The Short Form

Here's the full list of moves from the Wudang short form:

1. Tai Chi At Rest
2. Tai Chi Ready Style
3. Tai Chi Beginning Style
4. The Seven Stars Style
5. Grasping The Bird's Tail
6. The Single Whip
7. Cloud Hands
8. Pat The Horse High
9. Turn The Body To Face The Left
10. Lift Right Leg And Kick Out In A Curve
11. Step Back To Seven Stars Style
12. Step Back To Beat The Tiger
13. Twist The Body And Kick
14. Box The Ears
15. Turn The Body To Face The Right
16. Lift Left Leg And Kick Out In A Curve
17. Turn On Heel And Kick With Heel
18. Brush Knee Twist Step
19. Step Up And Punch Down
20. Swing The Fist
21. Snake Creeps Down
22. Step Up To Seven Stars Style
23. Step Back To Ride The Tiger
24. Turn The Body And Slap The Face
25. Turn The Body Double Hand Sweep Lotus Leg
26. Draw The Bow To Shoot An Arrow At The Tiger
27. Step Back Repulse Monkey
28. Seven Stars Style
29. Stroke The Lute
30. Step Up, Parry, Divert And Punch
31. As If Shutting A Door
32. Embrace Tiger And Return To Mountain
33. Tai Chi In Harmony Returning To Unity
34. Completion Style

Enjoy!

Erle Montaigue 1949-2011

Very sad to hear of the death of Erle Montaigue, tai chi teacher, author and musician.

Erle was my introduction to tai chi as a fighting art, as opposed to the gentle calisthenics I had been exposed to up to that point. I voraciously consumed the acres of free material on Erle's website, and corresponded with him about the videos I bought (and the free ones that inevitably accompanied them!). Erle was supportive, funny and generous with his knowledge and his time.

I never met Erle in person. By the time he came to live in the UK my search for pushing hands partners had led me to Andrew Harris's Nottingham Wudang TCC school and, finding such quality on my doorstep, I never looked back.

I won't forget, though, the foundation I built with the standing chi kung exercise I learned from Erle. And whilst there was plenty in Erle's teaching that didn't fit with my hard-nosed scientific outlook, his enthusiasm and down-to-earth humour was infectious.

His encouragement to me went beyond tai chi. I mentioned how I had stopped playing music, and his response sticks with me to this day: "Never leave an art behind."

My thoughts are with Erle's family and friends.