When learning Tai Chi, many people will encounter a choice. There are many moves in traditional routines, and the rules of competition routines are very strict. With such a set of movements, can it not only absorb the best of many schools to show the essence of tradition, but also meet the standards of modern competition, and thus provide a clear way to improve? The 42-style Tai Chi competition routine was created to meet such needs.
Sources and characteristics of routines
The 42-style Tai Chi competition routine does not come from a single school. It uses the widely circulated Yang Style Tai Chi movements as the basic framework to ensure the overall softness and soothing as well as the structure. On this basis, the iconic techniques of the other three major schools are added.
This routine inherits the force-generating method of Chen-style Tai Chi, and the movements are loose and bouncy; it introduces the delicate and flexible cloud hands and techniques of Wu-style Tai Chi; it also adopts the flexible and flexible footwork of Sun-style Tai Chi. It is this fusion that makes the routine style comprehensive, thus avoiding the limitations of a single genre.
Well-defined action specifications
It is a competition routine approved by the State Sports General Administration. Its main feature is that it is highly standardized. For each set movement, there are precise requirements for the opponent's shape, step shape, body angle and center of gravity. For example, in the "knee-hugging step", there are clear standards for the position of the front foot and the degree of bending of the hind leg.
In a dynamic process, the running lines of techniques and footwork must be clear and flawless. From the beginning to the end of the posture, the connection and transformation of more than 40 movements, the direction, arc and the ups and downs of the body all have fixed specifications. This gives learners an accurate reference and provides judges with a unified basis for scoring.
Comprehensiveness of technical orchestration
The choreography of its routines is extremely sophisticated and covers all the main technical types of Tai Chi. There are gentle and coherent movements like "Cloud Hands" that rely on thoughts to guide the breath, and there are also strong and fast force-generating movements like "Hand-covering and humping", which demonstrate the core requirement of the integration of hardness and softness.
At the same time, the routines are carefully designed with a variety of steps and balancing movements. It covers footwork such as lunges, stoops, and empty steps, and also arranges independent balancing actions such as splitting and kicking. These movements will appear in a symmetrical form, ensuring that the abilities of both sides of the body can be developed in a balanced manner.
Clever connection of action combinations
The carefully designed action combinations in the routine are rhythmic and expressive. For example, in the "Jade Girl Shuttle" pose, the hand movements are the flat and round wrapping technique of Wu Style Tai Chi, and the foot movements are the upper and lower steps of Sun Style Tai Chi. Ultimately, a stretched posture is formed, and the combination is quite clever.
For example, after completing the difficult balancing action of "turning around and swinging the lotus", it is often followed by a steady horse stance or lunge action, just like "bending the bow and shooting the tiger". This contrast between high and low and movement and stillness not only demonstrates control, but also adjusts the rhythm of movement and enhances viewing pleasure.
The style and beauty of the exercise
When practicing the 42 forms of Tai Chi, you have to grasp the unique style that exists after the fusion. It requires practitioners to achieve a continuous state, just like flowing clouds and flowing water, with no obvious pause between movements. At the same time, you need to show changes in strength. You have to be soft when you should be soft, and be hard when you should be hard, and the transition should be natural.
This kind of exercise can not only exercise the body, but also bring visual pleasure and beauty. It not only maintains the flexibility and calmness of traditional Tai Chi, but also absorbs the strength characteristics of Chen style and the agile footwork of Sun style, making it more free and unrestrained. It is suitable for public performances and competition activities.
Learning points and stages
For learners, it is recommended to first understand the style and structure of the routine at the overall level and build a macro impression, and then strictly follow the competition map or authoritative video to analyze and study the specifications and details of each movement, especially the route of footwork and the coordination of hand, eye and body.
After mastering a single movement, focus on practicing the connection and fit between the movements, and feel the unique feeling of "mind leading and body following" with your heart. Ultimately, during the complete training process, one must be able to effectively control strength, rhythm and breathing with ease, and integrate difficult movements with transitional movements smoothly and seamlessly. Only in this way can one truly grasp the essence of this set of boxing techniques.
While you are practicing the 42-style Tai Chi, have you ever noticed that a certain movement that has always had distinct characteristics of the school is extremely difficult to integrate and master? You are welcome to share your personal experience in the comment area, and don’t forget to like the current content. Don’t forget to forward this article to your friends who practice boxing together.
