Adult Curriculum
The curriculum provides a progressive program and learning objectives. Students
may use this to help them set goals and measure their own progress as they
study at Ziran Martial Arts.
Ranks:There are no adult ranks other than white and black sash in our Taijiquan school. There are 8 stages of white sash after it is initially received. Stages 6-8 of white sash are the minimum levels required for instructor certification. Black sash reflects expertise in the system. The curriculum is broken down into stages.
A white Sash is given to students when they successsfuly complete
the "Introductory stage" and enter the general population of the school.
White Sash
(Student Will Be Able To:) SWBAT
1. Tai Chi stepping
2 . movements 1-12 of the Basic form.
3 . understanding of knee-toe alignment.
4 . Explain relaxation points and correspondence with achieving appropriate
t'ai chi structure.
5 . describe three practice methods of taijiquan in addition to form practice
and explain each area in a spoken sentence.
Stages: The material is known and performed for
certification for a given stage. A minimum of six months is recommended
for progress through each stage. Proficiency is largely dependent on effort,
diligence, and consistant practice!!!
1. all stages are cumulative with previous stages.
2. Intermediate and advanced stage 6-10 is provided to students approaching
those stages
3. At Ziran Martial Arts the following Taijiquan forms are taught:
1. 24 Step Basic Tai Chi Chuan (Yang style interpretation - Chinese
National Form)
2. Miao Dao (Double Handed Saber)
3. Yang Family Dao (Chinese Saber or Broadsword)
4. 115 Step Yang Long Form "Gu Style" (Kou Yu Chueng Lineage, also pronounced 'ku yu
cheng' or 'gu ru chan.' )
5. 42 Step Sword Form (Yang style interpretation-Chinese Competition Form)
6. 88 Posture Taijiquan Paired Fighting Set
7. Yang Michuan Sword Form
8. Additional weapons training includes, spear, staff (mixed lengths), quandao, knife, and misc.
| Silver | Qigong | Gold(in addition to all silver requirements) | Pushhands | Qinna | Suaijiao (Grappling, throws, takedowns, ground fighting) | Sanshou (Sparring) | Functional Conditioning |
Swordsmanship | |
| 1 | 1. 24 Step basic form |
Daoyin and standing | 1. Basic rooting drills, 2. yielding to punches 3.Linear Palm heel 4. Front heel kick 5 . Eight Gates Drill |
1. One hand push hands | Rolling 1 Movement chain Theory and static applications |
Falling 1 Engaging, ground defense 1 |
1. Shadow sparring 2. one attack and response |
Flexibility Strength Cardiovascular |
1. Miao Dao Form 2. Basic Cuts 3. Two Person Drills |
| 2 | Yang Saber Form | Standing and Resting Qigong | 1. Four Directional heel kick | 1.Two hand push hands 2.Five basic michuan pushing drills |
Rolling 2 Set 1 application and counters Finger and wrist manipulation |
Falling 2 Defending from the bottom |
1. Sparring drills. One and two person, strike and evasion. Flow fighting 2. Moving application of 8 gates entries |
Flexibility Strength Cardiovascular |
1. Saber Form 4. Miao Dao /Saber Freeplay |
| 3 | 1.Section one of Gu Ru Zhang form 2 .posture. 3. names of each movement. |
Microcosmic Orbit and selected material |
1. Linear Palm heels (Fair Maid , Brush knee twist step, repulse monkey,
Applications) 2. Triangle Stepping, bagua stepping |
1.. Two hands push hands (reverse pattern in motion. Press and counter, Ward off Roll back, press, push,) 2. Michuan pushing drills 6-10
|
Rolling 3 Set 2 movement application To Elbow |
Falling 3 Working from the top, finishing methods |
1. light sparring with Equipment 2. Point of contact yield and connect |
Flexibility Strength Cardiovascular |
Jian Straight Sword basic cuts set one: ci, pi, dian, tiao, liao,
& zha 2. two person drills 3. freeplay |
| 4 | 1.section twoGu form 2. Flow between transitions 3.centralization of movements 4. ten minutes standing post 5. Two Person Fighting set section one. Both sides. |
Microcosmic Orbit and selected material | 1.Applications for basic form.3. | 1.Two hand push hands (ward off, roll pack, press, push with movement)
3. Two hand push hands ( varied circles. Cloudhands, reverse cloud
hands, push and receive, etc.) |
Rolling refinement Set 2. Static application and counters -Two Shoulder |
Falling Refinement Ground defense against multiple opponents. |
1.Sanshou multiple rounds 2. multiple partner evasion (With protective gear) |
Flexibility Strength Cardiovascular |
1.Jian basic cuts set 2: dou, tiao, ya, hua, & moue 2. two person drills 3. Freeplay |
| 5 | 1. Gu Form Section three 2. Breathing 3. Standing post one leg and at angles 4. Two Person Fighting Set Section 2 Both sides |
Microcosmic Orbit and selected material | 1. Applications for Gu Section 1 | 1. Dalu (cornering) 2.Free pushhands, 3. moving pushhands |
Rolling refinement Set 3 movement applications - Leg controls |
Falling Refinement Ground defense against weapons |
1. Sparring vs. one/ multiple opponents, multiple rounds. | Flexibility Strength Cardiovascular |
Intermediate weapons training begins |
| 6 | 1. Gu Form (fluid and agile, careful to dustiguish yin and yang) 2. Public Sword form 3. 2 Person Fighting set 3 Both sides |
Note: Curriculum from stage six is provided to students at this stage. | Note: Curriculum from stage six is provided to students at this stage. | Note: Curriculum from stage six is provided to students at this stage. | Note: Curriculum from stage six is provided to students at this stage. | Note: Curriculum from stage six is provided to students at this stage. | Note: Curriculum from stage six is provided to students at this stage. | Note: Curriculum from stage six is provided to students at this stage. | Note: Curriculum from stage six is provided to students at this stage. |
| 7 | Fighing Set Part 4 Both sides - full fighting set performed on both sides with partner. | ||||||||
| 8 | 1. Fighting Set and Gu Forms Polished. |
2. Instructor (Shidoin in Japanese)
3. MasterTeacher (Shihan in Japanese)
