- Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form
The different slow motion solo form training sequences of
T'ai Chi Ch'uan are the best known manifestation of T'ai Chi for the general public. In English, they are usually called the "hand form" or just the "form"; in Mandarin it is usually called "ch'uan": 拳 (inWade-Giles romanization : ch'üan², in thepinyin system: quán).They are performed slowly by beginners and are said to promote concentration, condition the body and acquaint students with the inventory of motion techniques for more advanced styles of
martial arts training. There are also soloweapon s forms, as well as much shorter and repetitive sequences to train power generation leverages as a form of ch'i kung. The various forms of Wu stylepushing hands have two person drill routines as well, which fulfill some of the same functions as the power generation drills.In 1914 Xi Yui-seng established the Athletic Research Institute in Beijing and Invited
Yang Shao-hou ,Yang Ch'eng-fu andWu Chien-ch'uan to teach. From then on T'ai Chi was taught to the public changing the ancient closed door policy where T'ai Chi was only taught privately to very close and well known people within a limited circle known as the tutor disciple relationship. [cite book|last=Ma|first=Yueh-Liang|title=Wu Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan Push hands|publisher=Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong|date=1987, 1990, 1995|isbn=962-239-100-1]Grand Master
Wu Chien-ch'uan revised and enriched the art of T'ai Chi Chuan handed down from his fatherWu Ch'uan-yu . His development of the slow set led to the creation of the style of T'ai Chi today known asWu style T'ai Chi Ch'uan . [cite book|last=Wu|first=Ying-Hua|title=Wu Style T'ai Chi Fast Form |publisher=Shanghai Book Co Ltd|date=1987, 1991|isbn=7-5349-0121-9/G122 ] .He omitted some of the repetitions, Fa-jing, stamping and jumping movements to make the form smoother, more structured with continuous steady movements. This form promoted the health aspects of Tai Chi and was more suitable for general practitioners though it still contained all the martial applications and training. [cite book|last=Ma|first=Yueh-Liang|title=Wu Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan Push hands|publisher=Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong|date=1987, 1990, 1995|isbn=962-239-100-1]
Yang Ch'eng-fu ofYang style Tai Chi Chuan also modified his own Yang style in a similar way at the same time. His brother, Yang Shou-hao's form had a high frame with lively steps alternating between fast and slow movements with hard and crisp Fa-jing. [cite book|last=Fu|first=Zhong-Wen|title=Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan. Translated by Louis Swaim|publisher=North Atlantic Books|date=1999|isbn=1-55643-318-2] Chen Pan-ling, who was a student of Yang Shao-hao and Wu Chien-chuan describes T'ai Chi form practice beginning with slow movement changing to fast and returning to slow movement. He also points out learning to excercise rapid movement in the form and training from soft to hard and hard to soft movements. [cite book|last=Chen|first=Pan-ling|title=Chen Pang-ling's Original Tai Chi Chuan Textbook. Translated by Y. W. Chang and Ann Carruthers|publisher=Blitz Design|date=1998|isbn=0-9660240-3-6]The Shanghai Wu Style Fast Form kept the original Fa-jing 發勁 (release of power), jumping, attacking and stamping movements to be studied by those eager to advance their T'ai Chi practice. This advanced form was not yet taught openly. [cite book|last=Ma|first=Yueh-Liang|title=Wu Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan Push hands|publisher=Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong|date=1987, 1990, 1995|isbn=962-239-100-1]
In December 1982 there was a martial arts meeting held in Beijing to foster the traditional martial arts of China.
Wu Ying-hua andMa Yueh-liang of The ShanghaiJianquan Taijiquan Association contributed to this effort by disclosing the original Wu Style Fast Set for the first time to the public. In 1983 their adopted daughterShi Mei Lin demonstrated the Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form at the All China Traditional Martial Arts competition in Nanchang where she received the Award of Excellence. [cite book|last=Wu|first=Ying-Hua|title=Wu Style T'ai Chi Fast Form |publisher=Shanghai Book Co Ltd|date=1987, 1991|isbn=7-5349-0121-9/G122 ] .Other Wu style fast forms
The Wu family's
Hong Kong branch also teaches a somewhat different [http://www.wustyle.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=48&osCsid=89a89b3fe762fcd1afa38f87422b49aa fast form] .hanghai Wu style fast form list
The following list is an English translation from Chinese of the empty hand or fist form list published in
Ma Yueliang 's,Wu Yinghua 's andShi Mei Lin 's "Wu Style T'ai Chi Fast Form'. [cite book|last=Wu|first=Ying-Hua|title=Wu Style T'ai Chi Fast Form |publisher=Shanghai Book Co Ltd|date=1987, 1991|isbn=7-5349-0121-9/G122 ] . (Note: Traditionally this set consists of 108 forms. For transcribing purposes some of the repeated forms are given one reference number in both the Chinese and English versions of the Wu Style Fast Form Book.)The 95 postures of the Wu fast form style of
T'ai Chi Ch'uan are listed below.1. The Preparation
2. The Beginning Form
3. Grasp the birds tail
4. Single whip
5. Raise hand and step up
6. White crane flaps its wings
7. Brush knee, twist step(1)
8. Brush knee, twist step(2)
9. Brush knee, twist step(3)
10. Brush knee, twist step(4)
11. Hand strums the lute
12. Step up, diverting and blocking fist
13. As if closing up
14. Tiger and leopard spring to the mountain
15. The cross hands
16. Oblique brush knee, twist step
17. Turn body, oblique brush knee, twist step
18. Grasping the bird's tail
19. Oblique Single Whip
20. Fist under the elbow
21. Step back and repulse the monkey
22. Flying oblique
23. Raise hands and step up.
24. White crane flaps its wings
25. Brush knee and twist step
26. Needle at the sea bottom
27. Fan through the back
28. Turn body, parry and punch
29. Remove step diverting and blocking punch
30. Step up, grasping the bird's tail
31. Cloud hands(1)
32. Cloud hands(2)
33. High pat on horse
34. Open body and kick(1)
35. Open body and kick(2)
36. Turn body, pedaling foot
37. Step up, planting punch
38. Turn body, parry and punch
39. Turn body, double kicking
40. Retreat step, beat the tiger
41. Right parting leg
42. Strike the ears with both fists
43. Open body, kick
44. Turn body, pedaling foot
45. Step up, diverting and blocking fist
46. As if closing up
47. Tiger and leopard spring to the mountain
48. The cross hands
49. Oblique brush knee, twist step
50. Turn body, oblique brush knee, twist step
51. Grasping the birds tail
52. Oblique single whip
53. Parting wild horse's mane(1)
54. Parting wild horse's mane(2)
55. Parting wild horse's mane(3)
56. Jade girl works the shuttles(1)
57. Jade girl works the shuttles(2)
58. Parting the wild horse's mane
59. Jade girl works the shuttles(3)
60. Jade girl works the shuttles(4)
61. Grasping the bird's tail
62. Cloud hands(3)
63. Cloud hands(4)
64. Downward posture
65. Golden cockerel stands on one leg(1)
66. Golden cockerel stands on one leg(2)
67. Step back, repulse the monkey
68. Flying oblique
69. Raise hand and step up
70. White crane flaps its wings
71. Brush knee and twist step
72. Needle at the bottom of the sea
73. Fan throug the back
74. Turn body, parry and punch
75. Step up, diverting and blocking punch
76. Grasping the birds tail
77. Cloud hands
78. High pat the horse
79. Palm goes to meet the face
80. Turn body, cross swing lotus
81. Brush knee, twist step
82. Planting punch to groin
83. Grasping the bird's tail
84. Downward posture
85. Step Up to form seven stars
86. Retreat step, ride the tiger
87. Turn body, palm meets face
88. Turn body, double lotus swing
89. Curve bow, shoot the tiger
90. Step up and pound down
91. Palm goes to meet the face
92. Turn body, parry and punch
93. Step up, grasping the bird's tail
94. Like single whip
95. Closing T'ai Chi
ee also
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108-form Wu family tai chi chuan References
* Wu Ying Hua, Ma Yueh Liang, Shi Mei Lin (1987). Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form. Henan Science Skills Ltd. Henan (only available in Chinese) ISBN 7-5349-0121-9/G122.
* Wu Ying Hua, Ma Yueh Liang, Shi Mei Lin (1991). Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form. Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong (only available in Chinese) . ISBN 962-2391060.
* Wu Ying Hua, Ma Yueh Liang(1991). Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Forms, Concepts and Application of the Original Style. Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong. ISBN 962-2391036.
* Ma Yueh Liang & Zee Wen(1986, 1990, 1995). Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Push Hands. Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong. ISBN 962-2391001.
* Dr Wen Zee (2002) Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan, Ancient Chinese way to health. North Atlantic Books. ISBN 1-55642-389-1.
* Chen Pan Ling (1963, 1998) Chen Pan-Ling's Original Tai Chi Chuan Textbook. Blitz ISBN 0-9660240-3-6.
* Fu Zhong Wen (1963,1999) Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan, Translated by Louis Swaim. North Atlantic Books ISBN 1-55643-318-2.External links
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* [http://www.wu-taichi.com/ Forum for Traditional Wu Tai Chi Chuan]
* [http://www.chiflow.com/ Wu Style T'ai Chi Fast Set (English Translation)]
* [http://www.patrickkellytaiji.com/TEACHERS/MA/MAinterviewsIKF.html Inside Kung Fu Interview with Ma Yueh Liang]
* [http://www.tai-chi.com/ed_notebook.php?id=120 T'ai Chi Magazine February 2003 No 1 Editor's notes]
* [http://www.taiji-bg.com/articles/taijiquan/Bart_Saris_Wu_Style_Taijiquan/bart1.htm Article on Shanghai Wu Style T'ai Chi taught by Ma Jiang Bao in Europe]
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