Them Off During Leisure Time Whenever Possible5

Wu Gong-Yi had a son Wu Ta-Kuei (1923–1972)—a fierce and apparently undefeated fighter—whose eldest
son is Eddie Wu KwongYu (1946– ), the current “gatekeeper” and head of the Wu Southern style. His
disciple Eddie Yee taught Mantak Chia the Wu long form, the short form, the sword, the knife, Push Hands,
and self-defense techniques. He initiated Mantak Chia into the Wu family circle and taught him the secret
inner Tai Chi principles.* Not that much is written about Chen Win-Kwong, except that he was certainly part
of the inner circle of Wu Jian-Chuan’s disciples in Hong Kong. He transformed his health through practice
and eventually had a reputation as the greatest master in Canton. 9
Chen Tin-Hung (1930–2005)
Chen Tin-Hung was a nephew of Chen Win-Kwong (fig. 1.7). He was born in Guandong province but lived
most of his life in Hong Kong, where he developed a renowned reputation as a full-contact
*Dr. Andrew Jan received teachings predominantly via the Southern lineage that descends through Chen Win-Kwong. He has
received direct teachings from Chen TinHung (1930–2005), Ken Yue-Kwong (Rocky) (1934– ), and John Yuen. These teachings
included the long form, Push Hands, boxing, sword, and spear. While living in Beijing he also learned Li Bing-Ci’s 45-posture
competition form from Liu Hong-Chi.
Fig. 1.7. Chen Tin-Hung
10 History of the Wu Style
fighter and won several competitions in the South East Asia region. He wrote several books and also
produced a movie, The Shadow Boxer.
Chen Tin-Hung fused his boxing skills with internal arts and renamed his style “Wu Tang” Tai Chi.
According to Rocky Kwong and other sources, this was done to honor the arts that originated from the Wu
Tang Mountain—the legendary home of the immortal Chan SanFeng. However, there is no doubt that Chen
Tin-Hung’s long Tai Chi form and Push Hands practice belong to the Southern Wu lineage. His book Wu Tan
Tai Chi Chuan (which includes boxing and martial applications) openly states that “the present book is based
on the Wu style.”10 However, the boxing system was most likely developed by Chen Tin-Hung himself and
was probably not passed down from Wu Jian-Chuan and Chen Win-Kwong.*
Chen Tin-Hung also introduced a round long form. This form includes silk-reeling types of movements in
addition to postures like Seven Stars, Brush Knee, White Crane Spreads Its Wings, Parry and Punch, and so
on. This combination of ongoing circular movements (perhaps remnants of the Chen style) with a classic
square form gives the whole form a new dimension. Like many of the Southern school videos, it shows a
quick pace for the long form.†
Chen Tin-Hung’s best-known students abroad include Dan Docherty in the United Kingdom and Rocky
Kwong in Australia. Rocky Kwong immigrated to Australia in 1960 after completing ten years of training
with Chen Tin-Hung in Hong Kong. He began teaching a handful of students in his restaurant in Boronia,
Victoria, around 1969. His reputation rapidly grew, and multiple clubs supervised by Kwong and his key
disciples appeared throughout Victoria. Together, they formed the Wu Federation of Australia, which
incorporated his disciples and their students. Rocky moved to Western Australia in the 1980s and since then
has run multiple classes and taught hundreds of students.
*See chapters 7 and 8 in this book for a more detailed discussion of this fused boxing style.
†See YouTube; viewed June 2010.
History of the Wu Style 11

Summary of the Wu Style
The most notable characteristics of the Wu style—as distinct from the Yang style—are the small frame and
the variation in certain postures, as well as in the sequence. These changes are generally common to both
Northern school and Southern school practitioners. The only documented exception is in the photographs of
Wu Jian-Chuan.
As a general rule, the older the master the smaller the frame. Another general characteristic is that all
practitioners exhibit a forwardslanted spine, because this position allows the easier passage of jin through the
spine and structure.
Variations occur between the various Northern and Southern sequences; however the similarities in postures
and forms are significant enough for them all to be considered part of the same Wu style Tai Chi. The
majority of Wu practitioners de-emphasize the heel strike component of the palm strike. In the Wu standard
(square) style, the palm begins close to the ear and the wrist is flexed and facing inward. This is more
exaggerated in the Northern style, whose practitioners often add a lateral rotation to the palm strike as well.
They prefer a slow speed, while the Southern school often performs at quicker rates. Note that this fast speed
is different from the Fast Tai Chi forms, which involve a separate sequence.
A brief summary of the Wu forms commonly taught throughout the world include:

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Wu Gong-Yi had a son Wu Ta-Kuei (1923–1972)—a fierce and apparently undefeated fighter—whose eldest

History of the Wu Style 11

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