Vancouver Tai Chi Chuan Association

Fu Style Tai Chi Chuan
Sifu Ken Chung - November 25, 1983
Fu style Tai Chi Chuan is the proud masterwork of Master Fu Chen Sung, the father and teacher of my master, Fu Wing Fai. Fu style was devloped from Yang style and all the major styles of Tai Chi Chuan, drawing from each style its best elements. The content of Fu style, including hand techniques, body movements and footwork, are all more complicated than those in the Yang style and require more agility and nimbleness of movement. The style possesses some outstanding features as wel as a sense of artistry. It is a comparatively difficult style to lean well, but brings benefits to the body and builds strength, therefore it is widely accepted by beginners as well as by advanced practitioners.
Fu style Tai Chi Chuan has proven to be one of China's excellent forms of pugilism. In recent years it has spread to many parts of the world such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, Hawaii and Boston in the U.S.A. as well as to various places in Canada. It has gained acceptance from martial artists in the People's Republic of China as well as overseas.
Fu style Tai Chi possesses many qualitye that the other styles lack. The opening and closing hand formation, the turning of the waist, and the foot techniques are unique characteristics of the Fu style. However with respect to its benefits and contributions, Fu style, like other Tai Chi styles, enhances the art of attack and defence, promotes good health, wards off illness, and prolongs life.
Master Fu Wing Fai, after inheriting the legacy of the Fu style from his father, has studied and researched Fu Style for over forty years. Having a deep passion for martial arts, he has never deviated from the basic principles of martial arts. Tai Chi has always been separated into three levels. Learning should progress from basic to advanced, from simple to complicated. Fu style likewise has three levels of achievement: beginner, intermediate, and advanced, and both male and female students have to pass these stages before entering the Wu Dang internal school of martial arts.
Wu Dang consists essentially of Tai Chi, Leung Yee, Sei Jiang, Bak Gwa Change and the Dragon form, as well as broadsword, lance or spear, longsword, staff and forms of long fist. Because these are relatively difficult to master, a certain rigour and discipline is required and the student must have the perseverance, will power and stamina to complete the manoevres and forms.
The essence of Tai Chi is Yin and Yang. In the beginning Tai Chi requires the peacefulness and tranquillity of mind represented by Wu Ji, which is also the starting point of each action at each region: upper, middle, and lower. In each limb, movement represented by Tai Chi is germinated from lack of movement or Wu Ji. Every manoevre or step in Tai Chi incorporates as its basic principle the theory of Yin and Yang.
The foundation of each movement in Tai Chi is in the footwork: the forward step, the lift of the foot, the dropping of the foot, and the shift of weight. All are exceedingly important.
If one wants to learn Tai Chi well, first all the postures must be perfectly executed: light, loose and nimble; the stretches or extensions must be performed naturally and with ease and confidence. Of primary importance is perfecting the movements of the feet. The steps should be in precise multiples of 45 degrees, i.e., 45 °, 90 °, 135 °, in order that the movements are unaffected and natural. The stability of the step has great impact on the perfection of style.
Secondly, one must pay attention to opening and closing, bending up and bending down, bending to the side, rotating the waist horizontally, left and right twisting of the waist, embracing and separating with the arms, turning and redirecting the opponent's force, pushing and pulling, rolling back horizontally, and moving the hands from side to side in cloud hands action. There are thirteen postures as well: ward off, roll-back, press, push, pull down, split, elbow, shoulder strike, advance, retreat, look to the left, gaze to the right, and maintain central equilibrium.
Other requirements are: achieve tranquillity of mind and straightness of cervical vertebra and neck, relax the shoulders and lower the elbows, hollow the chest and round the back outwards, let the breath sink down into the dan tian, centre the coccyx in line with the spine, and distinguish clearly between empty and solid. The body is rooted through the feet and power is generated through the legs, the ruling force or originator of the movement is the waist, and the form is manifested through the hands. Each section is interconnected and performed without a break or slightest interruption. All of these are very important.
Fu style Tai Chi has some primary differences from other forms of Tai Chi in that other forms have a right form for many manoevres but not a left from. Fu style Tai Chi has right and left movements equally stressed. By performing the entire form one can get a balanced exercise. The empty step is another unique characteristic of Fu style. The intended distinction of each posture is realized through internal power. Because of this, the entire body is energised. Each section is interrelated and connected and the range of movement and rotation of the waist and hips is relatively wide. In every turn and movement, softness must complement hardness. The body must be agile and skilful, stretching and withdrawing must be performed freely, advance and retreat must be precisely executed. If the hips are loose, the steps can be quick and nimble, if the waist is loose the movements of the upper body can cover a greater range. It can be seen that Fu style Tai Chi is a style worth promoting and is a style that is conducive to enhancing one's health and well-being.