By Nick Gudge

Laojia Yi Lu is the oldest surviving of the Chen style forms. It was created from a synthesis of five of Chen Wangting’s early routines. It is used to develop the basic principles of movement, a format for teaching a student how to move correctly. It is a complex training tool and forms a framework for developing the martial skills of Chen Style Taiji. The Laojia Yi Lu is the form from which all other taiji styles developed. It is considered to be the foundation form for all other taiji forms. The great Grandmasters of Chen style are said to have practised this form upwards of twenty times daily.

There are several listings of the Laojia Yi Lu available on the web. They vary in length from 72 postures to 76 postures depending on how the postures are separated. For example Forward and Backward trick can be described as one or two postures. Some postures which look similar in execution are described by one name in the Old Frame (Laojia) e.g. Nimble Dragon Descends (Que Di Long) and another in the New Frame (Xinjia) Tame the Tiger (Fu Hu.)

The 74 movement listing below was corrected by Grandmaster Wang Haijun with the invaluable assistance of Aarvo Tucker translating and making Pin Yin spelling corrections. Grandmaster Wang Haijun’s interest is only in this type of detail in so far as it helps students grasp the skills of Taiji. (The English translations have not been reviewed yet).

1. Preparing Form (Yu Bei Shi)
2. Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Zhui)
3. Lazily Tying Coat (Lan Zha Yi)
4. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
5. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
6. Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Zhui)
7. White Crane Spreads Wings (Bai He Liang Chi)
8. Walking Obliquely (Xie Xing)
9. Brushing KneesÊ (Lou Xi)
10. Stepping Lightly (Ao Bu)
11. Walking Obliquely (Xie Xing)
12. Brushing Knees (Lou Xi)
13. Stepping Lightly (Ao Bu)
14. Hidden Thrust Punch and Whirling Upper Arms (Yan Shou Hong Quan)
15. Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Zhui)
16. Flinging Body (Pie Shen Quan)
17. Green Dragon Comes Out of Water (Qing Long Chu Shui)
18. Double Pushing Hands (Shuang Tui Shou)
19. Fist Under Elbow (Zhou Di Kan Quan)
20. Whirling Upper Arms (Dao Juan Hong)
21. White Crane Spreads Wings (Bai He Liang Chi)
22. Walking Obliquely (Xie Xing)
23. Flashing the Arm (Shan Tong Bei)
24. Hidden Thrust Punch and Whirling Upper Arms (Yan Shou Hong Quan)
25. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
26. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
27. Cloud Hands (Yun Shou)
28. High Pat on Horse (Gao Tan Ma)
29. Brushing the Right Foot (You Cha Jiao)
30. Brushing the Left Foot (Zuo Cha Jiao)
31. Kicking With the Left Heel and Following (Zuo Deng Yi Gen)
32. Forward Twist Step (Qian Tang Ao Bu)
33. Punch the Ground (Ji Di Chui)
34. Kicking with Two Heels (Ti Erh Qi)
35. Protecting the Heart (Hu Xin Quan)
36. Whirlwind Foot (Xuan Feng Jiao)
37. Kicking with the Right Heel and Following (You Deng Yi Gen)
38. Hidden Thrust Punch and Whirling Upper Arms (Yan Shou Hong Quan)
39. Small Capturing (Xiao Qin Da)
40. Embracing Head and Pushing Mountain (Bao Tou Tui Shan)
41. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
42. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
43. Forward Trick and Backward Trick (Qian Zhao Hou Zhao)
44. Parting the Wild Horse’s Mane (Ye Ma Fen Zong)
45. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
46. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
47. Jade Maid Works Shuttles (Yu Nu Chuan Suo)
48. Lazily Tying Coat (Lan Zha Yi)
49. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
50. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
51. Cloud Hands (Yun Shou)
52. Waving Double Lotus Shake Foot and Stretch Down (Bai Jiao Die Cha)
53. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg (Jin Ji Du Li)
54. Whirling Upper Arms (Dao Juan Hong)
55. White Crane Spreads Wings ( Bai He Liang Chi)
56. Walking Obliquely (Xie Xing)
57. Flashing the Arm (Shan Tong Bei)
58. Hidden Thrust Punch and Whirling Upper Arm (Yan Shou Hong Quan)
59. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
60. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
61. Cloud Hands (Yun Shou)
62. High Pat on Horse (Gao Tan Ma)
63. Crossed Feet (Shi Zi Jiao)
64. Punch the Groin (Zi Dang Chui)
65. Ape Touches Fruit (Bai Yuan Xian Guo)
66. Six Sealing and Four Closing (Liu Feng Si Bi)
67. Single Whip (Dan Bian)
68. Nimble Dragon Descends (Que Di Long)
69. Stepping Forward to Form the Seven Star (Shang Bu Qi Xing)
70. Stepping Back to Ride the Tiger (Tui Bu Kua Hu)
71. Turn Back and Wave Double Lotus (Zhuan Shen Shuang Bai Lian)
72. Head On Blow (Dang Tou Pao)
73. Buddha’s Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (Jin Gang Dao Zhui)
74. Closing Form (Shou Si)

Notes on Chinese Names (from Davidine Sim)

The Chinese terms above are written in pinyin form, which is pronounced phonetically. The main differences are:

Consonants	Vowels
c is pronounced like ts (as in tsetse fly)	e is pronounced like er with a silent r (as in talent)
q is pronounced like ch (as in chin)	e before ng is pronounced like u (as in rung)
x is pronounced like sh (as in sheep)	o is pronounced like aw (as in law)
zh is pronounced like j (as in jump)	ou is pronounced like o (as in go)