browser icon




Section 1


1. Preparatory Stance or Starting Form (qĭ shì, yù bèi shì))预备式 or 起势(起勢)
2. Strong Man Pounds the Mortar (jīn gāng dǎo duì) (1)金刚捣碓 (金剛搗碓)
3. Holding Coat at the Waist (lǎn zhā yī) (2)揽扎衣(攬紮衣)
4. Six Sealing and Four Closing (liù fēng sì bì)六封四闭 (六封四閉)
5. Single Whip (dān biān) (3)单鞭(單鞭)
6. Strong Man Pounds the Mortar (jīn gāng dǎo duì)金刚捣碓 (金剛搗碓)
7. White Goose Spreads Wings (Bai E Liang Chi) (4)白鹅亮翅
8. Inclined or Diagonal Posture (xié xíng)斜行
9. Gathering at the Knees (lōu xī) (5)搂膝 (摟厀)
10. Three Steps Forward (shàng sān bù) OR Twisted Steps (ào bù) (6)上三步 (拗步)
11. Inclined or Diagonal Posture (Xie Xing) (7)斜行
12. Gathering at the Knees (Lou Xi)搂膝 (摟厀)
13. Three Steps Forward (shàng sān bù) OR Twisted Steps (ào bù)上三步(拗步)
14. Hidden Punch (yǎn shǒu gōng quán) (8)掩手肱拳

(1) 金刚 is commonly translated as Buddha’s Warrior Bodyguard or Vajra, the two deities you might see outside a temple door. However, the use of 金刚 usually refers to someone who is very strong.





(6) When written as 拗步, this is usually pronounced as Niu Bu and not Au Bu. Technically, this means twisted steps. So this means going left and right as you move forward.

(7) Also seen as Oblique Movement, this movement is characterized by the inclined rotation of the body during the execution of the movement and thus its name, which when directly translated means inclined shape. However, when the movement is done, the body may or may not be inclined, depending on execution.

(8) The right knee points at the toes with the calf on top of the foot. Waist is relaxed. Thighs are ‘twisted’ outwards to initiate the spiral rotation. The right fist is not closed tight. The moment of impact is about a tenth of a second when it meets the opponent, only then is it tight. Immediately after the jin reaches the fist and after contact, relax the whole body. Gong versus hong. There are many write ups that have “yan shou hong quan” or “dao juan hong”. The Chinese character 宏 (hóng) is like 肱 (gōng). The difference is in their meanings. 肱 means upper arm or humerus, which I believe is what the form is referring to and 宏 means great or grand. While this has been interpreted as punching to the chest, I think this might be punching to the humerus as if someone grabs your left hand and you are going to pull it back and hit with the right fist that was hidden.

Section 2

This section introduces new footwork of walking backwards and sidewards but the main characteristics of this section is body rotations. Walking backwards means landing with the toes first. Moving sidewards means using the heel.

16. Rotational Body Punch (piě shēn quán) (1)撇身拳
17. Green Dragon Emerges from Water (qīng lóng chū shuǐ) (2)青龙出水(青龍出水)
18. Push with Both Hands (shuāng tuī shŏu) (3)双推手 (雙推手)
19. Elbow Meets Fist (zhǒu dī kàn quán) (4)肘低看拳
20. Stepping Backwards with Turning Arms (dào juǎn gōng)倒巻肱
21. White Goose Spreads Wings (bái é liàng chì)白鹅亮翅
22. Inclined or Diagonal Posture (xié xíng)斜行
23. Turn Back Quickly (shǎn tōng bèi) (5)闪通背 (閃通揹)
24. Hidden Punch (yǎn shǒu gōng quán)掩手肱拳
26. Single Whip (dān biān)单鞭(單鞭)
27. Moving or Waving Hands (yùn shŏu) (6)运手 (運手)
28. Pat Horse on High Back (gāo tàn mǎ) (7)高探马 (高探馬)


(2) The character 青 means many things. It can be young, the color green or even the color black. When used in this context, it can also mean the dragon from the da qin mountain or the direction South. The punch at the end is a straight punch or a hammer fist. However, at this point, that punch can change form into elbow strikes or shoulder strikes.

(3) Sometimes also referred to as double push palms 双推掌(雙推掌). Like Six Sealing Four Closing, there is springiness in the arms when striking and strength is from the center of the back of the shoulders.

(4) Ideally the elbow hit the back of the head while the left hand holds the chin or used to strike the opponent. Both elbow and fist come together with the coordinated he jin (compression energy).



(7) The hooking of the right foot is introduced in this movement. When performing this slowly, the right foot will make two pivot adjustments before completing the movement. I have seen Grandmaster Chen Xiao Xing execute this as drilling into the ground with the right heel while turning. If you can’t do that, avoid making too big of an adjustment for the first pivot else the knee will fold in and the peng dang will be gone.

Section 3

This is a short section but 70% of the footwork, jumping and kicking, is in this section.

29. Right Sweeping Kick (yòu cā jiǎo) (1)右擦脚 (右擦腳)
30. Left Sweeping Kick (zuǒ cā jiǎo) (1)左擦脚 (左擦腳)
31. Left Heel Kick (zuǒ dēng yì gēn) (2)左蹬一根
32. Three Twisted Steps Forward (shàng sān bù OR qián tàng ào bù) (3)上三步 (前趟拗步)
33. Punch towards the Ground (jī dì chuí) (4)击地锤 (擊地錘)
34. Double Jump Kick (tī èr qĭ) (5)踢二起
35. Protect the Heart Punch (hù xīn quán) (6)护心拳 (護心拳)
36. Tornado Kick (xuán fēng jiǎo) (7)旋风脚 (鏇風脚)
37. Right Heel Kick (yòu dēng yì gēn)右蹬一根
38. Hidden Punch (yǎn shǒu gōng quán)掩手肱拳






(6) The protect Heart Punch is a long movement. It is representative of the yĭn shàng xià jìn (引上下进) method of attacking. First draw across the top while inserting the leg underneath to be in front or behind the attacker. The two fists line up along the midline of the body. Right fist in front of the left fist. I have seen also others placing the fists slightly to the right side of the body. Some explain this as protecting your own heart, which means either center or right is the wrong placement. I see this as striking someone’s left side after exposing it. That side is the opponent’s heart side and is usually on my right side. I kept the literal translation of the characters so there’s a visual image of the final resting position.


Section 4


39. Small Grasping and Hitting (xiǎo qín dǎ) (1)小擒打
40. Push Mountain from the Head (bào tóu tuī shān) (2)抱头推山 (抱頭推山)
42. Single Whip (dān biān)单鞭(單鞭)
43. Protect the Front (qián zhāo) (3)前招
44. Protect the Back (hòu zhāo) (3)后招
45. Part Wild Horse’s Mane (yě mǎ fēn zōng) (4)野马分鬃 (野馬分鬃)
46. Six Sealing and Four Closing (liù fēng sì bì) (5)六封四闭 (六封四閉)
47. Single Whip (dān biān)单鞭(單鞭)

(1) I have read that the “Small” in this movement comes from the small frame. I don’t think so since the small frame came after this routine was created. The grasping technique is very commonly used when attacker grabs the wrist. There is coordinated he jin using the back of the right palm along with the left hand (on top of the attacker’s hand) to lock the wrist joint. The complete execution requires stepping into the attacker to obtain space to rotate right arm while holding on to the attacker’s hand. The palm strike can also be a fist, aiming for the soft parts of the body and left hand can be used to protect the head after drawing the attacker’s arm away.


(3) The 招 comes from 招呼, to greet. It is like greeting someone who comes in front or behind you. The jin used here is horizontal jin so the strikes to the front and rear are along a horizontal plane. I see this as a protection by parrying.

(4) The movement here resembles a woman using a hairpin to part their hair. It has to be pierced and then flipped over. This first parting starts with right hand between the legs and ends with right palm facing up. Then turn to face the back with left hand between the legs and ends with palm facing outwards, ready to do the pulls. The leading arm pierce, rotate and part just like the hairpin. First to the right and then to the left. Can also use this as a side silk reeling exercise.


Section 5


48. Jade Maiden Shuttles back and forth (yù nǚ chuān suō) (1)玉女穿梭
49. Holding Coat at Waist (lǎn zhā yī)揽扎衣(攬紮衣)
51. Single Whip (dān biān)单鞭(單鞭)
52. Moving or Waving Hands (yùn shŏu)运手 (運手)
53. Double White Lotus (shuāng bái lián) (2)双白莲 (雙白莲)
54. Arrange Legs to Split (băi jiăo diē chà) (3)摆脚跌岔 (擺腳跌岔)
55. Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg (jīn jī dú lì) (4)金鸡独立 (金鷄獨立)
56. Stepping Backwards with Turning Arms (dào juǎn gōng)倒巻肱
57. White Goose Spreads Wings (bái é liàng chì)白鹅亮翅
58. Inclined or Diagonal Posture (xié xíng)斜行
59. Turn Back Quickly (shǎn tōng bèi)闪通背 (閃通揹)
60. Hidden Punch  (yǎn shǒu gōng quán)掩手肱拳
62. Single Whip (dān biān)单鞭(單鞭)
63. Moving or Waving Hands (yùn shŏu)运手 (運手)
64. Pat Horse on Back (gāo tàn mǎ)高探马 (高探馬)


(2) In Xin Jia, another character that sounds like 白 (bái) is used. 摆 (bǎi) means to arrange, so it is likely that this movement is 双摆莲.


(4) This movement requires you to reach high with palm striking upwards. Common mistake is to rotate the palm with palm’s heel towards the right or left. Between the left and right legs, there is another the yĭn shàng xià jìn (引上下进), so the hands will lead the movement to the right and drawing to the left while stepping to the right happens together.

Section 6


65. Cross Kick (shí zì jiăo) (1)十字脚 (十字腳)
66. Punch to the Groin (zhǐ dāng chuí) (2)指裆锤
67. White Ape Presents Fruit (bái yuan xiàn guǒ or yuan hóu tàn guǒ) (3)白猿献果 or 猿猴探果
68. Single Whip (dān biān)单鞭(單鞭)
69. Earthworm burrowing under the mud (què dì lóng) (4)雀地龙 (雀地龍)
70. Step Forward to Form the Seven Stars (shàng bù qī xīng) (5)上步七星
71. Step Back to wrap with forearm (xià bù kuà gōng) (6)下步跨肱
72. Turn Back and Wave Double Lotus Kick (zhuǎn shēn shuāng bái lián) (7)转身双白莲 (轉身雙白莲)
73. Cannon Fists to the Head (dāng tóu pào)当头炮 (當頭炮)
75. Close (shōu shì)收势
65. Cross Kick (Shi Zhi Jiao) (1)十字脚
66. Punch to the Groin (Zhi Dang Chui) (2)指裆锤
67. White Ape Presents Fruit (Bai Yuan Xian Guo or Yuan Hou Tan Guo) (3)白猿献果 or 猿猴探果
68. Single Whip (Dan Bian)单鞭
69. Earthworm burrowing under the mud (Que Di Long) (4)雀地龙
70. Step Forward to Form the Seven Stars (Shang Bu Qi Xing) (5)上步七星
71. Step Back to wrap with forearm (Xia Bu Kua Gong) (6)下步跨肱
72. Turn Back and Wave Double Lotus Kick (Zhuan Shen Shuang Bai Lian) (7)转身双白莲
73. Head strike Cannon Fists (Dang Tou Pao)当头炮
74. Strong Man Pounds the Mortar (Jing Gang Dao Zhui)金刚捣碓
75. Close (Shou Si)收势



(3) In Lao Jia Yi Lu, this move has a couple of names. 白猿献果 (bái yuan xiàn guǒ), white ape presents fruits or 猿猴探果 (yuan hóu tàn guǒ), monkeys and apes searching for fruits. Based on how the movement is executed, I think the ape presenting the fruit is the most descriptive. Immediately following this movement is a move similar to Six Sealing Four Closing to push the attacker away after uprooting the attacker. Some listing will list the Six Sealing Four Closing as another movement. I suspect the direction of the push is more forward than downwards based on Grandmaster CZL’s description on how it is used.

(4) The Chinese characters compose of a sparrow and earthworm. The story is that the earthworm would creep under the mud pushing sand to the top, forming small mud hills. As children, they would look for the white sand and then scoop the earthworms out from the base of those mud hills. With the sparrow in front of the worm, it may mean a sparrow searching for the earthworms and would scoop in like the children’s hands. In the low form, left leg is straight in front, left leg is bent. The drop is on the calves not on the buttocks. Some description has this as flying down like the sparrow.

(5) The 7 stars represents the Northern Dipper 北斗七星 (běi dǒu qī xīng). This movement needs more clarifications from my teacher. I have heard that the 7 stars are formed by the head, shoulders, elbows and wrists. One version has it that the 7 stars a a line like the Dipper. Another describes the box formed at the end of the move as the box in the Dipper, and thus stepping into the 7 stars. Key things to note is left goes up first and right side follows.

(6) This has been written up as “Ride the Tiger’s Tail” and there is really no tiger involved. It is likely that translation came from the Xin Jia Yi Lu’s movement, 退步跨虎 (tuì bù kuà hǔ). This movement is about trapping and tripping the attacker with the right thigh and wrapping your forearm around their waist to push them back.

Grandmaster Chen Xiao Xing performing Lao Jia Yi Lu.

Master Chen Hui Xian performing Lao Jia Yi Lu – Part 1

Download PDF Document

Last updated 4/21/2020