Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form
Encyclopedia
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 .
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 solo weapon
s forms, as well as much shorter and repetitive sequences to train power generation leverages as a form of qigong
(ch'i kung). The various forms of Wu style pushing hands
have two person drill routines as well, which fulfil 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 Chengfu
and Wu 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.
Grand Master Wu Chien-ch'uan
revised and enriched the art of t'ai chi ch'uan handed down from his father Wu Ch'uan-yu
. His development of the slow set led to the creation of the style of t'ai chi today known as Wu style T'ai Chi Ch'uan ..
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.
Yang Chengfu
of Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan 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. 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 exercise rapid movement in the form and training from soft to hard and hard to soft movements.
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.
In December 1982 there was a martial arts meeting held in Beijing to foster the traditional martial arts of China. Wu Ying-hua
and Ma Yueh-liang
of The Shanghai Jianquan 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 daughter Shi 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..
branch also teaches a somewhat different fast form.
's Wu Style T'ai Chi Fast Form'.. (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 through 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
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, they are usually called the hand form or just the form; in Mandarin it is usually called ch'uan .
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
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
training. There are also solo weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s forms, as well as much shorter and repetitive sequences to train power generation leverages as a form of qigong
Qigong
Qigong or chi kung is a practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation...
(ch'i kung). The various forms of Wu style pushing hands
Pushing hands
Pushing hands, , is a name for two-person training routines practiced in internal Chinese martial arts such as Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, T'ai chi ch'uan , Liuhebafa, Quan Fa, Yiquan.-Overview:...
have two person drill routines as well, which fulfil 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 Shao-hou
Yang Shaohou along with Yang Chengfu 楊澄甫 represent the third generation of Yang family taijiquan 楊氏太極拳.At birth he was named Yang Zhaoxiong and was later named Mengxiang, and then Shaohou, commonly known as "Mr...
, Yang Chengfu
Yang Chengfu
Yang Chengfu or Yang Ch'eng-fu is historically considered the best known teacher of the soft style martial art of Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan .-Biography:...
and Wu Chien-ch'uan
Wu Chien-ch'uan
Wu Chien-ch'uan , was a famous teacher of the neijia martial art of t'ai chi ch'uan in late Imperial and early Republican China....
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.
Grand Master Wu Chien-ch'uan
Wu Chien-ch'uan
Wu Chien-ch'uan , was a famous teacher of the neijia martial art of t'ai chi ch'uan in late Imperial and early Republican China....
revised and enriched the art of t'ai chi ch'uan handed down from his father Wu Ch'uan-yu
Wu Ch'uan-yu
Wu Ch'uan-yu or Wu Quanyou was an influential teacher of t'ai chi ch'uan in late Imperial China. He is credited as the founder of the Wu style t'ai chi ch'uan...
. His development of the slow set led to the creation of the style of t'ai chi today known as Wu style T'ai Chi Ch'uan ..
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.
Yang Chengfu
Yang Chengfu
Yang Chengfu or Yang Ch'eng-fu is historically considered the best known teacher of the soft style martial art of Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan .-Biography:...
of Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan 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. 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 exercise rapid movement in the form and training from soft to hard and hard to soft movements.
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.
In December 1982 there was a martial arts meeting held in Beijing to foster the traditional martial arts of China. Wu Ying-hua
Wu Ying-hua
Wu Ying-hua ) was a famous Chinese teacher of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan. She was born in Beijing and died in Shanghai. She was the eldest daughter of Wu Chien-ch'uan, the best known teacher of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan...
and Ma Yueh-liang
Ma Yueh-liang
Ma Yueh-liang was a famous Manchu teacher of Taijiquan. He was the senior disciple of Wu Chien-ch'uan, the founder of Wu style Taijiquan, and married Wu's daughter Wu Ying-hua in 1930.- Biography :...
of The Shanghai Jianquan Taijiquan Association
Jianquan Taijiquan Association
The Jianquan Taijiquan Association is a well known school teaching Wu style t'ai chi ch'uan....
contributed to this effort by disclosing the original Wu Style Fast Set for the first time to the public. In 1983 their adopted daughter Shi Mei Lin
Shi Mei Lin
Shi Mei Lin is a teacher of Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan. She is the adopted daughter of Wu Yinghua and Ma YueliangA Wushu and Tai Chi champion in the 1970s and 1980s, she toured with Chinese Wushu teams internationally, including the United States in 1974 when she was part of an elite Chinese Martial...
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..
Other Wu style fast forms
The Wu family's Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
branch also teaches a somewhat different fast form.
Shanghai 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 and Shi Mei LinShi Mei Lin
Shi Mei Lin is a teacher of Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan. She is the adopted daughter of Wu Yinghua and Ma YueliangA Wushu and Tai Chi champion in the 1970s and 1980s, she toured with Chinese Wushu teams internationally, including the United States in 1974 when she was part of an elite Chinese Martial...
's Wu Style T'ai Chi Fast Form'.. (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 through 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