All Tai Chi styles have more in common with each other then they have differences. The key to a fine style or "form" is that it is a good container for the deeper internal principles it was designed for, just as a fine champagne requires a strong bottle to contain it. There are 5 main styles - Yang, Wu, Chen, Hao and Combination.

A Tai Chi form can be either large, medium or small "frame", which dictates the amount of space required to perform it as well as the actual physical extensions involved. It can also be "short" or "long", which simply describes the number of individual movements the form contains. Where Yang-style forms are traditionally medium to large frame and develop very high quality martial skills and chi gung (internal subtle energy work), many of the Wu-style forms, and in particular the style Longwater Tai Chi teaches, are small frame and perfect containers for health chi gung and meditation. That is not say these small frame forms are not good for martial arts - simply that they are more condensed and obtaining a high level of skill requires greater dedication.

The form taught at Longwater Tai Chi was originally developed by Wu Jien Ch'uan, who was a Taoist at heart and adapted the form from its' martial Yang-style roots as a vehicle for health and meditation. He in turn passed it on to his disciple Liu Hung Chieh, who was later declared enlightened by the Tien Tai School of Chinese Buddhism. Liu only accepted two disciples during his life, one of whom was Bruce Frantzis, whom he formally passed his lineage to in 1986.

The Long Form

Wu-style Tai Chi is particularly beneficial for facilitating the healing of injuries, especially back problems. The long form we teach at Longwater Tai Chi may take several years to learn, but you then have the ability to get a full workout that upgrades your body, energy levels, mind and spirit.

List of Moves (Section 1): Beginning Form | Ward Off Left | Ward Off Right | Rollback | Press | Push | Single Whip | Double Shoulder Stroke | White Crane Spreads Wings | Brush Knee Twist Step | Play Guitar | Brush Knee Twist Step (3) | Lift Hands | Step Up, Parry And Punch | Closing Up (Apparently Closed) | Tiger And Leopard Spring To Mountain | Cross Hands.

List of Moves (Section 2): Embrace Tiger Return to Mountain | Grasp Birds Tail | Diagonal Single Whip | Fist Under Elbow | Repulse Monkey (3) | Diagonal Flying / Shoulder Stroke | White Crane Spreads Wings | Brush Knee Twist Step (1) | Needle at Sea Bottom | Fan Through Back | Turn & Chop with Fist | Step Back Parry & Punch | Step Up Grasp Birds Tail | Single Whip | Cloud Hands (4) | Single Whip | Pat the Horse | Separate Hands | Right Toe Kick | Pat the Horse | Separate Hands | Left Toe Kick | Turn & Kick with Heel | Brush Knee Twist Step (2) | Planting Punch (Punch Down) | Turn & Chop with Fist | Pat the Horse | Separate Hands | Right Heel Kick | White Crane Stands Alone | Strike Tiger (2) | Right Parting Kick | Box the Ears | Spin Body Double Kick | Lift Hands | Step Up, Parry & Punch | Closing Up | Tiger & Leopard Spring to Mountain | Cross Hands.

List of Moves (Section 3): Embrace Tiger Return to Mountain | Grasp Birds Tail | Diagonal Single Whip | Play Guitar | Part Horses Mane (3) | Weave The Shuttles (4) | Grasp Birds Tail | Single Whip | Cloud Hands (3) | Single Whip | Snake Creeps Down | Metal Bird Stands On One Leg | Repulse Monkey (3) | Diagonal Flying/Shoulder Stroke | White Crane Spreads Wings | Brush Knee Twist Step | Needle At Sea Bottom | Fan Through Back | Turn & Chop Fist | Step Forward, Parry & Punch – Circular Punch | Step Up Grasp Birds Tail | Single Whip | Cloud Hands (2) | Single Whip | White Snake spits out Tongue | Single Lotus Kick | Brush Knee Twist Step (1) | Punch Down / Circular Punch | Grasp Birds Tail | Single Whip| Snake Creeps Down | Step Up Seven Stars | Step Back Ride Tiger | Turn & Slap Face | Double Lotus Kick | Bend Bow Shoot Tiger | Slap Face | Turn & Chop Fist | Step forward Pat Horse | Step forward Grasp Birds Tail | Single Whip | End form.