• In 1956, the 24-step routine was created. All the 24 moves were selected from Yang style large frame.
• In 1989, a 42-step routine was created as a competition form. It contains representative moves from different schools of Tai Chi. it is fun to practice as well as to watch.
• 56-step Chen style competition routine. It is the combination of all moves and forms of Chen routine 1 and routines 2.

These are the routines we must learn to be a sufficient Tai Chi practitioner:

1. Chen Style Old routine 1. This is the mother of all popular schools of Tai Chi practiced today. It mainly aims at practicing driving all our body movements by Dantian, a spot in our lower belly. It looks slow and soft and occasionally mixed with Fajin (exertion.)
2. Chen Style Old routine 2. This routine shows how fast, hard, and powerful Tai Chi can be. There are a lot of Fajin in this routine. The routine is short, but requires a lot of strength to practice.
3. The above routines show the different sides of Tai Chi. Practicing both complete your Tai Chi routine training.
4. Yang Style 85-step. This routine was finalized by Yang family 3rd generation master Yang Chengfu. By studying the above 3 routines, you should have a clear picture of the evolution of Tai Chi and Tai Chi as martial art and as another form of physical exercise.
5. 42-step routine. You will be exposed to other major schools of Tai Chi. It is the key for martial practitioners to learn the essence of other schools and develop your own secret weapon.

After learning the above routines, you are now ready to get deeper into the theory of Tai Chi and with the fundamentals; you should know what you practice for.

1. To work, to labor, to spend efforts. 他们下了很多工夫: They put in a lot of work.
2. Skills and craftsmanship. 他刀功 (功夫 of using a knife) 很好: He is very skillful on using knives. 这件衬衫手工很好: The craftsmanship of this shirt is very good.
3. Time. It took her only 3 days to learn that short routine: 她三天工夫就学会了那个短套路.
4. The accumulation of strength and skills through whole hearted continuous practice. 练功: To practice.

In traditional Chinese martial art community, 功夫 mainly means 2 things:

1. Practice. 练功: To practice.
2. The accumulated strength and skills. 他功夫深不可测: He abtained and accumulated unfathomable knowledge, strength and skills.

功夫 takes a lot of time and effort to obtain and accumulate, therefore it is considered the most important part of martial art training. 练功 usually involves practice a single, simple move or a stance repeatedly for a long time. Masters usually tell their pupils to stay on a horse stance for hours or to practice one simple punch hundreds of times. When a martial artist says he is 练功, he is saying he is practicing the fundamentals.

功夫 is the simple plain fundamentals that is behind all the fancy moves and forms.

A martial artist practices the fundamentals since the first day of his martial art training to the last day of his life. That reflects the importance of 功夫.

Common Misconceptions:

1. Tai Chi is slow and soft. Tai Chi practice is to study how to be faster and harder. Practicing the slow and soft forms, moves and trying to relax is only one of the many entry level training methods but not the purpose.

2. Tai Chi is an excess for health. Tai Chi is first and foremost a martial art. It is a study of energy enhancement and fighting techniques. The many health benefits come only from its unique training methods. The slow and soft routines are only the most unimportant part of those methods.

3. Tai Chi is defensive. Tai Chi is extremely offensive because it never separates defense from offense. In other words, its defense is offensive and its offense is defensive. The principle of Tai Chi shanshou (sparing) is to get closer to your opponent and when one side of your body is defending, the other must be attacking.

4. Tai Chi is for old and weak people. The correct training needs very strong bodies to fulfill and it makes them stronger. Therefore the fundamental training is focused on increasing strength. Very few people in their teens and twentieth can survive the whole set of fundamental training that takes about 45 minutes to complete.

5. The 108 step routine is the authentic and traditional one. According to the historical evidence available, this routine is the results of repeated simplifications and revisions. It is the results of

1. Keep the head and spine straight (naturally straight, not arrow straight)
2. Sink the shoulders and the elbows
3. Empty the chest and expand the upper back
4. Knees slightly bend and out (open your hips)
5. Keep Yin and Yang clear
6. Keep feet slightly on the outside heel line
   

Often said by 师傅 and based upon Yang's 10 Importants Points by Yang Cheng-fu.