The Form
Master Wang's study of ancient boxing manuals is far from the typical scholastic approach. His understanding of the "Dao's principle of natural flow" is not mere theoretical talk either. The creation of Water Style Tai Chi emerged from his years of observing and contemplating ocean waves. By integrating the movement patterns of waves with Wang Zong Yue’s Tai Chi Treatise, and through numerous rounds of testing, revising, and validation, Master Wang established five fundamental wave patterns as the foundation for the opening sequence of Water Style Tai Chi.
Following this opening sequence, the forms are adapted from Yang-Style Tai Chi, known for its graceful postures and steady, flowing pace. However, the coordination of hands, eyes, body, and steps in Water Style Tai Chi adheres to wave-like motion principles, evoking a sensation akin to swimming effortlessly in air, as if bathing in the breeze of spring.
The five main wave patterns are:
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Surging Wave (also called Opening Wave)
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Turning Wave (Closing Wave)
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Rushing Wave
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Receding Wave
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Cross Wave (Spiral Wave)
The 91 Postures
SECTION 1
(1) 預備勢 Prepare
(2) 起浪式 Rising waves
(3) 左右漩渦 Left and right spirals
(4) 浪採花 Flowers on waves
(5) 翻山倒海 Split the hills and shake the sea
(6) 攬雀尾 Grasp the bird's tail
(7) 單鞭 Single whip
(8) 提手上勢 Raise hands
(9) 白鶴亮翅 White crane spreads its wings
(10) 左摟膝拗步 Brush knee, twist step (left)
(11) 手揮琵琶 Hand strums the pipa
(12) 左右摟膝拗步 Brush knee, twist step (left and right)
(13) 手揮琵琶 Hand strums the pipa
(14) 左摟膝拗步 Brush knee, twist step (left)
(15) 進步搬攔捶 Step forward, deflect, parry and punch
(16) 如封似閉 Retreat and seal
(17) 十字手 Cross hands
SECTION 2
(18) 抱虎歸山 Ride the tiger to the mountain
(19) 肘底看捶 Fist under the elbow
(20) 左右倒攆猴 Step back and repulse the monkey (left, right, left)
(21) 斜飛勢 Slant flying
(22) 提手上勢 Raise hands
(23) 白鶴亮翅 White crane spreads its wings
(24) 左摟膝拗步 Brush knee, twist step
(25) 海底針 Needle at sea bottom
(26) 扇通背 Fan through the back
(27) 撇身捶 Turn and strike
(28) 進步搬攔捶 Step forward, deflect, parry and punch
(29) 上步攬雀尾 Step forward, grasp the bird's tail
(30) 單鞭 Single whip
(31) 雲手 Cloud hands (3)
(32) 單鞭 Single whip
(33) 高探馬 High pat on the horse
(34) 左右分腳 Left and right separation kicks
(35) 轉身左蹬腳 Turn and left kick
(36) 左右摟膝拗步 Brush knee, twist step (left and right)
(37) 進步栽捶 Step forward, punch down
(38) 翻身撇身捶 Turn and strike
(39) 進步搬攔捶 Step forward, deflect, parry and punch
(40) 右蹬腳 Right kick
(41) 左打虎勢 Strike the tiger (left)
(42) 右打虎勢 Strike the tiger (right)
(43) 回身右蹬腳 Turn and right kick
(44) 雙峰貫耳 Double wind through the ears
(45) 左蹬腳 Left kick
(46) 轉身右蹬腳 Turn and right kick
(47) 進步搬攔捶 Step forward, deflect, parry and punch
(48) 如封似閉 Retreat and seal
(49) 十字手 Cross hands
SECTION 3
(50) 抱虎歸山 Carry tiger to the mountain
(51) 斜單鞭 Diagonal single whip
(52) 野馬分鬃 Part the wild horse's mane
(53) 上步攬雀尾 Step forward, grasp the bird's tail
(54) 單鞭 Single whip
(55) 玉女穿梭 fair lady weaving
(56) 上步攬雀尾 Step forward, grasp the bird's tail
(57) 單鞭 Single whip
(58) 雲手 Cloud hands (3)
(59) 單鞭 Single whip
(60) 下勢 Lower single whip
(61) 金雞獨立 Golden rooster stands on one leg (left and right)
(62) 左右倒攆猴 Step back and repulse the monkey (left, right, left)
(63) 斜飛勢 Slant flying
(64) 提手上勢 Raise hands
(65) 白鶴亮翅 White crane spreads its wings
(66) 左摟膝拗步 Brush knee, twist step
(67) 海底針 Needle at sea bottom
(68) 扇通背 Fan through the back
(69) 翻身撇身捶 Turn and strike
(70) 進步搬攔捶 Step forward, deflect, parry and punch
(71) 上步攬雀尾 Step forward, grasp the bird's tail
(72) 單鞭 Single whip
(73) 雲手 Cloud hands (3)
(74) 單鞭 Single whip
(75) 高探馬帶穿掌 High pat on the horse, show hand
(76) 轉身右蹬脚 Turn, cross hand and kick
(77) 進步指襠捶 Step forward, punch low
(78) 上步攬雀尾 Step forward, grasp the bird's tail
(79) 單鞭 Single whip
(80) 下勢 Lower single whip
(81) 上步七星 Step forward, seven stars
(82) 退步跨虎 Step back, ride the tiger
(83) 轉身擺蓮 Bend the bow, swing over the lotus
(84) 彎弓射虎 Bend the bow, shoot the tiger
(85) 進步搬攔捶 Step forward, deflect, parry and punch
(86) 如封似閉 Retreat and seal
(87) 十字手 Cross hands
(88) 收勢 Closing