Clarification of Doubts regarding Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan

Qiao Songmao Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan was created by Mr. Wu Yuxiang on the basis of Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan and Zhao Bao Tai Chi Chuan, based on his insights into practice. It is a compact and small form that integrates physical strengthening, self-defense and self-cultivation. It is a type of Tai Chi Chuan suitable for scholars to practice and was later called Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan by later generations. Mr. Wu Yuxiang, in his personal practice of this set of boxing techniques, formed a classic work that is concise and to the point, without any superfluous words - the Theory of Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan. I have been practicing the fourth-generation inheritor of Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan, Mr. Li Jinfan, for nearly 20 years. Through his selfless and devoted imparting of the family's traditional skills, with his physical demonstration and oral interpretation, and my own nearly 30 years of silent contemplation and sincere study, I have gained a basic understanding of the original meaning of this Tai Chi Chuan theory. Now, I will explain and interpret some of the professional terms in this theory. First, "Five Skills of Body Preparation" : The Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan does not have the five bows of the body (back), but only the five skills of the body preparation. The Five Skills refer to the five-step (layer) practice method or five-stage practice approach of practicing the internal transmission of Wu-style Tai Chi, which progresses from being proficient to being divine. Only by meticulously studying and comprehending these practice methods and requirements and through long-term practice can one reach the other shore of Wu-style Tai Chi. However, carrying the five bows on the back is a practice method for other types of boxing. As the saying goes, "A slight difference can lead to a huge mistake." Scholars must be able to distinguish this clearly. Second, the interpretation of "four ounces moving a thousand jin" should originally be "pulling four ounces moving a thousand jin". Four liang and a thousand jin both refer to that. It means that when attacking, one should concentrate internal strength to strike the opponent's strength root, thereby achieving the strategic intention of manipulating the opponent's overall situation. Iii. Explanation of "Standing as precise as a scale" and "Living as smooth as a Wheel" : "Scale" refers to a chessboard, and "standing" in a broad sense means walking, standing, sitting, and lying down. It is extended to mean that when performing exercises, walking on a frame, or striking hands, one should conform to the requirements of body movements. By achieving the state of knowing from the mind to the body, one can achieve a balance of reality and emptiness within the void, combining hardness and softness, and responding to the enemy's changes to show magic. Fourth, explain the saying "When others do not know me, I only know them." After reaching a certain level of Wu-style Tai Chi, when the person is sent, apart from the contact point where the force is connected without moving, the transformation and transportation are all in the chest and waist, and the person is sent in the waist and legs. V. Explanation of "Accumulating strength like drawing a bow, Releasing strength like shooting an arrow" in Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan: It is internal rather than external. It means that when accumulating strength, the internal force flows from the hands to the shoulders and back to the waist, just like a person drawing an arrow and a bow. The phrase "releasing force is like shooting an arrow" means that when releasing force, the internal force should start from the heel, flow into the waist, and form on the fingers, with a sense of sharpness. The force is like steel refined a hundred times. In conclusion, this sentence describes the accumulation of inner strength and energy. Six. Explain the saying, "When others are tough and I am gentle, it is called 'walking'; when I am compliant and others are backward, it is called 'sticking'." While others are tough and I am gentle, I should also be compliant and others are backward. In this way, we can achieve a balance of firmness and softness. Sticking is walking, and walking is sticking. When one is tough, one is gentle; it lies not outside but within, not above but below. Vii. Explanation of "Sacrificing Oneself for Others" 1. It means that when the other party comes, you should retaliate in the way they tell you to. 2. That is, the internal strength should be in accordance with the "bending" of the other and the "extension" of the other. Viii. Interpretation: "With each movement, only the hand should apply force first and then release it." In every confrontation, only the place where the incoming force is received should be firmly connected with the force, and then the internal force should be returned to the waist, but the external form remains unchanged. Ix. Explanation of "Zhuo Shu" "Zhuo" refers to practicing in accordance with the requirements of body techniques. Here, it means that after a long period of practice, one has proficiently mastered the body techniques required by the Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan Theory. This stage mainly focuses on strengthening the body. X. Explanation of "Understanding the Force" What is "Understanding the Force"? It refers to the confrontation between the walking frame and the fighting hand, where the force is exchanged from within to the body, achieving the "concentration of the spirit" as described in the Five-character formula. Sticking is walking, walking is sticking. Only by combining hardness and softness can one truly understand strength. At this point, one naturally achieves the transformation and transportation within the chest and waist, borrowing strength from others rather than from the outside, and having the qi originate from the spine, understanding the principle of internal opening and closing. At this stage, self-defense is the main focus. Eleventh, the interpretation of "divine spirit" : After understanding the force, with each day of practice, one's skills become increasingly refined, achieving the state of "the spirit and spirit of the ruler are the subject of the flesh and blood". Gradually, one gains insights into the philosophy of being a person from the principles and techniques of boxing, and develops scientific thinking about things and nature. When one has no desires, one becomes strong. When one's self-cultivation reaches a rather high stage, one's taste is further elevated. At this stage, the main focus is on self-cultivation. Twelve. The phrase "One body's strength, cultivated into one school" in the Five-Character Formula means that through strict adherence to the requirements of body techniques, long-term silent contemplation and practice, one can achieve it with a single hand, with daily vision, intention, and strength. It is the complete unity of appearance, spirit, mind and vision, that is, the whole body is one family and every step follows. Thirteen. Interpretation of "Duality" : When one cannot transform and operate, the distinction between the real and the illusory, and the opening and closing, sticking and moving cannot complement each other, it is called "duality". "Duality" is a process in practicing martial arts. Through long-term and gradual practice of correct body movements, the incorrect ones are eliminated and the correct ones are applied. Then, "duality" will be corrected. At the same time, this is also a practical process. Fourteen. Explanation of "Taiji" and "Tai Chi Chuan" The two terms "Taiji" come from the "I Ching". Tai Chi Chuan is a style of Chinese martial arts. Due to its distinct principles, techniques and forms of expression from other martial arts, and having been meticulously refined by ancient martial arts sages, it conforms to the natural laws of the development of things. Therefore, it was later called Tai Chi Chuan by later generations. Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chuan are two different disciplines. Those who learn Tai Chi Chuan should distinguish between them. Striking techniques are the soul of traditional Tai Chi Chuan. We should think about them in accordance with the laws of martial arts and practice them with full concentration in line with the principles and methods of Tai Chi Chuan. Otherwise, all our efforts will be in vain. Fifteen. Explanation of "Breathing" in Wuzhai Jue: In Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan, "breathing" is a synonym for "opening and closing", referring to the rising and falling of "internal force" within the body. Rather than referring to the breathing of a person's lungs. Tai Chi is the way of nature, and the breathing of the lungs requires naturalness. Sixteen. Explanation of "Leaping, Moving, Flashing and Fighting" : "Leaping" means to open or to develop. "Nu" means to combine or to accumulate. Flash: To catch the other force and make it lose its momentum. In battle, when exerting internal strength, the force should be like steel that has been refined a hundred times, with an overwhelming force that can crush everything. Seventeen. The term "adhering and following closely" refers to the stage where, after a long period of practicing in accordance with the requirements of body techniques, one has achieved a state where both self-awareness and understanding of others have reached a stage where one abandon-oneself to follow others, neither neglecting nor overbearing, and neither overreaching nor underreaching. "Sticking: When I go along with others' backs, that's called sticking." "Sticky: When the force is broken but the will remains unbroken, it is called sticky." Lian: Not equivalent to the connection of the Wei River. Sui: Not losing is called sui. Eighteen. Explanation of "Beginning, Development, Transition and Conclusion" : Beginning: that is, to connect the physical form of the other person with one hand. When the force of the bone is firmly connected, the object will be lifted. Rotation: The internal force is injected from the heel to the waist, applied to the shoulders, and then expressed to the fingers. To open means to develop. The internal force is returned to the waist from the original force path, which means to store, to hold and to pull. Nineteen. Interpretation of the "He" in "When the introduction is empty, he will exit when it is closed" (1) Wu Qiuying said: "He means to push." (2) It refers to following the requirements of the key points of the "Walking and Fighting Hand Practice", adhering to the rules by oneself and repeatedly practicing, with the guidance and instruction of a master, to achieve the state where the spirit does not disperse, the spirit is full and vigorous, and there are no defects throughout the body. Only in this way can the entire family seize the opportunity and gain the power. Only by sacrificing oneself and following others can one achieve the state of leading the way and leaving the void. In conclusion, only by correctly understanding the original intention of the Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan theory can it better guide practice. Only by grasping its essence and moving from the mind to the body can one make discoveries and innovations in accordance with the objective and natural laws. On the contrary, it will be a mistake of a thousand miles by a hair's breadth. This is also a historical lesson of over a hundred years.