This sequence of Taijiquan postures is designed to develop rooting in the feet and is only taught to my students. It is suitable as an introductory course for beginners. It can be boring, but you learn quickly which student can put up with the discomfort (pain) and therefore, make the “cut”!

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Each of the postures that follows is illustrated using old photographs of Yang Chengfu. The important points noted for each of the postures are applicable to all practitioners of Taijiquan and are hence, also useful for reference purposes. The preparation posture is left out because no picture of Yang Chengfu doing this exists, but it is self-explanatory. It is the same as what a practitioner would normally do just prior to commencing the Taijiquan Solo Form routine.

Although the standing posture sequence is different from your standard Taijiquan Solo Form routine, the demands and requirements for each posture are the same. In fact, I have highlighted some of the main key points for each posture. These same key points also apply to the Solo Form. Instead of moving slowly at a constant speed like the Solo Form, the standing postures are static. The key point here is for the student to hold each posture in a low position for anywhere between 30 seconds to 20 minutes at a time before switching to the next posture. The sequence of postures is designed to enable the practitioner to move seamlessly from one posture to the next without the need to stop at all.

I was told that Yang Chengfu would hold postures like Repulse Monkey for 30 minutes or longer at a time before switching to the other leg and he would do that for 2 to 3 hours in one practice session. Maybe you can try that and let me know how you got on. Try practising underneath a high kitchen table like the old days if you think you are prone to “cheating” while at it. Good luck and have fun!

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