I have learned this form from a Chinese master and I loved it! Unfortunately, we suddenly skipped to the long form, before I could learn the whole short form… Only the last few movements were missing. I was furious about it. (Since then I had felt some aversion towards the long form😂) Another unfortunate circumstance was that his English and/or Spanish (this was in Catalonia/Spain) wasn’t good enough to allow him proper explanation. I had no idea about the story of the short form. In contrast, I knew much about the sad story of “How Tai Chi Lost Its Mojo” (another brilliant article of yours, also extremely helpful!).

Since then I moved back to Hungary and I still haven’t learned the form.
Now I’m reading a book called “What Is Tai Chi”, written by an American tai chi master. I find it an excellent book, so informative, helped me understand quite many things. I rarely pick up a book on Tai Chi that is not written by an old Chinese master… But he built up my trust during the book. And on the very last page, he writes that he teaches the Peking 24 Form developed by the PRC… (I really didn’t know that it’s the same form I’d been learning…) Booooo… Suddenly I felt like throwing the book to the bin! Like if somebody doesn’t have it clear what the role of the PRC was (is) in the downgrading of the traditional culture (I’m trying to put it in proper words and be objective, although I find it hard…), then I don’t know how to trust their words… He does not have a word about this part of the story. (It’s OK, the book focuses mainly on technical issues.)

But now that I have found this article, I feel HEALED from these doubts! Thank You Thank You Thank You! 🙏🙏🙏

I wish I could learn from you in person😊 Do you ever come to Europe…? I don’t think I can travel nowadays to overseas (given the restrictions applied since the year 2020 on…)
Anyhow, I have found your page and have read this article! I feel protected… 😊🙏

Hope you read this and drop me a few words!
Love, Gratitude and Respect from Hungary!

Nárcisz / 水仙

Ps.: I think I should translate this (and some other) article of yours… Not that I have an own website but surely I could find ways to share it. (Citing your site, of course.) Would you be OK with it? 🙏

SIFU,
MY PLEASURE.
CONLEY

I’m glad it was helpful, Conley!

SIFU,
I HAVE BEEN PRACTICING THE TAI CHI SHORT FORM FOR MANY YEARS. YET, WATCHING YOUR VIDEO WITH THE ADDED QUICK FA JING MOVEMENTS OPENED A NEW DOOR FOR MY PRACTICE!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR AWESOME TEACHING.
CONLEY FALK

Hm, that might be a fun little project to work on until then! 🙂

It’s a wonderful form. If you want to try to learn it on your own, I can help you with it later in Costa Rica. It’s not easy to learn from a video, but it can been done.