Eternal Spring Wu Taiji Madeira

After another week of intensive training here in Shanghai focusing on the indepth details of the fast form also known as the usage frame, I want to emphasise something.

The cultivation of Shen, Yi, and Qi is not limited to one single curriculum or lineage and is and will always be the most important part of Taijiquan for me. Having said that Just as in Wing Chun, my journey in Taijiquan has always been one of deep research, practice, and respect for multiple traditions.

After studying the Huang Sheng Shyan Taijiquan& Fujian White Crane hybrid system, I delved deeply into the Tian Zhaolin lineage in Shanghai. I eventually received the certificate of completion of the entire unarmed Tian Zhaolin lineage directly from Tian Zhaolin’s grandson, Tian Bing Yuan.

My next goal was to go deeper into the teachings connected to Yang Shao Hou, and especially Yang Ban Hou, since the Yang Jian Hou material was already extensively preserved within the Tian family curriculum.

This path let me to a 10 years study with Sifu Tam Maan Yin and eventually led me to Guiyang, where I began studying the Gu Lisheng lineage. Even after the passing of Sifu Qi Qisheng, I continue these studies in a lighter way online with some of his senior students.

Decades ago, one of my Taijiquan colleagues in Amsterdam, Sifu Henny Eleonora, once told me:

“Wu style is Old Style Yang.”

Those words stayed with me.

After researching the Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai Wu lineages, it became very clear to me which path I needed to follow.

Now over the last years organizing several events at the Eternal Spring Institute with Sifu Zhou Zhong Fu and after receiving private lessons to deeply explore the Wu curriculum in Shanghai, Istanbul, and Madeira, it has become clear to me that none of this was coincidence. Everything happened exactly as it was supposed to.

The systematic Wu Taijiquan curriculum of Ma Yueh Liang preserves an incredible amount of Old Yang Style material in a profoundly complete way. Had I not studied the Tian Zhaolin curriculum so deeply beforehand, I would never have fully appreciated what was preserved within it.

Even the ancient 7 stepping methods used in 13 unique Tui Shou cycles are preserved in Such a detailed Indepth way. Two of those stepping methods I had learned before but were missing some important details regarding close body kicks and sweeps.

九宮步 (Jiǔ Gōng Bù) — “Nine Palace Step,” based on the traditional nine-grid directional pattern.

七星步 (Qī Xīng Bù) — “Seven Star Step,” a compact guarding stepping method connected to seven-point alignment.
It’s wonderful that because of the detailed transmission it’s all still so well preserved within the Shanghai branch of the Ma Yueh Liang Wu Taijiquan curriculum.

All of the unique stepping patterns of old Yang Taijiquan remain preserved there in their entirety and I will do my utmost best to help preserve the complete curriculum through the efforts of the Eternal Spring institute.

Combined with the correct internal development, makes the Shanghai branch of Ma Yueh Liang Wu Taijiquan the Taijiquan curriculum of choice for the Eternal Spring Institute.

The deeper I go into the curriculum of these arts, the more I understand that true knowledge comes from keeping an open mind, respecting the past, and never limiting oneself to a single perspective.

Courage, peace, and love to all.

Sifu Sergio Pascal Iadarola
Founder of the IWKA and its Schools of Kung Fu department
CEO of the Eternal Spring Institute.
Co Founder of the Weng Chun& Fujian White Crane association Hong Kong.

Honoring Wu Yinghua , Guardian of the Wu Family Sword Tradition

Wu Yinghua was more than the daughter of Wu Jianquan, she was one of the greatest custodians of the Wu family legacy.

A highly accomplished swordswoman, Wu Yinghua preserved and transmitted all five traditional Wu Taijiquan jian (straight sword) sets, ensuring that this rare and sophisticated aspect of the system was not lost to history. Her swordsmanship reflected the true essence of Taijiquan: precision, balance, softness overcoming hardness, and unwavering intent.

The jian is often called the “Gentleman of Weapons,” requiring not only technical skill but also discipline, patience, and a calm spirit. Through decades of dedicated practice and teaching, Wu Yinghua safeguarded these treasured forms so future generations could continue to study the complete Wu family sword tradition.

Today, her legacy lives on in every practitioner who values authentic transmission and the preservation of traditional Chinese martial arts.

“To preserve tradition is to preserve the wisdom of those who came before us.”

An interesting point that’s often overlooked in discussions about the Wu fast form is the timeline.

If we follow the historical record, Wu Quanyou was a direct disciple of Yang Lu Chan and Yang Banhou whom he inherited the complete martial curriculum of the time. Yang Shaohou was Yang Banhou’s nephew and also learned within that same family tradition.

This raises an important question: why assume the Wu fast form had to come through Yang Shaohou when both Wu Quanyou and Yang Shaohou inherited the same martial tradition from Yang Banhou?

There is no historical statement from Ma Yueliang or other senior Wu family authorities saying that Wu Jianquan’s fast form was learned from Yang Shaohou. On the contrary, the fast form was transmitted within the Wu family as part of its own inherited curriculum.

Yang Shaohou was undoubtedly an extraordinary martial artist, and his reputation for fast, compact, combative Taijiquan is well deserved. But admiration should not be confused with historical evidence.

Until someone produces a primary historical source showing that Wu Jianquan learned the fast form from Yang Shaohou, the more straightforward conclusion is that Wu Quanyou and Yang Shaohou were both heirs to Yang Banhou’s martial teaching. Their respective lineages naturally preserved advanced methods, including fast practice.

History deserves evidence, not assumptions.

A rare glimpse into the history of the Wu family tradition.
From left to right: Ma Pu An (馬普安), Zhao Shou Cun (趙壽村), Ma Yueh Liang (馬岳良), and Wu Yaozong (吳耀宗).📸 Photograph taken in 1933.
This remarkable image captures four distinguished practitioners during a pivotal period in the development of Wu Taijiquan. At its center stands Ma Yueh Liang, who would later become one of the most influential inheritors and ambassadors of the Wu style, helping preserve and transmit the art to future generations.
Standing beside him is Wu Yaozong, representing the renowned Wu family whose dedication ensured the continuation of this refined internal martial art. Also pictured are Ma Pu An and Zhao Shou Cun, respected members of the early Wu Taijiquan community, whose contributions formed part of the living tradition passed down through practice rather than through books alone.
Photographs such as this are more than historical records they are windows into a generation that carried the authentic teachings through decades of change. They remind us that every movement, every principle, and every method we practice today has been preserved through the dedication of those who came before us.
A true treasure from 1933, connecting us directly to the roots of authentic Wu Taijiquan.

🙏🏻

“Great traditions are not preserved by chance they endure because extraordinary people dedicate their lives to them.

Wu Jianquan was one of those rare individuals. Born into the legacy of his father, Wu Quanyou, he refined and shared an art that would become one of the great classical styles of Tai Chi. Yet despite his own immense reputation, he never stopped learning.

His friendship and mutual respect with Yang Chengfu stand as a beautiful reminder that true masters seek understanding rather than rivalry. Though they represented different family traditions, they shared a common purpose: preserving the profound principles of Tai Chi for future generations.

Wu Jianquan also devoted himself to studying the internal classics under Song Shuming, deepening his understanding of the art beyond technique alone. He recognized that Tai Chi was not merely a collection of movements, but a complete internal system rooted in philosophy, sensitivity, and lifelong cultivation.

When the time came to entrust his life’s work to the next generation, he chose his son-in-law, Ma Yueliang, transmitting to him the complete Wu family curriculum not only the forms, but the applications, the internal methods, the weapons, the push hands, and the essence of the tradition itself. Through that transmission, an unbroken lineage continued.

Today, every sincere practitioner who values softness over force, humility over ego, and understanding over victory carries a small part of Wu Jianquan’s spirit. His legacy is not frozen in history it lives in every careful posture, every moment of listening, and every generation committed to preserving the art with integrity.

Some men leave behind books. Some leave monuments. Wu Jianquan left a living tradition that continues to shape hearts, minds, and hands around the world. ☯️🙏

Yes it was really amazing!

Day 3 of the intensive Wu Taijiquan Instructors Course with Sifu Zhou at the is a wrap and the feeling among the students is unanimous: total information overload in the best possible way.

The depth of the Shanghai Wu Lineage passed down through Ma Yuehliang is extraordinary. Every session reveals another layer of refinement: structure, sensitivity, timing, internal mechanics, partner work, and the subtle details that transform movement into true Taijiquan.

What becomes increasingly clear is how rich and complete this curriculum really is. Behind every posture lies decades of preserved knowledge and methodical transmission.

Grateful to experience such authentic teaching and to continue exploring the internal principles of the Wu family system.

Really amazing and graceful to be able to learn that amazing structured and detailed from this great teacher Zhongfu Zhou. Much respect how he lives, what he teaches, how he combined body, mind and heart and let it flow into the lessons.
Thanks to Sifu Sergio to make all of these possible and to my new kungfu bro‘s and sis to make it funny and the feeling of being home in a way!

Day 3 of the intensive Wu Taijiquan Instructors Course with Sifu Zhou at the is a wrap and the feeling among the students is unanimous: total information overload in the best possible way.

The depth of the Shanghai Wu Lineage passed down through Ma Yuehliang is extraordinary. Every session reveals another layer of refinement: structure, sensitivity, timing, internal mechanics, partner work, and the subtle details that transform movement into true Taijiquan.

What becomes increasingly clear is how rich and complete this curriculum really is. Behind every posture lies decades of preserved knowledge and methodical transmission.

Grateful to experience such authentic teaching and to continue exploring the internal principles of the Wu family system.