's forms, click on picture

We see Grandmaster Chen in his late 30's doing part of the Tai Chi form in a park near his New York City home. (00:03:29)

(8mm, no sound, early 1970's)

From: William C. C. Chen

To watch Grandmaster Chen's forms, click on picture

Here we see Grandmaster Chen doing portions of the Tai Chi form in one of his early New York schools (and a nearby park). (00:01:55)

He often had visitors to his school from Professor Cheng Man-Ching's school in Chinatown, as well as local Karate schools, who came to push hands or spar. (8mm, no sound, early 1970's)

From: William C. C. Chen

To watch Grandmaster Chen's forms, click on picture