The Syllabus of the Indoor Yang Style, Part 2

Here is the first part of a more detailed list of the main forms of the Indoor Yang Style.

1. The Large Frame Form, 大架拳 (Dà Jià Quán)

This is the first form you learn. It is composed of much larger movements and is focused on training your body for the art.

2. The Old/Medium Frame Form, 老架拳 (Lăo Jià Quán)

It is said that this was the original form that Yang Luchan practiced. Who knows? This form is the skill training form. It is smaller than the Large Frame and more detailed.

3. The Small Frame Form 小架拳 (Xiăo Jià Quán)

This is the combative frame. It is much smaller than the Medium Frame, and the movements look the way they might in a fight. The Wu style seems to be built from this frame.

4. The "Long" Form, 太极长拳 (Tàijí Cháng Quán)

This is the form that teaches us to break free from the structure of the forms. Each of the movements is designed to dovetail into each of the others. Focus is on using the movements in new and unusual ways: Doing Lu with Cai energy, for example.

5. The Post-Heaven Methods, 后天法 (Hòu Tiān Fă)

This is actually more of a Xingyi (Hsing-I) form. It teaches explosive strikes that can be used after the yielding entry that is the style's specialty. A lot of people get angry when they see Xingyi and Bagua in Yang Style, but Yang Luchan was a comprehensive martial artist and saw the need for a complete style.

6. The Little Nine Heavens Form, 小九天 (Xiăo Jiŭ Tiān)

This is the escape form of the system. It's mostly a Bagua form. It deals with fast footwork and "Seven Stars", or clashing.

7. The Wise Hammers/Wisdom Fist 智捶 (Zhì Chuí)

This form is a more direct, combative, almost "short" form that focuses on the 5 Hammers.

8. The Pressure Point Striking ("Dim Mak") Form

This form is usually taught last of the eight main forms. Not because it is "secret", but because it requires learning all the pressure points and their relief points. The form itself simply teaches quick chops and thrusts that can be inserted within other movements. It doesn't have the same importance that pressure points have been given in some other schools. Dianma (Dim Mak) doesn't mean "Touch of Death." It means pressure point.