My first exposure to the Wu (Hao) style of Tai Chi occurred at the Taiji Forum 2006 conference in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I noticed a few significant differences between its postures and those of the more popular Yang style:
- The stance is shorter and more upright.
- Arm and leg movements are smaller.
- Hands remain in front of the body.
- Both feet rotate simultaneously when turning.
- Movements in the form are repeated to left and right sides.
Wu (Hao) style was developed in the 1800s by Wu Yuxiang, with inspiration from Chen and Yang predecessors. However, based on my limited exposure, it seems equally similar to some schools of Wing Chun. Other conference attendees made similar observations.
Wu (Hao) style can be distinguished from the Wing Chun of Yip Man and his descendants by these characteristics, among others:
- Movements are smooth and circular.
- Armpits are slightly open.
- Weight frequently shifts onto and off of the front leg.
Unfortunately, instructors of Wu (Hao) Tai Chi are few and far between. I think that Wing Chun practitioners who are interested in broadening their horizons will enjoy sampling this style.
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4 responses so far ↓
1 andy // Aug 19, 2006
I think that the internet could help instructors of similar arts to learn this style. It can be done through people keeping detailed blogs about it, publshing a book on amazon or an ebook with pictures and movement diagrams.
There’s also the posibility of video clips showing movements now.
2 tim // Nov 20, 2006
No way. Wing Chun only uses the knees rotated in stance. Wu (Hao) taiji must rotate the knees out.
In both pictures above , his knees are out. This is a big no-no in WC.
3 Chris // Nov 20, 2006
Wing Chun does not only use the YJKYM. Look at the pole form.
4 tim // Dec 19, 2006
In all the chi sao I have seen people do, they are mostly in the toes in stance.
I’d argue that the pole form is for specific power development and that is why it doesn’t necessarily use the turned in horse. I have also seen people do a pole form from a turned in stance as well.
More importantly, wing chun does not use the back bow (straight back in wc), nor does it use the spiraling motion that you see in teh r3al taiji. WC also isolates the upper back. Not that wing chun is bad or anything, just that Wu Style and Wing Chun are worlds apart.
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