Wu Tang, we teach several systems of Kung Fu, Tan Tui, Long Fist, Praying Mantis, Tai Chi, Baqua, Baji, Piqua, Shing Ye, which when properly understood, modify and enhance one’s skills as a kung fu practitioner. We teach a mix of both Internal and External styles to give the student the ability to fight with both types of power. Generally, students begin by studying the basic foundational stances and Tan Tui to stretch out the ligaments and teach controlled defensive and offensive tactics that are the building blocks of everything one will learn in our systems taught. Building a strong stance, bodywork foundation or structure gives one both protection and method to developing power and fluid speed. When learning, the attention to refining the detail is the key to success. A minor misalignment of the feet greatly affects the stability and power of the stance. The first seven are :
Ma Bu
Gung Bu
Bu Tuei
Du Li
She Bu
Chi Shin Bu
Tzuo Pan
The eighth is actually a punching movement that is a combination of Gung Bu and Ma Bu, called Gung Ma Chue. Gung Ma Chue teaches the coordination the entire body to produce power for the punch. Students then learn long fist, a style that emphasizes flexibility, stretching, and stamina. At the Wu Tang we teach Tan Tuei (spring legs), which is a basic movements of the Long Fist System. Its relative simplicity allows the learner to gain a greater awareness of his/her body, and it gives the learner a taste of learning long sequences of movements. Despite it’s apparent simplicity, Tan Tuei is an efficient, useful and direct movements all applicable to fighting. After developing both physically and mentally through learning long fist, the next step is usually the praying mantis style of Kung Fu. Praying Mantis emphasizes using speed and power together. Students study how to control enemies, critical strikes, close- and middle-range fighting for engaging multiple opponents. Praying Mantis Kung Fu is a vicious fighting style that requires dedication and a deep understanding of one’s own body and those of others. The Wu Tang also teaches Tai Chi Chuan, which many people regard as simply exercise. The Wu Tang teaches Tai Chi Chuan in the proper manner, emphasizing that Tai Chi, roughly translated, means Great Power. It is a martial art, and without understanding that it is meant for fighting, one cannot gain all the benefits that the study of Tai Chi offers. Students are trained to not only learn the sequences of movements, but to apply them and how to generate the most power from them. What the western world refers to as martial arts is actually a science—a science of how to fight in war. At times of war, one does not march into battle empty handed. Instead, a soldier takes weapons with him. At the Wu Tang, training in combat with weapons is regarded as both useful and necessary. Once students have developed both their minds and bodies to the proper level with empty-handed combat, learning armed combat enhances their awareness and abilities. Wu Tang teaches combat with the Da Dau (Saber or Chinese Broadsword), Shuan Dau (Double Sabers), The Jinn (the Chinese Long Sword), the Staff, and the Spear. Finally, after long years of study at the Wu Tang, students are offered the chance to learn Ba Ji Chuan and Pi Kua Chuan. These styles are a combination of both internal and external power, and both complement one’s abilities in other fighting styles. Ba Chi means roughly “eight powers,” and it emphasizes structure that creates power. It also teaches a fighter to use all the weapons of the body. Pi Kua or “Axe Hands” uses flexibility and flowing motion to generate power.
