What Are The Special Characteristics In The Competition Routines Of The Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan?
The competition routine of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan has the significant characteristics mainly portrayed in its body posture “upright when slanting”. It emphasizes the bow stance while having the weight leaning forward such as “brush knee and twist step”, “step back and whirl arms”, “step forward to grasp the peacock’s tail” and “fly obliquely” etc. For the posture, it seems that the body is leaning forward while actually, from the head to the heel through the buttocks, the 3 points form a straight line slanting towards the ground which is known as the “upright when slanting”.
In footwork, it focuses on stance of the Chinese character “CHUAN”. Both feet are paralleled with the tips and the heels facing the same direction. The footwork in bow stance requires the knee of the front leg in alignment with the toes. Both feet in bow stance is alike steeping on the edges of the Chinese character “Chuan”. The requirement for the footwork in empty stance is also on the character “Chuan” by having the empty foot placed onto the centerline of the character. Another characteristic in Wu style Tai Chi Chuan is its “horse stance”, in another name known as the “pole stance” which other style Tai Chi Chuan seldom have. Its hand postures emphasize the opening of the “tiger mouth” with the thumb facing upward.
When practicing, try to avoid the movements of leaning the body, folding in the waist and pushing the buttocks out by seeking the “upright when slanting” posture. Don’t extend the knees beyond the toes or lift up the heels without keeping the balance between both feet etc.
Methods to overcome such obstacles: Understand the characteristics of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan first and after that, add the practice of the single movements and use the guiding signs for training when necessary. For example, the training in footwork of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan can be done by drawing 2 parallel lines according to the width of the shoulder and place the feet onto each of the lines. Do the supplementary exercises such as stretching the ankles for accompanying.
