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T'ai Chi of the Wu Style (Vol. I and II) featuring Wu Ying Hua & Gerald A. SharpThis Two-Volume Set Features (for the first time in English) Instruction for the
Wu Simplified Form, an Overview of the Traditional Slow Long
Form, and T'ai Chi Applications.
The Wu Style Slow Set was developed by Wu Chian Chuan and first taught
publicly in Beijing, China in 1911. This video series provides the most direct
evidence to date of legitimate traditional Wu Style with instruction for the Wu
Simplified form (created by Ma Yueh Liang and Wu Ying Hua in 1982),
a chapter of Wu Ying Hua, Wu Chian Chuan's eldest daughter, herself doing
the complete Slow Long Set, as well as T'ai Chi applications from the Slow and
Simplified forms.
VOLUME I: The Simplified Form and T'ai Chi Applications (over 60
minutes):
Main Menu:
1. Intro: Includes a brief overview of the Wu Style Simplified's development in
1982 and inner door student, Gerald A. Sharp's background.
2. Simplified Tai Chi: with Sub Menus for Instruction and Form Review.
2 a. Instruction: Provides instruction for the entire 30 form Wu Simplified Set.
Next technology has been added allowing you to use your remote to go from
form-to-form as needed.
2 b. Form Review:
With a Further Sub Menu broken down as follows:
2 b. 1: Front Angle (with Titles). Includes next technology allowing you to use
your remote to go from form-to-form as needed.
2 b. 2: Rear Angle
3. T'ai Chi Applications:
Presents Self Defense Applications from 22 forms from both the Simplified
and Slow Forms (many with multiple apps) in Clear Detail and with Close-Ups.
Covered are how to use spring energy, relaxing to create space and counter,
warding off, diverting, joint-locks, take-downs, and submissions. Next
technology has been integrated allowing you to use your remote to go from
app-to-app as needed.
VOLUME II: The Slow Set (over 70 minutes):
1. Intro: Includes a brief overview of the Wu Style Slow Set's development from
Quan You to Wu Chian Chuan to Wu Ying Hua and Ma Yueh Liang, as well as
inner door student, Gerald A. Sharp's background.
2. Slow Set (Front Angle with Titles): Gerald A. Sharp performs the Wu
Style Slow Set in over 25 minutes without stopping. The titles of the names
of all 89 forms (plus each of the six sections) are shown. Next technology has
been added allowing you to use your remote to go from form-to-form as
needed.
3. Rear Angle: Gerald A. Sharp performs the Wu Style Slow Set in
over 25 minutes without stopping from a rear angle.
4. Demonstration of Teacher Wu Ying Hua: Rare archival
footage of Wu Ying Hua, Wu Chian Chuan's, eldest daughter, performing
the entire Wu Style Slow Set. This footage was shot with equipment that is
not as technologically advanced as today, and therefore the demo appears
somewhat grainy and at faster speed than it was actually practiced.
While the video's quality on this chapter is substandard, and there are some
glitches, the educational content outweighs the limitations of the video
footage.
5. End Credits: Provides an inspirational message for life-long, daily
practice, as well as credits for the production of this series.
Wu Style T'ai Chi is one of the most internal forms of the art. Slow, smooth,
and patient, the Simplified and Slow Sets foster five characteristics as follows:
Stillness, Lightness, Slowness, Exactness, and Perseverence.
The Wu style has very precise footwork and movements that ultimately sets
the practitioner free from an endless cycle of form correction without an
objective criteria for competent practice. The simplicity of the movements
helps the practitioner move on to more in-depth levels of understanding
earlier in their development. This form is for those wishing to develop a
deeper understanding of the internal aspects of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, as well as
precise applications of the principles of the art.
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