This form was created in 1989 by Li Deyin specifically for tournament play. It is a combined form that incorporates movements from the four major styles of Tai Chi: Yang, Chen, Sun, and Wu.

Gao Jiamin demonstrates 42-step competition form

Here is an outstanding demonstration of the form by Gao Jiamin, one of the most celebrated tournament champions of our time. Not only is this a great demonstration of the form, it also identifies the movements with Chinese/English subtitles.

You can read more about Gao Jiamin in this interview, originally published in Kungfu Magazine in 2000, republished by the US Wushu Center in Portland, Oregon, where she sometimes teaches.

Here’s another beautiful demonstration video by another great champion, Amin Wu, who teaches in the Bay Area. She also offers an instructional video which I have not seen.

Li Deyin, author of the form, instructs.

I originally learned 42 from my friend Long Feng in 2014, then again under the excellent instruction of Hu Pei Yi in 2016. For review and further instruction, I am using a 50-minute YouTube instructional video by Li Deyin, the author of the form. Gao Jiamin demonstrates each move; Li also demonstrates and elaborates on detail.

With the instructional vocabulary that I call Taijiese (much of it incorporated in this online notebook), I find I can understand most of what he says in this video, despite knowing just about zero conversational Chinese.

Here is the list of movements: 42-form [PDF].

Another very useful resource is a book by Li Deyin, available in English from Amazon, in which he details the standards for judging a performance of 42. You couldn’t learn the form from this book, but you can correct your form by referring to it in detail. He explains both important points and common mistakes.

Book by Li Deyin

I particularly like the chart that he offers at the start of the chapter on 42, in which for each move he gives the hand shape, footwork, techniques, and most interestingly, the style (school) from which the movement is derived.

Most recently (fall 2022), I have found that Qiu HuiFang offers an excellent series of four teaching videos on 42, each almost an hour long. In the first video, at about the two-minute mark, she offers a beautiful demonstration of the whole form. Instruction begins at about 9:00. Here are the links:

1. Moves 1-10
2. Moves 11-18
3. Moves 19-33
4. Moves 34-42

I’ve just been through Li De Yin’s instructional video on the 42-step combined form for competition. I have the DVD and have not found that material on YouTube; it might not be available on the Web.

I did stumble upon a short video in which Professor Li explains (in Chinese, alas and of course) and demonstrates one of the moves I have found most baffling: the sequence of Yan Shou Gong Chui and Ye Ma Fen Zong. The Hidden Hand Punch I get, and although it’s different from the Chen I know, Part the Wild Horse’s Mane is clear, too. What I have been puzzled about is the little fajin in between. This is the clearest exposition I’ve seen. Helpful!

For sheer beauty of form, Amin Wu’s version is the performance I am trying to keep in my mind’s eye. I’m a big fan of this many-time Chinese champion. You can read about her accomplishments here: wuamintaichi.com/master_wu.

I’ve been learning the Chinese characters for numbers and a few of the words that occur most commonly in tai chi. The red letters in the image above say 42 form taiji quan: 四 = 4, 十 = 10, 二 = 2 (combine four, ten and two for 42), 式 = shì = form, 太极拳 = taiji quan. Learn Chinese numbers here: learnchineseez.com/characters/learn-to-write-chinese.

For names of movements, other videos, etc., see the main 42-form page.

Also called the combined form and the competition form, 42 was created in 1989 by Grand Master Li De Yin. It incorporates elements of all four styles of Tai Chi: Yang, Chen, Sun and Wu. Wikipedia offers this interesting discussion by Dr. Paul Lam.

I’ve been using an excellent video demonstration by Miss Ng Ah Mui.

For comparison, here’s an excellent performance by Gao Jiamin on YouTube.

Here’s a list of the 42 movements in English and Chinese, derived from Lau Sui and a list that Long Feng gave me.

The form takes 6-7 minutes. The movements are:

1. Preparing Form – Qishi
2. Right Grasp the Bird’s Tail [Wu style] – You Lan Que Wei
3. Single Whip – Zuo Dan Bian
4. Lift Hands – Ti Shou
5. White Crane Spreads Wings – Bai He Liang Chi
6. Brush Knee Push – Luo Xi Ao Bu [right and left]
7. Fist Across the Body – Pie Shen Chui
8. Roll Back and Press – Lu Ji Shi
9. Step Forward, Block, Parry, Punch – Jin Bu Ban Lan Chui
10. Withdraw and Push [Sun Style] – Ru Feng Si Bi
11. Open and Close Hands – Kai He Shou
12. Single Whip [Wu style] – You Dan Bian
13. Fist Under Elbow [Sun style] – Zhou Di Chui
14. Turn to Push Palm [Sun style] – Zhuan Shen Tui Zhang
15. Fair Lady Works the Shuttle [Wu? style] – Yu Nu Chuan Shuo
16. Right and Left Heel Kick – You/Zuo Deng Jiao
17. Hidden Hand Punch [Chen style] – Yan Shou Gong Chui
18. Part the Wild Horse’s Mane [Chen style] – Ye Ma Fen Zong
19. Cloud Hands – Yun Shou
20. Hit the Tiger on One Leg [Wu style] – Du Li Da Hu
21. Right Snap Kick – You Fen Jiao
22. Box the Tiger’s Ears – Shuang Feng Quan Er
23. Left Snap Kick – Zuo Fen Jiao
24. Turn Body Slap Foot – Zhuan Shen Pai Jiao
25. Step Up and Punch Down – Jin Bu Zai Chui
26. Slant Flying [Wu style] – Xie Fei Shi
27. Snake Creeps Down – Dan Bian Xia Shi
28. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg- Jin Ji Du Li
29. Step Back Piercing Palm – Tui Bu Chuan Zhang
30. Press Palm in Empty Stance – Xu Bu Ya Zhang
31. Lift Palm on One Leg – Du Li Tuo Zhang
32. Strike With Shoulder – Ma Bu Kao
33. Turn Body Big Pullback – Zhuan Shen Da Lu
34. Grab to Punch – Xie Bu Qin Da
35. Squat to Palms Through – Chuan Zhang Xia Shi
36. Step Up Seven Stars – Shang Bu Qi Xing
37. Step Back to Ride the Tiger [Wu style] – Tui Bu Kua Hu
38. Turn and Sweep the Lotus – Zhuan Shen Bai Lian
39. Bend Bow Shoot Tiger – Wan Gong She Hu
40. Left Grasp the Bird’s Tail – Zuo Lan Que Wei
41. Cross Hands – Shi Zi Shou
42. Close Form – Shou Shi

The form is predominantly Yang style; I’ve indicated where the other styles occur (as best I know).