The Old Six Roads Yang Tai Chi Form
Harmony of the Three Treasures
More Than Learning Movements
Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of Tai Chi with the Yang Style Tai Chi's ancient Old Six Roads form. This is more than learning a Tai Chi form – it's your path to unlocking profound internal power and spiritual awareness.
The Old Six Roads
(老六路, Lǎo Liù Lù)
The old six roads is a tai chi form that actualizes Ling Qi (the Qi of a spiritual domain) and harmonizes spirit motion and intention to create motion that flows from transformations of the Ling Qi that flows around and through the spiritual body. It is a form that predates the more popular forms, a treasure hidden within the corpus of Yang Tai Chi. Waiting only for the right seekers to chance upon it.
The Name:
Yang Jianhou (1839-1917) created an 89-posture medium-frame Tai Chi form organized into six distinct sections. This form became known as the "Old Six Roads" to differentiate it from the large-frame version later taught by his son, Yang Chengfu.
Jianhou’s Patrons:
As an instructor to the Divine Machine Brigade—the military unit tasked with guarding the Forbidden City—Yang Jianhou also taught this form to the house stewards and security chiefs serving Prince Duan and Prince Pu Lun Bei Zi.
The Form:
The form exists in two versions: the complete 89-posture sequence and a condensed 37-posture version that eliminates repetitions for shorter practice sessions. Both versions emphasize the cultivation of Universal Qi (Ling Qi), which naturally manifests in medium-frame movements. This contrasts with the large-frame style later popularized by Yang Chengfu. The form's focus on Ling Qi makes it particularly effective for developing and maintaining spiritual, energetic, and physical wellbeing.
The Lineage:
The transmission of the Old Six Roads remained limited, with all known current lineages tracing back to Wang Youngquan (1897-1976), son of Wang Chonglu, who served as house steward to Prince Pu Lun Bei Zi. The lineage flows from Yang Luchan (1799-1872), the founder of Yang-style Tai Chi, through Yang Jianhou to the Wang family. The Wangs studied under three generations of Yang family teachers—Yang Jianhou and his sons Yang Shaohao (1862-1930) and Yang Chengfu (1883-1936)—for approximately 25 years, from 1903 until Yang Chengfu's relocation to Shanghai in 1928.
Wang Yongquan’s Tai Chi Legacy:
In the 1950s, at the urging of Beijing's martial arts community, Wang Youngquan began accepting disciples. This decision led to the establishment of a thriving Old Six Roads practice community in Beijing that continues to preserve and transmit this distinctive martial art.
The Old Six Roads Yang Tai Chi Form Courses
-
Harmony of the Three Treasures - The Old Six Roads Yang Tai Chi Form - 1st Road
CourseUnlock the secrets of the Yang Family's Old Six Roads Tai Chi form. Harmonize energy, intention, and spirit with fluid movement. Cultivate profound internal power and spiritual awareness. Move beyond rigid forms to express your true self.
$60
-
Harmony of the Three Treasures: The Old Six Roads Yang Tai Chi Form - 2nd Road
CourseUnlock the secrets of the Yang Family's Old Six Roads Tai Chi form. Harmonize energy, intention, and spirit with fluid movement. Cultivate profound internal power and spiritual awareness. Move beyond rigid forms to express your true self.
$60
-
Harmony of the Three Treasures: The Old Six Roads Yang Tai Chi Form - 3rd Road
CourseUnlock the secrets of the Yang Family's Old Six Roads Tai Chi form. Harmonize energy, intention, and spirit with fluid movement. Cultivate profound internal power and spiritual awareness. Move beyond rigid forms to express your true self.
$60
-
Harmony of the Three Treasures: The Old Six Roads Yang Tai Chi Form - 4th Road
CourseUnlock the secrets of the Yang Family's Old Six Roads Tai Chi form. Harmonize energy, intention, and spirit with fluid movement. Cultivate profound internal power and spiritual awareness. Move beyond rigid forms to express your true self.
$60
-
Harmony of the Three Treasures: The Old Six Roads Yang Tai Chi Form - 5th Road
CourseUnlock the secrets of the Yang Family's Old Six Roads Tai Chi form. Harmonize energy, intention, and spirit with fluid movement. Cultivate profound internal power and spiritual awareness. Move beyond rigid forms to express your true self.
$60
-
Harmony of the Three Treasures: The Old Six Roads Yang Tai Chi Form - 6th Road
CourseUnlock the secrets of the Yang Family's Old Six Roads Tai Chi form. Harmonize energy, intention, and spirit with fluid movement. Cultivate profound internal power and spiritual awareness. Move beyond rigid forms to express your true self.
$60
Postures
First Road Postures
Commencement (起勢)
Grasp the Bird's Tail (攬雀尾)
Single Whip (單鞭)
White Crane Shows Its Wing (白鶴亮翅)
Brush Knee Twist Step (摟膝拗步)
Play the Lute (手揮琵琶)
Second Road Postures
Repel the Monkey (倒攆猴)
White Snake Spits Its Tongue (白蛇吐信)
Turn Body Single Swinging Lotus (轉身單擺蓮)
Embrace Knee, Hammer Fist to Crotch (摟膝指檔捶)
Rooster Stands on One Leg (金雞獨立)
Carry Tiger Back to the Mountain (抱虎歸山)
Third Road Postures
Cloud Hands (雲手)
High Pat Horse (高探馬)
Left & Right Separating Kick (左右分腳)
Left & Right Strike Tiger (左右打虎)
Right Stomping Kick (右蹬腳)
Two Winds Through the Ears (雙風貫耳)
Brush Knee Inserting Hammer Fist (摟膝栽錘)
Fourth Road Postures
Turn the Body, Fling the Hammer Fist (翻身撇捶)
Wild Horse Parts Its Manes (野馬分鬃)
Small Seven Star Hammer Fist (小七星捶)
Turn Body Left Stomp Kick (轉身左蹬腳)
Fair Lady Works the Shuttle (玉女穿梭)
Low Single Whip (單鞭下勢)
Needle at the Sea Bottom (海底針)
Fan Through the Back (扇通背)
Fifth Road Postures
Rotate the Body, Slant the Body the Hammer Fist (轉身撇身捶)
Diagonal Flying (斜飛勢)
Raise Hands Upward Posture (提手上勢)
Fist Under Elbow (肘底捶)
Step Up Seven Star Hammer Fist (上步七星捶)
Step Back, Ride the Tiger (退步跨虎)
Stay Connected!
Sign up for updates, inspiration, and the latest news.