Laojia Erlu

Laojia Erlu (老架二路 lǎo jià yī èr lù), or Old frame second path, is the second part of the mainstay of Chen taijiquan forms training in Chen village. It is sometimes called ‘cannon fist’.

Based on Laojia Yilu it emphasises firm, explosive movements with some jumps and leg sweeps. Training the relatively more soft, calm and smoothly executed movements of laojia yilu first is necessary before learning this hand form.

The video demonstration at the bottom of the page, and in the links of each movement’s name, is by Chen Xiaoxing. Please note that the English names below are sometimes more descriptive than literal translations of the Chinese terms. Youtube only allows cuts down to the nearest second so the timings for some of the clips may be a little off.

First section

  1. Beginning the Form (预备势 Yùbèi shì)
  2. Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds Mortar (金刚捣碓 Jīngāng dǎo duì)
  3. Lazy About Tying the Coat (懒扎衣 Lǎn zhā yī)
  4. Six Sealings and Four Closings (六封四闭 Liù fēng sì bì)
  5. Single Whip (单鞭 Dān biān)
  6. Overturning Flowers and Waving Sleeves (翻花舞袖 Fān huā wǔ xiù)
  7. Protect the Heart Fist (护心拳 Hù xīn quán)
  8. Walking Obliquely (斜行 Xié xíng)
  9. Buddha's Warrior Attendant Turns Around and Pounds Mortar (回头金刚捣碓 Huítóu jīngāng dǎo duì)
  10. The Punch of Draping over Body (撇身捶 Piē shēn chuí)
  11. Point to the Crotch (指裆 Zhǐ dāng)
  12. Chopping Hands (斩手 Zhǎn shǒu)
  13. Overturning Flowers and Waving Sleeves (翻花舞袖 Fān huā wǔ xiù)
  14. The Fist of Covering Hand and Arm (掩手肱拳 Yǎn shǒu gōng quán)

Second section

  1. Dragging the Waist and Hitting with the Elbow (腰拦肘 Yāo lán zhǒu)
  2. Wave Hands (大肱拳小肱拳 Dà gōng quán xiǎo gōng quán)
  3. Jade Girl Works at Shuttles (玉女穿梭 Yùnǚ chuānsuō)
  4. Riding Dragon Backwards (倒骑龙 Dào qí lóng)
  5. The Fist of Covering Hand and Arm (掩手肱拳 Yǎn shǒu gōng quán)
  6. Wrapping Firecrackers (里变里变 Lǐ biàn lǐ biàn)
  7. Beast Head Pose (兽头式 Shòu tóu shì)
  8. Wearing a Frame (披架子 Pī jiàzi)
  9. Overturning Flowers and Waving Sleeves (翻花舞袖 Fān huā wǔ xiù)
  10. The Fist of Covering Hand and Arm (掩手肱拳 Yǎn shǒu gōng quán)

Third section

  1. Subduing the Tiger (伏虎 Fú hǔ)
  2. The Arm Brushes the Eyebrow (抹眉肱 Mǒ méi gōng)
  3. Yellow Dragon Stirs the Water Three Times (黄龙三搅水 Huánglóng sān jiǎo shuǐ)
  4. Left Thrust Kick (左冲 Zuǒ chōng)
  5. Right Thrust Kick (右冲 Yòu chōng)
  6. The Fist of Covering Hand and Arm (掩手肱拳 Yǎn shǒu gōng quán)
  7. Sweeping Legs (扫堂褪 Sǎo táng tuǐ)
  8. The Fist of Covering Hand and Arm (掩手肱拳 Yǎn shǒu gōng quán)
  9. The Whole Cannon Fist (全炮捶 Quán pào chuí)
  10. The Fist of Covering Hand and Arm (掩手肱拳 Yǎn shǒu gōng quán)

Fourth section

  1. Double Forearm Punches (捣叉捣叉 Dǎo chā dǎo chā)
  2. Left and Right Forearm Punches (左二肱右二肱 Zuǒ èr gōng yòu èr gōng)
  3. Turning Around Forearm Punches (回头当门炮 Huítóu dāng mén pào ?)
  4. Punches under the Armpits (窝底大捉炮 Wō dǐ dà zhuō pào)
  5. Dragging the Waist and Hitting with the Elbow (腰拦肘 Yāo lán zhǒu)
  6. Hitting with Elbow (顺拦肘 Shùn lán zhǒu)
  7. Side Lower Punch (窝底炮 Wō dǐ pào)
  8. Turning Around Elbows (回头井拦直入 Huítóu jǐng lán zhírù)
  9. Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds the Mortar (金刚捣碓 Jīngāng dǎo duì)
  10. Closing the Form (收势 Shōu shì)