Wu Style Tai Chi

There are two Wu styles (often referred to as Wu and Wuu). They are quite different but, due to the ambiguity of the English language on tones and such points, we group them together for easy reference - we hope. Here are two styles often prized for their practicality, medical benefits, ease of performance and generally high degree of concentration and control.

This is a very special book: a production done with obvious love and integrity. Hardbound, beautifully photographed, well laid out; it stands as one of those martial arts books which are good examples of what could be.

Ma JiangBao is the son of Ma Yue Liang and Wu Ying Hua two of the most famous Wu Style Tai Chi teachers. This book, on the Slow Form which is the basis of the Wu style, fully outlines the movements with excellent photographs, annotations, translations, and much supplementary information. The lay out is superb, one of the best we've seen, with exceptional explanations and sharp photographs. Even the Chinese name is given with each move. The instructions for each movement are set right below the appropriate illustration. Each section of the the Long Form is thumb indexed for easy reference. Background and photos of Mr. Ma's parents and grand parent, the famous Wu Jian Quan are nicely done. Also with a long introduction by Ma YueLiang, including his observations on important Tai Chi principles.

Starting with special calligraphy from both parents, this volume contains information on the history of Tai Chi particularly Wu style, the 5 aspects of training, basic foot and hand positions, the Long Form, the Short form with a description of the changed movements, schematics of the foot patterns and index to the forms. There is a special annotated glossary on basic terms and the names of the postures with word-to-word translation.

This is a sturdy, hard bound beautifully constructed book that will last as a major reference for many years to come.

To our mind this is one of the best T'ai Chi books in any language - plain and simple. Wang brought a tremendous teaching ability and insight together to produce what should be a template for martial writing. Not only does he explain the movements of his 37 Wu Style form (one of the best abstractions in Tai Chi) but he shows the usage of the moves and discusses such things as which acupuncture points should be stimulated and even what the feeling of each move should be (ache here, twist there). Other sections are translations of his teacher Yang Yun Ting's note and an interview with Wu Tu Nan, the longest playing Tai Chi student in the world.

See Wang's Biography. Also some VCDs by Wang himself.

Noted to many people, especially in the New York area, as a leading proponent of the Eagle Claw, Leung Shum is also a dedicated Tai Chi practitioner. His specialty is Wu Style slow form which he demonstrates fully in this text.

Dr. Yang JwingMing adds to our knowledge by translating many of the documents of T'ai Chi particularly in this text regarding the Wu style. This Wu Style was Yang BanHou's famous student Wu QuanYou (1834-1902) and passed on to his grandson Wu Gong Zao, author of the text. Yang here also adds commentary to help the scholar of Tai Chi better understand these significant documents. An appendix adds writing by Xiang KaiRan.

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#ETC96 Wu style T'ai Chi Chuan PUSH HANDS
Theory and Principles
by Ma Yueh Liang and Wen Zee
86 pages, Softbound, oversized, photographs, Shanghai Book Company
US $16.95 each ,

This is a work books on the Push Hands of the Wu style. What can we say? There are so many stories of Master Ma throwing people this way and that it appears he was the possessor of superlative skills. Wu style had always had the reputation of being strong in this area and here is a breakdown of the patterns and variations inherent in the practice. This book is not always easy to get. The explanations are pretty complete but, as any text might, it suffers from the difficulty of trying to convey this complex subject matter through the written word. Nonetheless, this borders on being a collector's item recording the moves and patterns of a man famous for his Push Hands skill.

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#ETC23 The Wu style of T'ai Chi Chuan
by Tinn Chan Lee
123 pages, Softbound, photographs
US $9.95 PLUM PRICE 8.95

The author started his Tai Chi training in 1933. After initial study he began training directly under Wu Chien Chuan, son of the Wu founder: Wu Chuan You. Mr. Lee himself if quite accurate and a bit dapper (with bow tie). The photography is rough but manageable. This was one of Unique's first books on Tai Chi and, at the time, it was rare to find anything in English on the subject of Wu style. A good reference with history (using Cantonese name equivalents), basic principles, the form and other information. Originally published in 1982.