Translator’s Note: This article is taken from Mr. Li Lian’s book entitled ‘The Authentic Yang Shao Hou Tai Chi Application Form’ 《杨少侯太极用架真诠》published by the People’s Sports Press in Bei-jing in 2003. With the kind permission from the author himself, Jian Xiong has translated excerpts from the book  into English with the aim of clarifying on the true origins of Tai Chi fast form which is often misunderstood or misrepresented in the west. To watch the form performed by Li Lian, please click on the links:
         Fast Form Part2       Fast Form Part 3  
Tai Ji yong jia is a  form different from the Practice Form (Lian Jia, also referred to as Xing Gong Jia or Slow Form). As it’s characterised by small postures, fast pace and sharp and crisp release of force, it’s also known as Small Frame (Xiao Jia) or Fast Form (Kuai Jia).
Tai Chi Application Form is erroneously believed to have been invented by Yang Ban Hou and hence its titles of ‘Ban Hou Form’ or ‘Ban Hou Frame’. In actual fact, the form was invented by Mr. Yang Lu Chan before he went to Beijing. Recorded in the chronicles of Zhang Feng Qi who provided accommodation for and also studied under Yang Lu Chan when he first arrived in Beijing are the following words, ‘the Kung Fu skills applied in Tai Chi Chuang include bounce off, peck, seize, chop, ward off, roll back, press, push down, pluck, split, elbow, shoulder lean, exclamation with breathing, spot attack, hook, shake off, roll, bend, shake off, cut off the tendons and meridians and disrupt the Qi’. All of these skills are explicit in the Fast Form.  In  his article ‘An Introduction to Tai Chi Application Form’, Wu Tu Nan quotes Yang Shao Hou in saying, ‘Grandfather Lu Chan once said:
a Tai Chi  teacher should adopt different approach depending on the student’s physique, intellect, number of years in practice. ... If the goal is for achieving good health and longevity, then the Practice Form should be taught; only when the student possesses  excellent stamina that the teacher should teach him the Application Form.’
As the Application Form was guarded as a secret within the lineage, Mr. Yang Lu Chan only passed it on to his son, Ban Hou, who in turn taught it to his nephew and adopted son, Shao Hou. It was from Shao Hou that  Wu Tu Nan  learned the Fast Form together with four others. The number of students who trained under Wu Tu Nan is numerous, but only a few had the luck to receive the essence of his teaching. This is because the Grand-master was rather selective in who to teach this particular form to; and the chosen few were those with formidable determination and stamina.
So, to be able to learn the Application Form, the learner must possess excellent
basic martial skills (Ji Ben Gong). Further more, he must be experienced in Nei Gong, internal skills training. Such internal skills are acquired through Tai Chi Practice Form training and also a system of Tai Chi Gong, which was divided by Wu Tu Nan into four categories - Zhao Gong (applications), Jin Gong (Tai Chi power development), Song Gong (relaxation techniques) and Qi Gong (energy work). Only through constant Nei Gong training and honing of the various skills that the learner can hope to gradually perfect his Yong Jia practice.  
Some people hold the view that the fast form is more or less the same as the regular form apart from its lower stance and faster pace. This is not so. Yong Jia is a combination and culmination of form practice, application work, Tai Chi power development, relaxation techniques and energy work.[NEXT]