The Beginning of Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Wu style Tai Chi Chuan was developed and evolved based on Yang Style.
Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan's 1st generation, Grand Master Chuan Yau (1834-1902). a Manchurian, learnt Tai Chi Chuan from Yang Lu-Chan and was later became a disciple to his second son.
Grand Master Wu Chien Chuan (1870-1942) was the 2nd generation of Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan. His original name was Wu-jia-ha-la, ai-shen. After establishment of the Republic of China, he followed the Chinese culture at the time and took on "Wu" as his last name. He learnt Tai Chi Chuan at a very young age from Grand Master Chuan Yau. Before the establishment of Republic of China, he was the Martial Arts Chief Instructor at the President's Security Force. In 1916, Grand Master Wu Chien Chuan and a group of famous Martial Artists in Beijing, established the Beijing Sports Institution, joined by about 60 sports teachers from various secondary schools and universities. Wu Style 3rd generation, Grand Master Wu Kung Yi and Grand Master Wu Kung Cho, were the 1st batch of graduates from the institution. Since the graduates were all well recognized by the Dean of Beijing University, under his recommendation, the Department of Education provided the land and expanded the institution which became Beijing School of Sports, and requested each province to send top students for training. These top students were trained at the School for two years and after their graduation were sent back to their provinces as Wushu teachers. Hence the spread of Wu Style all over the country.
In 1924, The Commissioner of The Army Medical Department at the Canton National Revolutionary Army Headquarters, who was also the Dean of National Sun Yat-sen University, and the Dean of Whampoa Military Academy invited Grand Master Wu Kung Yi to be the Chief Instructor of Tai Chi Chuan to the Departments Newly Recruited and Senior Class, as well as the Sports Lecturer at the University.
Grand Master Wu Chien Chuan was also appointed to the Judging Committee each year at the Wushu examination at the Nanjing Central Wushu Institution.
In 1928, the Shanghai Municipal Government, Jing Wu Sports Association, Sino-French University, and several famous persons at the time, invited Grand Master Wu Chien Chuan to come to Southern Chína to teach Tai Chi Chuan. He attracted many practitioners and followers. In 1929, Grand Master Wu Kung Cho went to Shanghai to teach at the Jing Wu Sports Association. In 1935, the first Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Academy Was established in Shanghai, chaired by Grand Master Wu Chien Chuan.
In 1937, Grand Master Wu Kung Yi and Grand Master Wu Kung Cho moved south to Hong Kong, and established the Academy, while Grand Master Wu Kung Yi, his brother Wu Kung Cho and his eldest son, Grand Master Wu Tai Kwei set up academies in Guangzhou and Macau. When the Japanese took over Hong Kong, the Wu family moved to Mainland China until Hong Kong was liberated.