Wu (Hao) style

The Wu style ( 武式太极拳 ) allows beginners to obtain sensations very quickly. They feel warmth in the hands or the arms after a few weeks; that is good motivation to persevere. The gestures are particularly well thought out for working on the idea of expansion (pushing) and of reduction (pulling).

One may even speak of an economy of gesture in this style, where it is precisely the reduction of the movements that allows the greatest accumulation. Master Jung studied with Master Wang MuYin, 6th successor of the lineage. It is a particularly complete style, which can be considered one of the three major styles.

It also constitutes an excellent basis for practising other styles. Wu style Taiji Quan is recognised as a great school of the Chinese martial arts; it may also be called Hao style Taiji Quan.

It dates from the Qing dynasty, under the reign of the emperor Xian Feng, and was founded by Master Wu Yu-xiang, born at Yongnian in Hebei, in China. The contribution of this style, on the level of theory as well as of practice, is a great one for the development of Taiji Quan in general.

The martial style of Taiji Quan became known to the general public precisely in the time of Wu Yu-xiang, who during his life discovered a major work, a book entitled: the great work "Taiji Quan" by Wang Zhong-yue, lost until then.

This is indeed a point of departure: this document marks the beginning of a new style, a synthesis of the styles of Chang Qing-Ping (style of Zhao Bao) and of Yang Lu-chan (style of Chen Jiagou). In this sense, the Wu style is essential for anyone who wishes to study the origins of Taiji Quan.