Wu Style 吳式太極拳
Recognizable forward-leaning straight body line in bow stance, parallel feet, small-to-medium frame, and refined push hands. Famous for the 108 long form and a fast form.
Lineage
Yang Luchan & Yang Banhou → Wu Quanyou (Manchu officer) → Wu Jianquan (founded Shanghai academy 1935) → Wu Gongyi, Wu Gongzao, Ma Yueliang & Wu Yinghua → Wu Ta-kuei → Eddie Wu Kwong-yu (5th-gen gatekeeper, Toronto); Ma Hailong lineage in Shanghai.
For health & mobility
Medium-height stances; the lean is a straight line from heel to head, not a bend at the waist.
Forms
- Wu Jianquan 108 Long Form 吳式太極拳一百零八式
The Wu family long form. Postures follow the Wikipedia listing; numbers 4 and 14 were missing there and are restored here from the standard sequence (Grasp Bird's Tail, Cross Hands).
Quick facts
| Founder | Wu Quanyou (1834–1902) & Wu Jianquan (1870–1942) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Beijing; later Shanghai, Hong Kong, Toronto |
| Era | Late 1800s |
Where to learn
- Wu's Tai Chi Chuan Academy – Eddie Wu Kwong-yu – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Shanghai Jianquan Taijiquan Association – Shanghai, China
- Yongnian Wu (Hao) Style Association – Yongnian, Hebei, China
- Zhong Yunlong – Wudang Mountains, Hubei, China
- Yuan Xiugang – Wudang Mountains, Hubei, China
- Tagou Martial Arts School – Dengfeng, Henan, China
- Purple Cloud Palace (Zixiao Gong), Wudang – Wudang Mountains, Hubei, China
- Five Immortals Temple (Wuxian Guan), Wudang – Wudang Mountains, Hubei, China
- Golden Summit (Jinding) & Purple Heaven Palace, Wudang – Wudang Mountains, Hubei, China
How Wu Style performs key movements
| Movement | Wu Style version |
|---|---|
| Preparation / Wuji Stance | Feet parallel, natural upright posture. |
| Commencing Form (Raise Hands) | Smaller rise; feet stay parallel. |
| Grasp the Bird's Tail | Body forms a straight forward-leaning line in bow stance; hands closer to the body. |
| Single Whip | Leaning straight line; narrower stance. |
| White Crane Spreads Its Wings | Smaller, hands closer to body. |
| Brush Knee and Push (Twist Step) | Straight leaning line; push comes from the back heel. |
| Play the Lute (Hand Strums the Pipa) | Appears many times between postures as a transition. |
| Step Forward, Deflect, Parry and Punch | Fist punches in straight body line. |
| Apparent Close Up (Withdraw and Push) | 'As If Seemingly Sealed Shut'. |
| Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain | 'Carry Tiger to the Mountain'. |
| Fist Under Elbow | 'Fist Under Elbow Punch'. |
| Step Back and Repulse Monkey | Narrower stance, more upright. |
| Diagonal Flying (Slant Flying) | 'Slant Flying Posture'. |
| Raise Hands and Step Up | 'Raise Hands Above Posture'. |
| Needle at Sea Bottom | Deeper incline. |
| Turn Body and Chop with Fist | 'Rotate Body Away Body Punch'. |
| Cloud Hands (Wave Hands Like Clouds) | Smaller circles near the body. |
| High Pat on Horse | Appears many times; left and right versions. |
| Separate Foot (Toe Kick) | 'Separate Foot Kick'. |
| Heel Kick (Kick with Heel) | 'Turn body kick with heel'. |
| Strike Opponent's Ears with Both Fists | 'Double Peaks Pierce Ears'. |
| Step Forward and Punch Down | 'Step Forward Punch Down'. |
| Strike the Tiger | 'Step Back Hit Tiger Posture'. |
| Part the Wild Horse's Mane | Interleaved with Play the Lute. |
| Fair Lady Works the Shuttles | 'Jade Lady Works Shuttles'. |
| Snake Creeps Down (Single Whip Squat) | 'Downward Posture'. |
| Step Forward to Seven Stars | Also has 'Step Back Seven Stars'. |
| Turn Body and Sweep Lotus | 'Swing Lotus' single and double. |
| Bend the Bow to Shoot the Tiger | Same idea, straight-line lean. |
| Jumping / Double Kick | 'Second Raise Foot Kick'. |
| Step Forward and Punch Groin | 'Step Up Finger Stop Punch'. |
| Slap Face Palm | Several times in the 108 form. |
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