“Consistency” defines the practice of Tai Chi, yet every practitioner hits a plateau now and then. For nine years, the Yang 24-form has served as my foundational Tai Chi “Go To.” I learned it in Oro Valley, Arizona, and then have refined it through the years. I’ve taken it on the road with me and used it for strength and relaxation. It is a complete, familiar flow that I’ve integrated into my fitness routine. However, the Chen 18-form remains a different beast altogether.

The Ten-Form Threshold

I’ve spent the last couple of years working through the intricacies of the Chen style (following a Chinese Video Series I found on the internet). For some reason, I always seem to find my ‘sticking point’ at Form 10. I think it has to be with my patience–by the time I’ve mastered the movements through the 10th form (which is the foundation series), I’ve lost motivation to move on to the last 8 forms (which are the Dynamic Series). Interestingly, those last 8 forms are probably what attracted me to the style to begin with. Form 10 has been my unofficial finish line for far too long.

This month, I finally solidified my mastery of those first ten forms. With that foundation set, I’m ready to go on to the final 8 forms. April will be the month I break through the threshold and knock out the next four forms. This journey to the full 18 continues, one “baby step at a time.” haha.