Wu Ta-ch'i

Wu Ta-ch'i (Wu Daqi, 吳大齊, 1926-1993) was the descendant of the famous Wu style T'ai Chi Ch'uan founders Wu Ch'uan-yu (1834-1902) and Wu Chien-ch'uan (1870-1942). He directed Wu style T'ai Chi Ch'uan instruction outside of Mainland China after the death of his father Wu Kung-i (1900-1970) and brother Wu Ta-kuei (1923-1972) from the Wu style T'ai Chi Ch'uan headquarters in Hong Kong internationally. [cite magazine|last=Cai|first=Naibiao|title=In Memory of Wu Daxin - Journal of Asian Martial Arts Vol. 15 No. 1|publisher= Via Media Publishing, Erie Pennsylvania USA|date=2006|ISSN=1057-8358]

Born in China to a distinguished martial arts family, Wu Ta-ch'i, with his brother Wu Ta-kuei, sister Wu Yen-hsia as well as his first cousin Wu Ta-hsin all endured strict training from their nationally famous grandfather and father. [cite magazine|last=Yip|first=Y. L.|title=Pivot – Qi, The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health and Fitness Vol. 12 No. 3|publisher= Insight Graphics Publishers |date=Autumn 2002|ISSN=1056-4004] Being the grandchildren of the family, they were traditionally expected to inherit the family art of T'ai Chi Ch'uan whom their great-grandfather Wu Ch'uan-yu had first learned from Yang Lu-ch'an (1799-1872) and his son Yang Pan-hou (1837-1890).cite book|last=Wile|first=Douglas|title=Lost T'ai-chi Classics from the Late Ch'ing Dynasty (Chinese Philosophy and Culture)|publisher=State University of New York Press|date=1995|isbn=978-0791426548]

When Wu Kung-i migrated with his family to Hong Kong in the 1940s, Wu Ta-ch'i assisted his father in the propagation and teaching of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. During the 1950s under the instructions of Wu Kung-i, Wu Ta-ch'i and his cousin Wu Ta-hsin (1933-2005) travelled extensively to Malaysia and Singapore to start and support academies promoting Wu style T'ai Chi. [cite magazine|last=Yip|first=Y. L.|title=Pivot – Qi, The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health and Fitness Vol. 12 No. 3|publisher= Insight Graphics Publishers |date=Autumn 2002|ISSN=1056-4004] Their efforts met with success, making the region a key centre of Wu style T'ai Chi Ch'uan outside of Hong Kong and China. [cite magazine|last=Yip|first=Y. L.|title=Pivot – Qi, The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health and Fitness Vol. 12 No. 3|publisher= Insight Graphics Publishers |date=Autumn 2002|ISSN=1056-4004] Wu Ta-ch'i's chief disciple Chu Weng-Moon in Malaysia and his fellow disciples continue to teach Wu style T'ai Chi Ch'uan.Fact|date=January 2008

In 1974, Wu Ta-ch'i was invited by the Chinese Canadian Kuo Shu Federation to teach in Toronto, where he established the first Wu family school outside of Asia. [cite magazine|last=Yip|first=Y. L.|title=Pivot – Qi, The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health and Fitness Vol. 12 No. 3|publisher= Insight Graphics Publishers |date=Autumn 2002|ISSN=1056-4004] The Canadian school founded by Wu Ta-ch'i was entrusted to his nephew Wu Kuang-yu (Eddie) in 1976. [cite magazine|last=Philip-Simpson|first=Margaret|title= A Look at Wu Style Teaching Methods - T’AI CHI The International Magazine of T’ai Chi Ch’uan Vol. 19 No. 3 |publisher= Wayfarer Publications|date=June 1995|ISSN=0730-1049]

Wu Ta-ch'i was a member of the advisory board of the Martial Art Association in Hong Kong.Fact|date=January 2008

References

External links

* http://www.wustyle.com/ International Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Federation website
* http://www.wustyledetroit.com/ Detroit, Michigan Wu style website

Persondata
NAME=Wu, Ta-ch'i
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Wu Daqi
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Founder of Wu style tai chi chuan family school in Toronto
DATE OF BIRTH=1926
PLACE OF BIRTH=China
DATE OF DEATH=1993
PLACE OF DEATH=