Wu Style Tai Chi

There are two Wu styles (often referred to as Wu and Wuu/Hao). 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.

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KS083 Small Frame Tai Ji Quan: The Tradition of Wu-Hao Style
Hao Shaoru, Translated by Chen Faxing
English, 161 pages, Photos, $15.95

Purchase with any other translation from Chen Faxing for a 10% discount

Wu (Hao) Taijiquan boasts a continual and lively stream of practitioners and teachers, dating back to Yang Luchan. Famously, aficionados formed study groups where students traded opinions and skills, developing charts of keypoints, some included in this classic text. 

From the translator’s description, the book "Wu Yuxiang Style Taiji Boxing” by Hao Shaoru, is a comprehensive guide to the subtle movements and explosive power of this style. Hao Shaoru, began studying Tai Chi under his father, Hao Yueru. The book covers history and principles, as well as detailed instructions for movements and techniques, accompanied by line illustrations. It also includes sections on training methods, applications, and theory, making it a valuable reference for both beginners and advanced practitioners of Taijiquan.

This text, translated into clear and readable English by Chen Faxing, contains the 13 Essentials of Wu (Hao) Taiji, a style whose erect posture and high-held arm position distinguish it from its fellow Taiji styles. Reinterpreted, the entire form is described with an emphasis on yes and no, that is to say, with a special key point that often asks for full loading on one leg and none on the other — no double-weighting. This stands as a determinant for maintaining correct posture.

Click here for more Chen Faxing translations

KH020 Hao Style Tai Ji Quan Developed by Master Liu Jishun
Chinese and English, 104 pages, clear photos, $32.95

Let me just say it: Hao style Tai Ji is not the easiest martial name to locate. This may be partially due to the fact that it is often referred to as Hao/Wu, Wuu, Wu, or some further blending. For whatever reason, it is under-represented in the literature of Tai Ji Quan, so this particular book is a welcome addition to the library.

Like other branches, this Tai Ji style is associated with the “flying push,” a technique often displaying that magnificent moment when both of the helper’s feet leave the ground, blurring the photo with speed-lines from the fa-jin action.

Within the membership, Teacher Liu JiShun has a solid reputation. Liu Sifu studied for years under Hao Shaoru. For teachers and students he has developed Push Hands training, as well as a version of his teacher Hao Wei Zhen’s method of “projecting” an opponent. From certain angles this style resembles the better knownWu style with its distinct upright posture and conservative body frame.

KS062 Secret Contents of Hao Weizhen Yi Qi Tai Ji Quan-Fundamental Skills
Chinese and English, 130 pages, clear photographs
$36.95

“All Tai Chi is one.” This old saying gives us an insight into a unique blending of research, practice and plain old detective work.

Tai Chi Chuan teachers often freely interact, mixing styles like other families inter-marry. Over the years, Tai Chi has become a huge umbrella, allowing for an unusual communication between styles. At this wedding, you might encounter highly regarded teachers such as Li Yi Lu, who taught Hao Wei Zhen, who taught Sun Lu Tang. And you can’t help notice that the top five Tai Chi styles bear family monikers: Chen, Yang, Wu, Wu/Hao, and Sun—each a recognized master work. 

This book, containing both, individual and partner training shows some of the mixture that is now Hao/Wu Tai Ji. The text displays physical exercises and encourages a constant refining of Yi (intent) and Qi (energy). Leading the Qi with Yi is a hallmark technique of the Hao system, just as the ancient philosophy encouraged.

KW036 Wu Style TaiChiChuan
Forms, Concepts and Application of the Original Style
by Wu Ying-Hua and Ma Yueh-Liang

A major book for anyone studying Taiji or even just Chinese Martial Arts. This is the husband wife team who excelled for decades in the art of Wu style Taijiquan. Here are some of the major promoters of the style for the twentieth century. This book covers a wide variety of topics including history, stances, the solo form, push hands etc. Direct descendents familially and technically of Grandmaster Wu Chian Chuan (1870 to 1942) these teachers taught for many decades. They include discussions on internal practice, give notes on the meaning and history of the names of the moves. Besides attractive illustrations the book shows a photographic section with move demonstrated by Wu Chian Chuan himself and then the forms shown by Wu Ying Hua. Some of the Tai Chi classics are reprised and breakdown on the types of Push Hands is shown. An important book.

Table of Contents

KW026 Wu Style T'ai Chi Chuan
by Wang Pei Sheng & Zeng Wei Qi

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. See a Chinese Language version of this book.

KC061 Classical Wu StyleTai Ji Quan   
The Fighting Art of the Manchurian Palace Guard
by Tina Chunna Zhang and Frank Allen
203 pages, Softbound, photographs
Regularly $21.95  PLUM Price $17.95

From the jacket: "While other well-known tai ji styles branched off into sports, health, and meditation, Wu Quan You's disciples have preserved the traditional practice methods and forms. In this book, Tina Chunna Zhang and Frank Allen explain the principles, characteristics, and essentials of the Wu method, detailing the direction, intent, breathing, and internal principles of all 324 segments of the 83 postures. Step-by-sep photographs and instruction in forms practice, fighting applications, push hands, and weapons skills illustrate the entire classical form."

In addition: The classical Wu style sword form with breakdown.

No longer available ! Please place me on your Search List if you ever find this item.

KW022 Wu Style T'ai Chi Chuan
by Wu Leung Shum

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.

KT008 Tai Chi Secrets of the WU Style
translated by Yang Jwing-Ming (mostly of Wu Gong Zao)

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.

KW027 Wu style T'ai Chi Chuan PUSH HANDS
Theory and Principles
by Ma Yueh Liang and Wen Zee
Shanghai Book Company

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.

OUT OF STOCK! Please place me on your WANT LIST for this item.

KW023 The Wu style of T'ai Chi Chuan
by Tinn Chan Lee

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.