Yang Style Two-Person Form

The history of this form is a bit controversial. We do know for sure that various students of Yang Jianhou include it in their curriculum but aren't sure if Master Yang taught it to them or if they developed it on their own from his teachings. Regardless, it is one of the real gems of T'ai Chi. It is a relatively advanced form and to truly understand its meaning one should have already studied T'ai Chi for some time.

The two-person form is actually two separate forms, side A and side B. Each side has 44 postures and each move in side A corresponds to the partner's move in side B. Therefore, some call this the 88-posture two-person form, or the T'ai Chi dance when done with a partner. The real benefit of this form is that it trains the defensive/offensive nature of T'ai Chi. Notice I haven't separated the two, as they really can't be separated in T'ai Chi.

Some teachers state that the goal of this form is to eventually perform it faster and faster over time with a partner. Perhaps it is due to my not being as advanced as these experts, but I like to keep it slow in order to break down the mechanics of each move and isolate the sticking, following, and yielding aspects. We need to know why we're moving a certain way. I like to think that in T'ai Chi we don't block or redirect the opponent, they move us. It is like pressing a beach ball into a pool of water. Once you think you've got it down, your palms roll right off it and it bounces up and pops you right in the face.

I started learning this form from Elaine Waters in 2000. Master Waters learned it from Master Jou Tsung Hwa. I'm still training in the form and I actually only have the first 30 moves from each side. I started the form with Master Waters when she was in Arkansas, then didn't train with her during the time she lived in California. I have visited her since she moved to Colorado but we haven't worked any more on the two-person form, instead continuing to work on the Yang short form and body mechanics. I practice what I know daily and I'll finish it someday. Until then, I suppose I have a 60-posture two-person form.

If you want to learn this form, I recommend seeking out Master Waters. Her classmate, Jay Dunbar also routinely teaches this form along with Kathleen Cusick in weekend workshop format in North Carolina and Connecticut.

As you might expect, there are some clips on YouTube.

I can't vouch for any of the DVD or book resources regarding this art as I haven't personally reviewed them. You can find them below, however, if you'd like to have a look.