This Wu Style has been considered the second most popular style after the Yang Style. Like the Yang Style this can be attributed to the siblings of the creator Master Wu Jian-Quan (1870-1942).

Together with his daughter Master Wu Ying-Hua (1904-1996) and her husband Master Ma Yueh-Liang (1901-1998), the three spanned the 20th century. There is plenty of recorded information on all three and the style is widely practised with a firm foothold in Great Britain.

Wu Ying-Hua was 3rd in line after her father and grandfather, and she was a native of Beijing. Her grandfather, Quan-You, was taught by Yang Lu-Chan, a pioneer of Taiji boxing. Her father Wu Jian-Quan refined what he was taught by his father and is attributed with the creation of the style. It would appear that the grandfather was also a student of Yang Lu-ChanÕs son (see comments in part 1). Wu Ying-Hua began learning Taijiquan before she was 10 years old and was reputed to be an expert in Taiji weapons. At 17 she began to teach Taiji in Beijing and she became the first teacher to bring the Wu style of Taijiquan to Shanghai in 1921. In 1928 her father was persuaded to join her in Shanghai where there was popular acceptance of their art culminating in the formation of the Shanghai Jian-Quan Taiji Boxing Association. When her father died in 1942 Wu Ying-Hua was to become president, a role she was to fulfil until 1954.

At the end of the civil war Taijiquan was to experience rejuvenation and Wu Ying-Hua and her husband Ma Yueh-Ling would be at the forefront of the movement. They were both devoted teachers and passed on their knowledge to many students throughout China and farther afield. They taught in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong and she was invited to be an Honorary Member of the Shanghai Cultural and Historical Studies Institute.

Ma Yueh-Liang was an accomplished Master of Wu Style Taijiquan beginning his study at the age of 17 with the founder of the Wy style, Master Wu Jian-Quan. He married WuÕs daughter in 1930 so he was surrounded by amazing levels of skill for 80 years of his life. He died at 97, two years after his wife who was 92 when she passed away Ð a wonderful tribute to the longevity theory of Taijiquan. In 1991, at the first international Taiji gathering in the birth place of the Yang style, they were both guests and I was able to get some unique video clips of them.

He was renowned for his pushing hands skills with special reference to his root. His student Dr Wen Zee, 80, of the Taiji Institute of Tucson, AZ, and a student of Ma since the 1940s, described Ma as Òvery mild, very calm. He taught very gently. He did not use brute force, but he could use very strong force.Ó He added: ÒWhen you pushed hands with him you could touch nothing. You couldnÕt feel a thing. His push hands was wonderful, calm, centred and looked very full.Ó

George Xu, a San Francisco-based martial arts teacher, said: ÒThere are five stages of push hands skills and Ma was considered to be at the highest level. You could never find his centre, so you could never defeat him. He had a very strong solid post, like a metal post in the ground, yet he was very slippery. If you pushed him you cold not touch his centreÓ.

The youngest son of Ma has spoken of his fatherÕs five key words: 1 Lightness, 2 Slowness, 3 Quietness, 4 Reality, 5 Continuity. With reference to slowness: ÒIt is essential to develop stability and rootÓ. My personal favourite, and I have not come across it before, is 4 Reality.

ÒWhen practising the form you have to be realistic. My father never believed in empty force or fantasy, you have to do the form in a real way, just like you do push hands or fighting, with power and reality.Ó

To MaÕs credit he managed to continue the work of the Wu family throughout the difficult years of the Sino/Japanese war, the Civil War, the early years of communism and the Cultural Revolution. In the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution the teaching of Taiji was conducted in some secrecy and many teachers were under surveillance. The Wu Jian Quan Taiji Association, suspended in the 1940s, was reinstated in 1980, with Wu Ying-Hua as President and Ma Vice President. During the last 20 years of the century his skills became widely acknowledged. He was nominated one of ChinaÕs 100 Martial Arts Treasures.

According to Dr Li Li Qun, a disciple of Ma and who served 18 years as General Secretary to the Jian Quan Taijiquan Association, Ma began his training under the guidance of his fifth uncle. His uncle was a high-ranking officer in the Manchurian secret service. He and his bodyguards were MaÕs first martial arts instructors. As a young man he attended the medical school of Xia. After graduation he chose to become a haematologist and was later recruited to join the Tzong San Medical School in Shanghai.

Ma Yueh-Liang lived in the era of many famous and revered Taiji teachers. His connection with his teacher began when he was 16 or 17 years old and he would have been 41 when Wu Jian-Quan died. This twenty four years of study as a disciple and member of the family would be quite unique.

Among the famous teachers of his lifetime were Yang Cheng-Fu (1883-1936), Yang Sau-Chung (1909-1985), Yang Shou-Hou (1862-1930), Dong Ying-Jie (1888-1961), Chen Wei-Ming (1881-1958), Sun Lu-Tang (1861-1932), Fu Zhong-Wen (1903-1994), Cheng Man-Ching (1900-1976), Chen Fa-Ke (1887-1957), Gu Liu-Xin (1909-1990), Feng Zhi-Qiang (1926-), Chen Xiao-Wang (1946-), Li TianJi (1915-1996). During the 20th century there were many more famous masters but I have named only those that I am more familiar with.

Master Ma and Wu Ying-Hua had five sons and three daughters. I am not aware of their backgrounds but feel sure that some or maybe all of them will be carrying on the family tradition.

One of the early western pioneers would be Sophia Delza. Sophia connected with Ma as far back as 1941 when she visited Shanghai. Dr Li Li Qun says she made contact with Ma looking for some medical advice for a back problem. Her injuries were sustained from a background of a Hollywood dancing career. Dr Li says the back problems were helped by Qigong and acupressure administered by Master Ma Ð remember he came from a medical background. As a result she learned the Wu style and became a lifetime devotee. When the United Nations formed in 1946 Sophia formed a Taiji club and introduced the exercise to the international representatives of the UN. She also taught at several univer-sities in the USA and she was still teaching at the age of 84. She passed away several years ago at the age of 93.

In the UK there are some good schools of the Wu Style and instructors with sound backgrounds. There appears to be more cohesion between them than the Yang schools (my forms are the real thing syndrome). Gary Wragg, Chief Instructor of WuÕs Tai Chi Chuan Academy, London, has been around as long as I have been involved with Taiji (30 years). Shiou-Huey Chuang is a Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan instructor in Regents Park, London. Michael Acton, Muswell Hill, North London has been training for over 20 years and is a student of MaÕs disciple, the previously mentioned Dr Li Li Qun. Michael Acton spent two and a half years in China studying with Dr Li. David Barrow based in Sheffield who has been around for some 30 years is quite unusual in that he trained with the legendary Master Ma Yueh-Liang.

According to Ronnie Robinson (editor: The Journal of The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain), David Barrow travelled to New York to meet Sophia Delza and arranged the necessary introduction to her teacher.

There is of course Dan DochertyÕs ÒPractical Tai Chi Chuan International.Ó In his book Complete Tai Chi Chuan, he makes reference to his style as Wudang Tai Chi. DanÕs teacher, Master Cheng Tin-Hung, learned from Cheng Wing Kwong and he in turn learned from the founder of the Wu style Wu Jian Quan. Cheng Tin-Hung also learned from Qi Min-Xuan who in turn learned from Qi Ke-San and he learned from Wu Jian-QuanÕs father, Wu Quan-You. So I feel it would be correct to say that DanÕs Practical Tai Chi Chuan International had its roots in the Wu style of Wu Jian-Quan.

Alan Watts, the renowned commentator on eastern philosphy and religion was once asked if he was a Zen Buddhist. He replied: ÒNo, I am an Alan Wattist.Ó I think this statement is fine in terms of an individualÕs slant on life. However when it comes to spending years (or a lifetime) acquiring an art such as Taiji, itÕs a trifle egocentric to put your own or some other name to it. After all, are we not trying to get shot of the ego?

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