A Profile on the Angular Taiji
Currently, the most mentioned main schools of Tai Chi are the five families of
Chen, Yang, Woe, Wu and Sun, however there are only three schools, according to
my knowledge that are direct descendants from the past, namely the Chen, Yang
and Wu.
Originally, Yang style had according to the extent and expression of movements
classified into three framework of forms, big, medium and small. The small frame
is most conducive to actual combat fighting. At present, the most popular Tai Chi
for fitness is evolved on the basis of the Yang’s large frame. A lot of simplified
fast-food style Tai Chi are the modern designs for busy office workers, the elderly
and Westerners. Wu style is evolved on the basis of Yang’s small frame.
Ji Zixiu (紀子修) and Wu Quan You (吳全佑),father of Wu Jianquan (吳鑒泉) were
students of Yang Lu Chan (楊露禪) ,but as promised in his retirement he turned
them both to his oldest son, Yang Ban Hou (楊斑侯) who is known for his skill in the
Yang’s small frame. One condition they were made to keep is not to teach Yang’s
style to anybody. So under the guidance of Wu Quanyou ,they had created their
own genre of teaching based upon the Yang’s small frame modulus. Finally it was
Wu Jianquan who laid down and put together the form for Wu’s angular frame. It is
a crystallization of the collective wisdom and the inheritance of Yang style small
frame characteristics.
Because of the health benefits that were attributed to the practice of big frame
Yang’s style, especially after 1949, Chinese government intervened and it has
become the officially-recognized standards of Taijiquan. Ever since Yang’s small
frame almost extinct. For now, Wu’s angular frame is closest to the Yang’s original
small frame school of Tai Chi.
The majority of the predecessors of Wu practiced angular frame until when Wu
Jianquan in his later years set up a circular frame, after which angular frame was
slighted. After the pass away of Wu Yinghua (吴英华) –WuJianquan’s daughter, the
angular frame is not shown inside the Jianquan Tai Chi school any more.
Wu Gongyi (吳公仪)—Wu jianquan’s son is also known for his angular frame, went
down to Canton where he gained fame for fighting a White Crane master in Macau.
There after he went to South East Asia and established school there. But after his
death, his following were defeated by Thai boxing Muay Thai , and the angular
frame lost its popularity, even though there are still some who practice this form.
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Zhang Daquan (張达泉) ,being a student of Ji Zixiu and also of a close relationship
with Wu Jianquan, was deeply influenced by the angular frame practice. Those
years master Dai Ying (戴英) had pointed out that Zhang’s form inherited both
Yang’s small frame and Wu’s angular frame main features.
Today from the preserve of Zhang’s boxing theory, the angular frame has the
following characteristics:
Two feet are like drills,
Body and waist in one line;
Body follows as the waist rotate,
Feet and waist are connected;
Power reaches to the ridge top of feet,
Know the force spins;
Mind stays with shoulder, elbow ,wrist,
Chi(气) revolve through Ren(任) Duk(督);
Spirit turns in the Zhongshu(中樞).
Zhongshu
命门
Ren meridian
Mingmen
Duk meridian
Ren(任) and Duk(督) are meridian channels while Zhongshu(中樞) is a acupoint
located about a palm’s width above Mingmen(命门).
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The angular frame bears square ness externally and circular internally, or the
form is angular but the intent is round. External movements directs to four square,
East, South, West and North; four bevels in Southeast, Southwest, Northwest,
Northeast. The so-called Quartet and Octet must be strictly controlled. During the
change of positions ,the intent must be continuous and the energy constant,
without any breakages. Within the transition between two movements, understand
the beginning of one and the ending of previous ,keeping it as one
non-seperaterable move.
Not only one must have a clear direction during the performance of the whole
form, but within each single movement itself one must be fully aware of each of
the four corners. Take Grasping the Bird’s Tail ,for example, as the palm follows
the waist from the center to lower right, lower left, upper right, lower right; each
must have a sharp and clear direction without fuzzy edges while maintains a clear
mind. It is similar as practice Chinese calligraphy.
Another characteristic of Angular frame is the movements are simple and flexible,
Stressing the arms, legs, the waist, and the spinal axis of rotation, reducing the
unnecessary swing of the shaft. To keep the main spindle---center and upright
rotation of spinal cord while coordinate multiple axis turning will reduce the
energy consumption to the minimum, while keeping one’s center and balance.
Swiftly lure and empty out the opponent’s energy, overcome him with engird force.
In combat, brisk and light is the recognized qualities of angular frame Taiji.
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