Disciple of Grand Master Wu Kung Yi
75th Anniversary Book, May 2012
The spread of Wu's Tai Chi to Southern China establishing a base and passing on genuine Tai Chi Chuan.
It is the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of the Wu's Tai Chi Chuan Academy Headquarters. As we all know, Chinese's Martíal Arts have been around for thousands of years. Since the end of the Qing Dynasty, Wu's Tai Chi Chuan has been passed on for five generations. The ancestors were generous in teaching Tai Chi's philosophy to those who were keen to learn. Those who learnt from them treasured the knowledge and through daily practice, were able to achieve good health. We are all so lucky to benefit from Tai Chi.
Tai Chi Chuan, which was previously only taught in the Royal Palace, became publicly taught in the early 1900s. The Yang & Wu families were very famous in Martial Arts circles. There existed numerous stories inside and outside of the Palace about their prowess.
During the occupation of Beijing by foreign forces towards the end of the 19th century, one morning Grand Master Wu ChienChuan heard a rifle shot. He left on horse back in a hurry with his bow. Foreign soldiers chased after him and Grand Master Wu ChienChuan shot two soldiers with arrows from horseback.
After this, there was chaos in the city and many were thinking about moving away. Grand Master Wu ChienChuan's family moved south first from Beijing to Cheung Sha, then to Guangzhou and eventually to Hong Kong to establish the 1st Wu's Tai Chi Chuan Academy in Hong Kong.
The Wu family travelled thousands of miles southward. Wherever they stayed, the seeds of Wu's Tai Chi Chuan were sowed.
Grand Master Wu Kung Cho was the teacher of General Ho Kin and also the army training Head at Cheung Sha. In Guangzhou, the Chin Woo Sports Club extended a huge welcome. Lau Wing Him, Chiu Chun, Choi Kai Chiu were also admitted as disciples. Grand Master Wu Kung Yi admitted Yuk Yan from Macau York Shan Temple as a disciple. Grand Master Tai Kwei demonstrated his Martial Arts at Faoshan and admitted students and disciples. The Group expanded to over a hundred spanning two generations. At that time in Hong Kong, through the Headquarters and its branch, under the leadership of Grand Master Wu Tai Chi, Grand Master Wu Tai Sin and Grand Master Wu Yan Hsia, there were 9 rounds of disciples admitted over a few decades. I was fortunate enough to be the Master of Ceremony at some of these ceremonies.
Grand Master Wu Kung Yi was invited to Singapore in 1958 to establish a Branch. It has been in existence now for over half a century with quite a number of disciples.
Grand Master Wu Kwong Yu has lived in Canada for over 30 years. He established the international academy branches for Wu's Tai Chi Chuan. His disciples include Chinese & westerners. He is well recognized around the world. Subsequently, he returned to Hong Kong to be the Gatekeeper. Because of his diligence, the Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Academy headquarters has now been refreshed, and new comers to learn Tai Chi are increasing. We all support his target of further expansion and development.
How time flies! It has been 75 years since Grand Master Wu Kung Yi and Grand Master Wu Kung Cho came to Hong Kong in 1937 to establish the Hong Kong ChienChuan Tai Chi Academy, located at 4/F, 387, Lockhart Rd. It was the base from which Wu's Tai Chi Chuan developed in Hong Kong. Subsequently, an Academy's Executive Committee was formed. There have been 32 committees over the years There has been growth over the years in both students & activities. The executive committee has been instrumental in the growth of the Academy in terms of student population and prosperity. Those who have served as Committee members, just to name a few are, Kwok Hsia Jong, Dai Shiu Chiu, Chung Ngok Ping, Lee Chi Nam, Ho San, Wong Hon Wing, Ng Man Biu, Ho Biu, Hui Dao San, Ng Chiu Kit, Lee Yiu Tong, Yip Shui Leung, Chan Pui Wah, Chan Cheong Lap, Shek Yiu Choi, Heung Lap Chi(各常任理事有郭少烱、戴少樵、鍾岳平、李志楠、何生丶黃漢榮、吳文表、何標、許道生、吳超杰、李耀棠、葉樹良、陳沛華、陳昌立、石耀初丶香立智）,and the current Committee President Chui Shing Yip(徐成業), along with many other committee members who have contributed significantly; and helped to bring about the growth of Wu's Tai Chi Chuan Academy to-date.
