Wu Hao Style Tai Chi History

Coming from an educated merchant family, Wu Yuxiang studied for ten years under Yang Luchan, the founder of Yang Tai Chi, and also studied under Chen-style master Chen Qingping. Wu combined his knowledge and expertise in both arts with his internal martial arts teachings to create his own style.

Contribution of Wu Hao Style to Tai Chi Classics

What was unique about Wu Yuxiang was that his family was wealthy and had powerful connections. He was both a scholar and a practitioner of Tai Chi. This combination of intelligence, connections, and talents resulted in the preservation and expansion of many of the original texts on Tai Chi.

One of Wu Yuxiang's greatest contributions to the art of Tai Chi was his application of internal martial arts theory to the form, and he devoted a significant amount of his time to research and study in this area.

Because the Wu family had political and economic connections, Wu shared the works he obtained with his teacher Yang Luchan, incorporating the teachings into his movements and expanding on the classics by writing several additions.

Wu Hao Tai Chi Lineage: Li Yiyu

There are three important families responsible for the development and spread of Wu Hao Style Tai Chi; Wu, Li and Hao.

Wu Yuxiang studied and practiced with close family members. He participated in discussions on the classics and Tai Chi teachings with his nephew Li Yiyu , a medical doctor who ran a small phytotherapy clinic. Li made significant contributions to the written documents Wu Yuxiang produced, and he also trained students.

Li Yiyu accepted his neighbor Hao Weizhen into his classes as the first non-family member, tutoring him and sharing written classics with him. Hao Weizhen stood out because of his level of skill and began teaching the Wu Hao style throughout the country.

There was a period in the 20th century when the Li family opened schools in the north and members of the Hao family in Shanghai. To distinguish between their teachings, the styles were designated as "Li Branch" or "Hao Branch". They were also referred to as the northern or southern Wu style. Overall, at this point they were collectively known as Wu (Hao) Tai Chi, passing on the teachings to those interested in the art, regardless of family affiliation.

Wu Hao Style Tai Chi Movements

The Wu Hao style differs from other Tai Chi families in that the movements are very clean and purposeful. Wu Yuxiang spent ten years studying under Yang masters and also studied the Chen style and was influenced by both. Wu Hao's stances are much smaller than the wide arms of Yang or the long deep strides of Chen. The hands are never seen extending beyond the feet, and the body rarely bends into larger stances.

All movements are very slow and relaxed, which makes learning easy.