The following is the Taijiquan ranking system for New Life Kung Fu. In order to test for a rank you must know all the techniques and concepts of all previous ranks and the rank you are testing for. As a new student of Taijiquan you start with no sash. At New Life Kung Fu you must earn the right to wear a sash. Taijiquan is a journey of self discovery. How can you truly know others if you don't know self.

In order to test for Yellow Sash you must know the following.

  1. The 14 exercises of Ji Ben Gong
  2. Zhan Zhuang
  3. 8 Kung Fu stances
  4. 4 Basics Strikes
  5. 4 Basic Kicks
  6. 3 Star Blocking low and high
  7. 7 point push drill
  8. Full knowledge of the 9 movement short form. Names of each movement, How to perform each movement and at least 1 application for each movement.
  9. Single push drill
  10. Single split drill
  11. Spinning arms drill
  12. Understanding of each of the 4 push hands drills, knows how to use them with a partner IE: Fixed Step Push and Free Push and at least 1 application for each drill.
  13. Has a basic understanding of Peng, Li, Ji and An.
  14. Knows the family style of Taijiquan you are learning and some history of how it when from then to now.
  15. I recommend reading The Alchemist: You can purchase here.

In order to test for Blue Sash you must know the following.

  1. Song Shen Wu Fa
  2. Understanding of Zong Ding, Song and Ting
  3. 8 Basic Kicks
  4. 8 Basics Strikes
  5. Full knowledge of the first 2 roads of movements from the Yang 37 short form. Names of each movement, How to perform each movement and at least 1 application for each movement.
  6. Double push drill
  7. Double split drill
  8. Pull down drill
  9. Swing arms drill
  10. Understanding of each of the 8 push hands drills and at least 1 application for each drill.
  11. Has a basic understanding of Tsai, Lieh, Zhou and Kao.
  12. I recommend reading The Archer: You can purchase here.

In order to test for Purple Sash you must know the following.

  1. 12 basic kicks
  2. 12 basic strikes
  3. Full knowledge of the 4 roads of movements from the Yang 37 short form. Names of each movement, How to perform each movement and at least 1 application for each movement.
  4. Double shoulder push drill
  5. Single shoulder push drill
  6. Circle arms push drill
  7. Neck Pull push drill
  8. Understanding of each of the 12 push hands drills and at least 1 application for each drill.
  9. Starting to understand the difference between the external and the internal.
  10. I recommend reading Siddhartha: You can purchase here.

In order to test for Red Sash you must know the following.

  1. Information for Red sash is given to Purple Sash students only. We do not display this information on the website for a good reason. We do not want our students getting confused by trying to learn this part of the training before they are ready. From past experience we have found that when our students research information to earlier in their training it actually slows them down. You may think it will help, but it actually works against you. In this part of your training you are learning to undo your external self to find your internal self. 

In order to test for Black Sash you must know the following.

  1. Yang Tai Chi Staff Form
  2. Yang Tai Chi Sword Form