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Stories about Wu style
In the 1954 there was a famous charity fight in Macau between
White Crane stylist Chen Kefu and Wu Gongyi (Wu Jianquan's eldest son).
The rules seemed to prohibit grabbing and throwing as well as striking
certain targets. At the beginning of the opening round, Wu landed a
punch on Chen's nose which started to bleed profusely. However, the
fight was stopped at the end of the second round after an illegal kick
to the knee. Nevertheless, this match increased Wu style's popularity
in Southeast Asia.
From T.Y. Pang's "On Tai Chi Chuan"
Quan You served as a bodyguard for a Royal Prince of the Qing Dynasty.
He learned Taijiquan from Yang Luchan when Yang was appointed Chief
Instructor of the Shenjiying (Divine Skill Battalion of the Royal
Security Guards). One day, when Yang Banhou (1837-1892) was teaching
for his father, he injured Quan You's leg in a throw. When Yang Luchan
learned of the injury, he taught Quan You what do so that he would not
be thrown out in push hands anymore. Later, when Banhou was unable to
throw Quan You again, he complained to his father that Taiji did not
belong to the Yangs anymore. Luchan responded that as he had learned
from Chen Changxing, he was going to teach whoever was worthy. Banhou
remained unhappy. Perhaps in order to console Banhou, Luchan talked to
Quan You and arranged to have him become Banhou's student.
From July 1999 issue of Wushu Kungfu
magazine
William Wyney, an American wrestler traveled to China in the early
years of the century. He went from martial artist to martial artist,
challenging them to test his skill, and beating them all. Then he
challenged the taiji practitioners in Shanghai. This was before taiji
had split into the now traditional five distinct styles, and the taiji
community chose Wu Jianquan to respond to the challenge. Wu won, and
Wyney became his student.
From July 1999 issue of Wushu Kungfu
magazine
In the early part of the century, Ma Yueliang, as a young man, studied
with Song Manlun. Later he met Wu Jianquan and challenged him. He lost
and went back to his teacher to study more. He challenged Wu Jianquan
again and again lost. After a third challenge and loss, he became Wu
Jianquan's disciple at the age of thirty. Later he married Wu Yinghua
(1907-1996), Wu Jianquan's daughter.
From "太極秘譜詮真" by 顏紫元
After 1945, there were a lot of American soldiers in
Shanghai. One day, Ma Yueliang was passing through a narrow
alleyway when he saw a large, tall American soldier who had one hand
propped against the wall, forcing people to lower their heads and walk
under his arm. At the time, many people simply lowered their head
and bore the disgrace. However, Ma Yueliang didn't like this
uncivilized behavior, so he told the soldier, in english, to lower his
arm (Ma had learned some english at the medical school he went
to). The soldier punched at him, but Ma stepped back and with a
big "rollback" (lu, 捋) sent the soldier to the ground.
The American got up screaming and threw a viscious kick at Ma.
However, Ma saw it coming and before the leg had fully extended,
Ma had already stepped in. Using "Jade Girl Works the Shuttles",
he knocked the soldier down again. Ma said, "Come on, try
again!", but the soldier, after getting up and slapping the mud off his
butt, only gave Ma a big thumbs up and walked away, not daring to
initiate more problems.
Application photo of Wu Jianquan
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Macau 1954, first punch by Wu.
Wu Gongyi is on the right.
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