One of the things I enjoy most when I have the opportunity to study with Jesse Tsao is the linking and comparing of different styles of Tai Chi. In particular, I find it interesting to compare the two traditional long forms that I know best: Laojia Yilu and the Yang 108.
A video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HRaAIdkqiY] shows the two forms side by side, with Chen Zhenglei performing Chen and Yang Jun doing the 108. Whoever made this video did a clever job of matching up comparable moves. A timeline is also provided, showing where in the video some of specific corresponding moves can be found. In the picture above, both are doing single whip.
I’ve gone a little farther–put the lists of moves for both forms side by side, lining up and bolding the 24 points where the same named move occurs in both forms. In six more places (italicized), Six Sealing Four Closing (六封四閉 Liù Fēng Sì Bì) occurs opposite Grasp the Bird’s Tail (揽雀尾 lǎn què wěi). Different names, different styles, but comparable: peng, lu, ji, an. Contact, redirect, follow, and control.
The two routines are also similarly structured. Each begins by guarding the right side. Then both forms travel to the left. Both forms then travel backwards, with Whirling Arms and Repulse Monkeys. Both then turn around and punch before repeating Six Sealing Four Closing/Grasp the Bird’s Tail and Single Whip.
Then both forms travel sideways to the left with Cloud Hands. Then each form has a kicking section. Laojia features a greater variety of kicks, but both forms advance, turn around, and advance again. They travel back to the right with Part the Wild Horse’s Mane and Fair Lady Works the Shuttle, again repeating Six Sealing Four Closing/Grasp the Bird’s Tail and Single Whip.
Both routines then repeat Cloud Hands and offer a low form, followed by a lengthy repeat from Whirling Arms/Repulse Monkeys all the way to the Cross Form Kick. Both finish with a low punch and Step up Seven Stars, a crescent kick and double hand punch. The two forms track each other strikingly, when you compare the lists side by side.
See also three split-screen videos that I made in 2022 showing a side-by-side comparison of Laojia Yilu and the Yang 108:
Tai Chi Notebook 