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In accordance with Grandmaster Chengˇ¦s teaching, Master Wu expounded that Tai-Chi Chuan moves in harmony with nature.  It is a manifestation of the philosophy of the sages, of Chi and of the formless form.  The study of Tai-Chi Chuan is embodied in the internal exercises, Tai-Chi Sword and the Tai-Chi Chuan.

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METHODS & EXERCISES FROM THE TSO FAMILY
 
 
 
 

  1. Bear Swing

  2. Bird Stretch

  3. Calming Mind Exercise

  4. Major/Minor Chen Fa

  5. Tiger Back Exercise

  6. Small Five Hands

  7. Palm Sailing in the Wind

  8. Han Mung Chung Siao

  9. Piercing Jing

  10. Wind Bellow Exercise

  11. Fish/Dragon Exercise

  12. Chi Luo Chuan Fan

  13. Chiu Chuan Kuei Yuan Da Fa

  14. Nine Position Shifting Exercise

  15. Yi Yuan Kung

  16. Internal Dan Exercises: Guarding, Nurturing, Using.

  17. External Dan Exercises: Sandalwood, Green Pebbles and Mining Sand. (These are used for the purpose of improving internal chi.)
 
 

The Tai-Chi forms taught by the Association are the commonly known Chengtsu simplified 37 forms.  After being truly proficient in the 108 forms of the Yang family Tai-Chi Chuan, Grandmaster Cheng reduced the 108 forms to 37 by deleting repetitive movements in the main.

The Chinese characters representing the words simplified cam from two words ˇ§Chenˇ¨ & ˇ§Yiˇ¨.  These two words are also related to two trigrams in ˇ§I-Chingˇ¨; the ˇ§Chienˇ¨ Kua and the ˇ§Kunˇ¨ Kua.  Grandmasterˇ¦s intention to bring Tai-Chi Chuan back to its ˇ§I-Chingˇ¨ source is evident from the way he named his Tai-Chi Chuan.

Although the Chengtsu Tai-Chi Chuan taught by Grandmaster Cheng appeared short & simple, it is far from so!   Any practitioner will attest that the demands of the form in adhering to the principles of nature, Chi movement and the Chinese philosophy are stringent.

Master Wu after receiving this true teaching from Grandmaster has made it his mission in life to spread the knowledge. For his efforts, Master Wu has not only recorded his experiences and findings in his books, he has also designed a course of study that will greatly benefit the students.

 
 

  1. Chengstsu Tai-Chi Chuan the form.

  2. Solo exercises on push hand & Da Lu.

  3. Pair exercises on push hand and Da Lu.

  4. Ying Yang Fan Fu Cher Tia exercise.

  5. Turning the mill exercise.

  6. Pushing the corners; the changing of square and oblique directions.

  7. Constant shadowing.

  8. Snake entangling wrist.

  9. Ba Fa push hand.

  10. Listening energy, understand energy and Fa Jing.

The art of Tai-Chi Chuan as taught by Master Wu is able to develop energy for defense and attack on contact.  This is done through the combination of mind, body, chi, spirit and the shi.  The art moves in harmony with nature and approaches the Tao, and embodies the Confucius, Buddhist and Taoist teachings.

 The form of Tai-Chi Chuan and the internal exercises are merely the means to the end ˇV the great Tao.

 The insistence of Master Wu for all students is that all practices must be in accordance with the Tai-Chi philosophy and principles.  The successful applications of Tai-Chi Chuan in combat and daily life are a manifestation of the Tai-Chi philosophy and principles.

 
 

The Tai-Chi Sword is the only weapon form taught by the Shenlong Tai-Chi School. The study of the Tai-Chi Sword can be raised to a very high level.  The study of the Tai-Chi Sword can be raised to a very high level.  To study this art, you must have Tai-Chi Chuan as your foundation.  The sword is an extension of the hand.  An opponentˇ¦ attack becomes your means of attack.  The principle of the Tai-Chi sword is to settle scores with one sword movement.  It is said that the sword is the pinnacle of the Chinese martial art.

To be proficient in the sword, you must have a sound foundation in Tai-Chi Chuan.  In addition, the cultivation of the mind, the spirit and the Chi is an absolute must.

 

SWORD SYLLABUS

  1. 54 steps on Tai-Chi Sword.

  2. Basic exercises on Tai-Chi Sword.

  3. Sword solo exercise on five elements.

  4. Sword pair exercises on five elements.

Master Wu has attained a very high level in Tai-Chi Sword and he has written a book on the subject.  In it, he has provided a unique dissertation on sword training and application.

 
 

THE UNIFICATION OF THEORY, CHI, FORM TAI-CHI CHUAN, TAI-CHI SWORD AND INTERNAL EXERCISES

The major difference between Tai-Chi Chuan and other martial arts is the fact that Tai-Chi Chuan has a body of theories that guide its practice.  In Master Wuˇ¦s books, he has listed the eight basic principles, thirty-six pointers on the proper practice of Tai-Chi Chuan.  Any deviation from these rules will result in wrong practices and the result would be a waste of time and effort.

The theories and principles of Tai-Chi Chuan are will-known but seldom adhered to.  Concepts like using the weak to overcome the strong, stillness to overcome quick moves, soft against the hard are often quoted.  These principles are derived from I-Ching.

Tai-Chi power comes from the unseen yet one needs the form (seen) to be a conduit for the unseen.  As is also said in the ˇ§I-Chingˇ¨, the meaning is projected through the symbols.  Tai-Chi uses the form to project the Chi.

One can say that the Tai-Chi Chuan is a manifestation of the universeˇ¦s things and nature in its active mode.  In its silent mode, Tai-Chi Chuan is a beginning of the stir in the great void ˇV there is only ONE.

 
 

In the end, the internal exercises is only moving the Chi, one uses the Chi to practice the forms.  The forms become the sword and the sword becomes the hand and in the end all becomes one and one is all.

To attain this end, one must begin the study of Tai-Chi by adhering to the principles.

Master Wu has written extensively on this in his books.

 
 

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