WU STYLE TAI CHI QUAN
武式太极拳
WU STYLE TAI CHI QUAN
Tai Chi Quan is a traditional internal Chinese martial art. It is designed to develop “internal” power. Its movements are practiced very slowly and smoothly. In this way, one can develop connections through one’s entire body. This training is very good for health, as has been shown in a study from Harvard University. Wu Style Tai Chi Quan is a style of Tai Chi that is very difficult to find outside of Mainland China.
For many years, the style was only taught to members of the Wu family. It differs from other Tai Chi styles in that its movements tend to be smaller, and more focused on moving from one’s center (core). Generating motion in this way uses all parts of the body. This is why high-level Tai Chi can be such an effective martial art. More importantly, it is why Tai Chi is such a healthy exercise.
HISTORY & LINEAGE OF WU STYLE TAI CHI QUAN
WU YU XIANG (武禹襄; 1812-1880)
First Generation & Founder of Wu Style Tai Chi
Wu Yu Xiang was the youngest of three boys in his family. Born in Yongnian County, Hebei Province, China, Wu Yu Xiang, and his two older brothers, are considered to be the ancestral martial arts family of Wu Style Tai Chi Quan.
LI YIYU (李亦畬; 1832-1892)
Second Generation Master
Li Yiyu was born in Yongnian County, Hebei Providence, China. Li started learning Tai Chi Quan from his uncle, Wu Yu Xiang, at the age of 22. Li carefully studied and practiced under the instruction of his uncle for decades. Carefully keeping records of what Wu taught him. Eventually, Li would turn these notes into a number of books that are considered to be classic teachings of the martial art style.
GE FULAI (葛福来)
Third Generation Master
Ge Fulai was born in Qinghe County, Hebei Province, China, during the late Qing Dynasty. As an armed escort, he was highly skilled in martial arts, specifically Ba Fang Chui. Later in his life, he studied under Master Li Yiyu (李亦畬) in order to learn Wu Style Tai Chi. He would eventually become one of Li’s main disciples and a master of the style during the third generation.
WU HAIQING (吴海清; 1918-2005)
Fourth Generation Master
Wu Haiqing (吴海清) was born in Qinghe County, Hebei Province, China. Wu studied martial arts almost all of his life. As a child, he studied Ba Fang Chui and Wu Style Tai Chi under the instruction of master Ge Fulai. Wu had a very strict personal training practice. He would get up every day before sunrise to practice his styles. Due to his devotion to learning his martial art styles Wu learned and developed the skills and characteristics of his masters relatively quickly. As a master of Tai Chi, Wu was very selective with what kind of student he would teach. However, among his disciples, Wu is described as being modest and noble in character while giving his complete devotion to his students.
ZHANG YUNCHAO | MASTER YUN (张云超)
Fifth Generation Master
Zhang Yunchao (张云超) began to learn Wu Style Tai Chi from Master Wu Haiqing. He started learning the style in 1991 and took many of the discipline characteristics of Master Wu. This is where the history and lineage meet today in our studio with Master Yun teaching this martial art to the next generation.
interested IN LEARNING WU STYLE TAI CHI QUAN WITH MASTER YUN?
COMPARING YANG STYLE & WU STYLE TAI CHI
When comparing Yang style Tai Chi Quan with the line of Wu Tai Chi Quan we practice, several differences become apparent:
While the Yang style was taught openly and publicly, particularly through the efforts of Yang Cheng Fu, the Wu Yuxiang style we practiced was kept secret and was for a long time taught only to family members.
While the Yang style was taught openly and publicly, particularly through the efforts of Yang Cheng Fu, the Wu Yuxiang style we practiced was kept secret and was for a long time taught only to family members.
Yang style uses large and expanded postures, extended to reach an end-point in their expression of power. In contrast, the Wu style we practice never extends fully to the point where the power is gone or spent. We always conserve or save some power, and remain ready to change direction or technique.
While Yang style uses long stances and big steps, our Wu style stepping is agile and small. We generally keep our feet under us and maintain the ability to change direction easily and quickly.
Each family style of Tai Chi Chuan has its own dominant characteristics. Yang style emphasizes expanded postures (Peng). In contrast, our Wu style is characterized by the use of the interconnected five bows (two legs, two arms, and spine), and the actions of open and close (Kai/He), and swallow and spit (Tun/Tui).
In general, the Wu style we practice is more subtle and more internal than Yang style, and details interior to the body are important. For instance, the raising or subtle tucking of the coccyx (Wei Lu) is necessary to unite the torso with the legs. And while Yin and Yang are more clearly delineated in our footwork, the hip joints (Kua) do not remain level in our stepping but have a Yin/Yang relationship—one sinking while the other rises--to enable one foot to carry the body, as it does for much of the form. Finally, we emphasize spirit and intention (Shen/Yi) over external movement. Our Wu Tai Chi Chuan might be called Shen-Yi boxing.
interested IN LEARNING WU STYLE TAI CHI QUAN
WITH MASTER YUN?
WU STYLE TAI CHI QUAN Demonstrations
