The 48-form is traditionally taught divided into six sections, so you may focus on adding a small number of movements to your overall form gradually.
The first section stresses basic hand and foot movements and the essential Peng, Lu, Ji, An (Ward Off, Rollback, Press, and Push). The second involves flexible changes in movements of body and legs with Turn Body to Thrust Palm as the focus. The third section has the first climax with many rises and falls and body turns with Slap Foot and Tame the Tiger as the focus.
The fourth section centers around the challenging Right Heel Kick movement. The fifth focuses on Fair Lady Shuttles on both the left and right, requiring balance, suppleness, and coordination. The sixth section contains a great variety of hand forms, stances, and body movements such as Turn Body and Sweep Lotus, and the final climax of the form.
The six sections of Tai Chi 48-Form Movements:
1st Section
- Commencing Form
起勢
Qishi - White Crane Spreads its Wings
白鹤亮翅
Bai He Liang Chi - Left Brush Knee and Push Forward
左摟膝拗步
Zuo Lou Xi Ao Bu - Left Single Whip
左单鞭
Zuo Dan Bian - Left Playing Lute
左琵琶势
Zuo Pi Pa Shi - Roll Back and Press/Squeeze (3 repetitions)
履擠势
Lue Ji Shi - Left Deflect, Parry and Punch
左搬攔捶
Zuo Ban Lan Chui - Left Ward off, Roll back, Press and Push (Grasp Sparrow's Tail)
左棚履擠按
Zuo Peng Lue Ji An
2nd Section
- Lean on Diagonal
斜身靠
Xie Shen Kao - Fist Under Elbow
肘底捶
Zhou Di Chui - Repulse Monkey
倒卷肱 (四)
Dao Juan Gong - Turn Body and Thrust Palm
轉身推掌 (四)
Zhuan Shen Tui Zhang - Right Playing Lute
右琵琶勢
You Pi Pa Shi - Right Brush Knee and Punch Down
摟膝栽捶
Lou Xi Zai Chui
3rd Section
- White Snake Spits Poison
白蛇吐信 (二)
Bai She Tu Xin - Slap Foot and Tame the Tiger (L & R)
拍脚伏虎 (二)
Pai Jiao Fu Hu - Left Diagonal and Back Fist
左撇身捶
Zuo Pie Shen Chui - Piercing Fist and Lower Body
穿拳下勢
Chuan Zhang Xia Shi - Stand on One Leg and Prop Up Palm
獨立撑掌 (二)
Du Li Cheng Zhang - Right Single Whip
右單鞭
You Dan Bian
4th Section
- Right Wave Hands Like Clouds
右雲手 (三)
You Yun Shou - Left and Right Part the Horse's Mane
右左分鬃
You Zuo Fen Zong - High Pat on Horse
高探馬
Gao Tan Ma - Right Heel Kick
右蹬脚
You Deng Jiao - Strike to the Ears with Both Fists
雙峰貫耳
Shuang Feng Guan Er - Left Heel Kick
左蹬脚
Zuo Deng Jiao - Cover Hands and Strike with Fist
掩手肱捶
Yan Shou Gong Chui - Needle at Sea Bottom
海底针
Hai Di Zhen - Fan Through the Back
閃通背
Shan Tong Bei
5th Section
- Right and Left Toe Kick
右左分脚
You Zuo Fen Jiao - Left and Right Brush Knee and Push Forward
摟膝拗步 (二)
Lou Xi Ao Bu - Step Forward, Grab and Punch
上步擒打
Shang Bu Qin Da
- Apparent Closure
如封似閉
Ru Feng Si Bi - Left Wave Hands like Clouds
左雲手(三)
Zuo Yun Shou - Right Diagonal Back Fist
右撇身捶
You Pie Shen Chui - Left and Right Fair Lady Shuttle Back and Forth
左右穿梭
Zuo You Chuan Suo - Step Back and Spear Palm
退步穿掌
Tui Bu Chuan Zhang
6th Section
- Insubstantial Stance and Press Palm Down
虚步壓掌
Xu Bu Ya Zhang - Stand on Left Leg and Lift Palm
獨立托掌
Du Li Tuo Zhang - Lean in Horse Stance
馬步靠
Ma Bu Kao - Turn Body and Large Roll Back
轉身大捋
Zhuan Shen Da Lue - Scoop Palm and Lower Body
撩掌下勢
Liao Zhang Xia Shi - Step Forward and Cross Punch
上步七星
Shang Bu Qi Xing - Stand on Right Leg and Ride the Tiger
獨立跨虎
Du Li Kua Hu - Turn Body and Sweep Lotus
轉身擺蓮
Zhuan Shen Bai Lian - Pull the Bow and Shoot the Tiger
彎弓射虎
Wan Gong She Hu - Right Deflect, Parry and Punch
右搬攔捶
You Ban Lan Chui - Right Ward Off, Roll back, Press and Push (Grasp Sparrow's Tail)
右棚履擠按
You Peng Lue Ji An - Cross Hands
十字手
Shi Zi Shou - Closing Form
收勢
Shoushi
