Bubbling Well Taijiquan

 

Free Taijiquan classes in Palmer Park - Summer 2026

2026 Schedule: Tuesdays, May 19 - September 8
Northwest corner of Palmer Park - 7 Mile and Ponchartrain, west of the police precinct and band shell

The 24 Form

Also known as the Chinese National Form or the Beijing Form, the 24 Form was created as a standardized form of Taijiquan (T'ai Chi Chu'an or "Tai Chi"). The form is a great starting point for beginners, while having depth and richness for continued practice. It's also the perfect length for our summer session in Palmer Park, which generally gives us enough time to learn the entire form and have a couple sessions to refine and polish.
The movements of the 24 Form:
  1. Commencement
  2. Wild Horse Parts Mane Left and Right
  3. White Crane Spreads Wings
  4. Brush Knee, Brush Knee & Twist Steps
  5. Play Guitar (Play the Pipa, Play the Fiddle)
  6. Step Back and Repulse Monkey Left and Right
  7. Grasp the Bird's Tail Left
  8. Grasp the Bird's Tail Right
  9. Single Whip
  10. Cloud Hands
  11. Single Whip
  12. High Pat on Horse
  13. Kick Out with Right Heel
  1. Double Wind Pierces Ears
  2. Turn and Kick out with Left Heel
  3. Lower Body and Stand on One Leg Left (Snake Creeps Down & Golden Rooster on One Leg)
  4. Lower Body and Stand on One Leg Right(Snake Creeps Down & Golden Rooster on One Leg)
  5. Fair Lady Works Shuttles
  6. Needle at Sea Bottom
  7. Fan through Back
  8. Step up, Parry, and Punch
  9. Apparent Close-Up
  10. Carry Tiger to Mountain
  11. Closing Form

Reference videos for the 24 Form:

Performed by Helen Liang
Performed by Amin Wu

Recommended Reading

Taiji Theory and Practice

While you can't learn taijiquan from a book, you can learn quite a bit about taiji. Generally I recommend people learn some taiji before diving into any of these.
The Tao of Tai-Chi Chuan: Way of Rejuvenation by Jou, Tsung Hwa
Tai Chi Chuan Classical Yang Style by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
The Root of Chinese Qigong by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan: A Comprehensive Guide to the Principles and Practice by Wong, Kiew Kit
The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi by Peter M. Wayne

Taiji Culture and Learning the Art

A great way to learn more about the culture of taiji and nurture a fire for it is by reading others' stories about learning it.
Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman. This one is a sentimental favorite-- it was the only book my first teacher would "let" newer students read about taiji. If you read and like this book, do yourself a favor and do not hunt down the movie adaptation, no matter how good an idea it may seem.
Steal My Art: The Life and Times of T'ai Chi Master T.T. Liang by Stuart Olson