Wu-style tai chi fast form is a suite of fast forms publicized in Wu-style T'ai chi Fast Form.

Shanghai Wu-style forms

Empty hand or fist form list published in Ma Yueliang's, Wu Yinghua's, and Shi Mei Lin'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.)

History

In 1914, Xu Yusheng established the Athletic Research Institute in Beijing and Invited Yang Shaohou, Yang Chengfu, and Wu Jianquan to teach. From then on, tai chi was taught to the public, changing the ancient closed-door policy where tai chi was only taught privately to people within a limited circle following the tutor-disciple relationship. Grand Master Wu Jianquan enriched the art of tai chi handed down from his father, Wu Quanyou. His development of the slow set led to the creation of the style of tai chi that became known as Wu-style tai chi. He omitted some of the repetitions, fa jin (發勁), stamping, and jumping movements to make the form smoother, and more structured with continuous movements. This form promoted tai chi's health aspects and was more suitable for general practitioners though it still included the martial applications. Yang Chengfu also modified his own Yang-style tai chi in a similar way at the same time. His brother Yang Shouhou's form had a high frame with lively steps alternating between fast and slow movements with hard, crisp fa-jin. Chen Panling, who was a student of Yang Shaohou and Wu Jianquan, described tai chi form practice as beginning with slow movement changing to fast and returning to slow movement. He 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 fajin (release of power), jumping, attacking, and stamping movements. This advanced form was not originally taught openly. In December 1982, a martial arts meeting held in Beijing was held to foster the traditional martial arts. Wu Yinghua and Ma Yueliang of The Shanghai Jianquan Taijiquan Association disclosed 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.

Slow forms

The slow-motion solo form training sequences of tai chi are its best-known manifestations. In English, they are usually called the hand form or just the form. In Mandarin, it is usually called quan. They are performed slowly by beginners and are said to promote concentration, condition the body, and acquaint students with the motion techniques for more advanced training. Solo weapons forms, as well as much shorter and repetitive sequences to train power generation leverages as a form of qigong (ch'i kung) are included. Wu-style pushing hands forms include two-person drill routines, which fulfil some of the same functions as power generation drills.

Other Wu-style fast forms

The Wu family's Hong Kong branch teaches a somewhat different fast form.

Literature