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 Short Form

The Wu-style Short Form is the ideal vehicle for anyone new to Tai Chi who wants an introduction to its principles without compromising the deeper benefits to health and vitality. Containing only 18 moves and lasting around four or five minutes, it is easy and quick enough for the busiest person to practice each day.

Longwater Tai Chi teaches the Wu-style short form in 4 distinct stages:

• Foundations - the basics of body alignment, how to shift weight, turn and start to feel your body.
• Landmark Positions - relatively quickly you learn the 18 key postures of the form, and memorise their sequence.
• Go with the Flow - the gaps between each landmark position are filled in and, over time, everything is smoothed out.
• Still and Deep - after much practice, you will begin to learn how to use the form to deeply relax, heal and meditate.