Taizu's Longfist is First 太祖的長拳起首

[Cataphract]

The "Taizu Chuan" and "Taizu's Longfist" are complete different systems.

This is "Taizu Chuan".

If by Taizu Chuan you mean southern Taizu, then they may still have something in common.
First theory: Southern Taizu is derived directly from Song Taizu, adapted to fighting on boats.
Second: Taizu is Yue Fei of Southern Song, who was certainly influenced by the combat methods of Song Taizu.
Third: It is Ming Taizu, when Shaolin Taizu Quan had already influenced the northern long fist styles.

Correction. These theories are not mine. I'm simply paraphrasing.

[Jimbo]

It could also be possible that it refers to a concept, as opposed to a single specific technique.

Also, re: Mantis 9700's idea of discovery through elimination:

At this point, it may be near-impossible to identify which exact technique it could be. Even if it does refer to a technique, being listed as 'Taizu's Long Fist' does not necessarily mean it's a fist punch or even limited to being a hand strike. A high percentage of simple Kung Fu techniques have aspects of kick, strike and throw, even if, in outward appearance, they present as one or the other.

[xiao yao]

It could also be possible that it refers to a concept, as opposed to a single specific technique.

I like that idea. It could just refer to "long range fighting" eg: keeping your distance from your opponent, using long arm and leg techniques

[Tainan Mantis]

It could also be possible that it refers to a concept, as opposed to a single specific technique.

At this point, it may be near-impossible to identify which exact technique it could be.

Maybe it is a concept and not a technique. Maybe it can not be identified.
But, if we have not examined the historical record then how would we know?

Patting Horse was handed down from Taizu, It can defeat all maneuvers and all maneuvers can change into it. It advances to attack and dodges when retreating using the weak to overcome the strong, It is the perfection of short fist.

Looking back at the thousands of pages of military manuals and history books that describe Zhao Kuangyin (Song Taizu) not to mention the huge volume of Qing Dynasty material in the Praying Mantis style, we can find an answer.

Imagine that one hundred (or one thousand troops) are lined up for their first day of training. Would they learn a concept?
I think not. If you were their teacher how would you approach teaching them?

They are lined up in formation learning empty hand techniques to fight in wars were empty hand techniques are useless. did the empty hand martial arts of the day have a method?

For all the styles that purport to teach Taizu's longfist, or any longfist style since they all come from Taizu, how is it that his technique can not be identified?

[mawali]

It would be foolish to think that an army lined up to attack an enemy using boxing methods! Absurd!
The primary weapon, whether sword, spear or any similar shaped object was the tool for destruction of the enemy. Boxing methods were similar as a extra tool to get a weapon or survival in escape/evasion and the like.

Mongols were excellent at wrestling type activities but it is their horsemanship, mobile archery (on horse) and their battlefield tactics that made them feared. The horde was a reality back then

[Tainan Mantis]

It would be foolish to think that an army lined up to attack an enemy using boxing methods! Absurd!

Without a doubt.
But, why do military strategist He Liangchen of the Ming say this?

The study of military arts starts with the fist followed by staff. With a thorough understanding of fist and staff the skills and drills of sword and spear become easy, therefore fist and staff are the root of all the arts. There are Song Taizu's thirty-six maneuvers of long fist, six step fist, monkey fist and Hua fist, though the names are all different they all can achieve victory.
-Zhen Ji

Record of Battle Arrays 陣紀
Probably published during the Jia Jing period (1521–1567) by He Liangchen 何良臣 (1506? - 1600)

[mickey]

Greetings,

You guys have strayed from what created a particular style to how soldiers were trained for battle. Stop dancing already!

mickey

[-N-]

It could also be possible that it refers to a concept, as opposed to a single specific technique.

I like that idea. It could just refer to "long range fighting" eg: keeping your distance from your opponent, using long arm and leg techniques

Then the original meaning of Taizu Longfist would be a certain form of body mechanics.

And those mechanics may have conceptually extended itself to other ways to move to maximize power. So, "Taizu's Long Fist is First", is the framework on which the other techniques are built upon.

That is how we take it.

Not as individual technique, but the overall method of full range of motion, long force body mechanics, and big power.

Also the idea of when attacking, the opponent never can escape the reach of your attack, and when evading, the opponent's attacks always just falls short no matter how hard he tries.