Breaking Down 2 Core 24-Style Tai Chi Moves: Starting Form & Wild Horse Parts Mane – Easy for Beginners

Once you’ve got the hang of standing meditation and breathing basics, you’re ready to dive into 24-style Tai Chi moves! A lot of beginners end up with “empty forms” when they first start – looking the part but missing the essence. Especially the Starting Form and Wild Horse Parts Mane, these two foundational moves seem simple, but they actually hold the key to Tai Chi’s core: sinking power and smooth flow.

Today, I’ll break these two moves down step by step – from stance and hand shape to footwork and breathing coordination. Every detail is covered, so even beginners can quickly get the feel and practice them correctly!

✅ Move 1: Starting Form (Qishi) – The “Opening Act” of Tai Chi

The Starting Form kicks off the Tai Chi sequence. It looks like just raising your hands and squatting a little, but it’s actually crucial for getting your body ready and syncing with your breath – it directly affects how smooth the rest of your moves will be.

Step 1: Prep Pose (10-second adjustment)

Stand with your feet together, body upright. Lift the top of your head slightly (like there’s a string pulling it up), relax and sink your shoulders. Let your arms hang naturally by your sides, palms facing your body, fingers pointing down. Keep your eyes looking straight ahead and your breath steady.

⚠️ Common Mistake: Don’t slouch, stare at your feet, or force your chest out/abs in. Just keep your body naturally relaxed and stretched.

Step 2: Step Feet Apart (sync with breath)

Slowly lift your heels, then pivot on your toes to step your feet apart sideways until they’re shoulder-width apart, toes pointing forward. Keep your body upright the whole time, move slowly, and take a natural inhale as you step apart.

💡 Tip: Imagine your feet are rooted into the ground as you step apart, feeling your weight evenly distributed across the soles of your feet.

Step 3: Raise Hands to “Hold a Ball” (key发力点)

1. Slowly raise your arms forward and up, palms facing down, elbows slightly bent (don’t lock them!). When they’re level with your chest, turn your palms inward to face each other, like you’re holding a big balloon (this is the “ball-holding stance”). Keep about 30cm between your hands.

2. Sync with exhale: Raise your hands slowly and steadily, finishing the ball-holding stance as you exhale. Feel your breath sink down to your dantian (lower abdomen), and let your arms have a slight “sinking weight” – don’t just lift them lightly.

⚠️ Common Mistake: Shrugging your shoulders, locking your elbows, or squeezing your hands tightly when holding the ball. Keep your shoulders relaxed the whole time, elbows hanging naturally, and just hold the shape with your hands – no need to grip hard.

Step 4: Bend Knees to Sink (finish Starting Form)

From the ball-holding stance, slowly sink your body down, bending your knees slightly (don’t let them go past your toes). Sit back a little like you’re sitting on a tall stool. Keep your hands in the ball-holding position and let them drop naturally 3-5cm as you sink.

✅ How it should feel: After sinking, your weight should be on the three key points of your feet (base of big toe, base of small toe, heel). You should clearly feel your legs supporting your body, with no tightness in your waist or back.

✅ Move 2: Wild Horse Parts Mane (Ye Ma Fen Zong) – A Classic 24-Style Starter Move

Wild Horse Parts Mane has two versions: left and right. The core is “twist your waist to drive your shoulders, coordinate hands and feet.” It’s great for practicing flexibility and coordination, and it builds on the sinking power from the Starting Form.

💡 Core Principle: Inhale when opening/extending, exhale when closing/pushing. Let your waist drive your hands and feet – don’t move them separately.

Left Mane Parting (Steps 1-5)

1. Twist waist and open hands: Start from the Starting Form’s ball-holding stance. Slowly twist your body to the left. At the same time, turn your left palm outward and stretch your left arm forward-left (palm facing forward), elbow slightly bent. Keep your right palm inward and pull it back to the front of your right shoulder as you twist your waist.

2. Sync with inhale: Twist and open your hands slowly, taking an inhale as you do. Feel your breath rise from your dantian, driving your arm to stretch.

3. Step forward and shift weight: Slowly shift your weight to your right foot. Lift your left foot, land on your heel first, then press your sole firmly to the ground as you step forward (step length is about 1.5 times your foot length). Keep your left toe pointing forward, forming a “bow stance” (front knee bent, back leg straight but not locked).

4. Push hands for mane parting: Once your front foot is firm, slowly shift your weight to your left foot. At the same time, turn your right palm outward and push it forward from the front of your right shoulder, keeping it parallel to your left hand (shoulder-width apart, both palms facing forward). Keep your left arm stretched and let it move forward naturally as you shift your weight.

5. Sync with exhale: Push your hands slowly and exhale at the same time. Feel your breath sink down, and let your arms push forward with a steady force – no sudden jerks.

Right Mane Parting (mirror the left side)

1. Twist waist and pull back: After finishing the left mane parting, slowly twist your body to the right. Pull your left palm inward to the front of your left shoulder, and pull your right palm inward as you twist your waist back to the right.

2. Step forward and push: Shift your weight to your left foot, lift your right foot and step forward into a bow stance. At the same time, turn your left palm outward and push it forward, keeping your right arm stretched. Inhale as you step, exhale as you push – it’s the mirror of the left version.

⚠️ Common Mistakes in Wild Horse Parts Mane

1. Turning your toes out too much when stepping, making your body lean sideways. Correct way: Keep your toes pointing forward. Land on your heel first, then adjust to press your sole firmly down.

2. Shrugging your shoulders or locking your elbows when pushing. Remember to sink your shoulders and drop your elbows. Push your arms like water flowing steadily – no need to force it.

3. Not twisting your waist enough and just using your arms to move. The core is “waist drives hands and feet.” Feel your waist twist first, then let that movement pull your arms to stretch and pull back.

Tips for Beginners: 1. Practice each step separately 10 times first, then put them together. 2. Use the abdominal breathing you learned the past two days to make sure your breath and moves are in sync. 3. Don’t rush for speed at first – focus on getting the sinking power and coordination right. Practice 5-8 sets a day (one left and one right mane parting counts as one set).

The Starting Form and Wild Horse Parts Mane are the building blocks of 24-style Tai Chi. Master these two moves correctly, and learning the rest will be a breeze. Remember: In Tai Chi, “slow is fast.” Getting each step right feels more important than mindlessly rushing through the sequence.