Under the organization of the Chinese Sports Committee, masters and experts of Wushu created the 「24-form Taiji Quan」 in 1957, also known as Simplified Taiji. Based on the Yang style of Taiji, the entire set is composed of simple movements that gradually become more complex.
In 24-form Taiji Quan, many repeated moves in the original routine were removed and the main structure and skill content are strengthened. The movements involving the right side of the body have been added to provide symmetry not found in the old sets. Therefore, it is easier to understand, easier to learn, and more practical to train for fitness.
Taiji is not only a martial art for defense and offense, but also a useful sport for bodybuilding and preventing disease. Studies around the world have shown that long-term Taiji practice provides wondrous effects in preventing and alleviating various diseases in the nervous, respiratory, digestive, circulatory and other systems。
The 24-form Taiji Quan retains the main features of Yang style Taiji, including the slow, continuous, and reaching movements that are soft but full of internal power, and which play an active part in health preservation. Since its development in 1957, around one billion people throughout 150 countries and areas in the world now practice the 24-form Taiji Quan. Of the 130 types of Wushu boxing techniques and the thousands of existing Wushu sets, 24-form Taiji Quan is the only one being practiced by the greatest number of people in farreaching places. This book promotes Taiji culture and its benefits to people all over the world, by presenting clearly the 24-form Taiji Quan step by step. Accordingly, the book assists Taiji enthusiasts to learn the basic movements。