What Is Wudang Yang Style Tai Chi?
Wudang Yang Style Tai Chi blends the soft, expansive movements of traditional Yang-style Tai Chi with the internal energy cultivation and spiritual wisdom of Wudang Daoism. This unique fusion emphasizes harmony between mind, body, and spirit.
While Yang-style Tai Chi is well known for its graceful and accessible form, the Wudang lineage preserves its Daoist roots, connecting every movement with breath, intention, and Qi (life force energy). The result is more than physical exercise—it’s a moving meditation that cultivates vitality, awareness, and inner peace.
Classes go beyond choreography. Students also learn:
- Daoist breathing techniques
- Qigong warm-ups
- Foundational postures
- Philosophical teachings for personal growth
🏯 Wudang Mountain: Sacred Origin of Internal Arts
Wudang Mountain (武当山) is located in Hubei Province, China, and is one of the most important Daoist spiritual centers. Its ancient temples and misty forests have inspired meditation, martial practice, and philosophical study for over a thousand years.
Wudang is the birthplace of:
- Tai Chi (Taijiquan)
- Wudang Kung Fu
- Bagua Zhang
- Xing Yi Quan
Unlike external styles like Shaolin, Wudang arts focus on cultivating internal energy, aligning with the Dao (Way), and finding strength through softness.
Zhang Sanfeng: The Legendary Founder
Zhang Sanfeng (张三丰) is the legendary Daoist immortal credited with creating Tai Chi. Though historical details are debated, he is remembered for retreating into Wudang’s mountains to study meditation and nature.
Legend tells of him observing a crane and a snake—a graceful balance of hard and soft, yielding and striking. This inspired him to develop a martial art based on:
- Yin and Yang
- Circular motion
- Internal power (Fa Jin 发劲)
Zhang Sanfeng is honored not just as a martial innovator, but as a spiritual teacher who embodied the Daoist path of living simply, naturally, and in harmony with the universe.
🌀 The Three Parts of Wudang Tai Chi
Wudang Tai Chi is part of a larger system made up of three stages. Each one helps you build strength, awareness, and energy from the inside out.
1. Wuji (无极): The Still Point
Wuji means “emptiness” or “stillness.” In class, we practice this through standing meditation—learning how to be calm, quiet, and connected to our breath. This stage builds our internal energy and helps us feel more grounded.
Wuji helps us cultivate three essential life forces:
- Jing – our body’s essence and foundation
- Qi – the energy that flows through us
- Shen – the spirit or clarity of mind
2. Taiji (太极): Balancing Yin and Yang
This is what most people recognize as Tai Chi—slow, flowing movements that build balance and focus. In this part of the system, we learn how to:
- Move with softness and grace
- Breathe deeply from our Dantian (lower belly)
- Let the mind lead the body
Although the movements look gentle, they train strong internal power. We call this “soft on the outside, strong on the inside.”
3. Liang Yi (两仪): Power in Action
Liang Yi Quan is the martial application of Tai Chi. It teaches us how to separate yin and yang—soft and strong—and express energy in powerful bursts. Movements start soft and slow, then suddenly release force using a skill called Fa Jin (发劲). This part of the system helps us protect ourselves, strengthen our posture, and train timing and reaction.
🧘♀️ Why Practice Wudang Yang Style Tai Chi?
Wudang Tai Chi is a path to holistic well-being. Students often experience:
- Increased balance, flexibility, and strength
- Improved mental clarity and calm
- Enhanced breath control and internal awareness
- Reduction in stress, anxiety, and fatigue
- A sense of spiritual grounding and energetic flow
More than a movement system, Wudang Tai Chi is a way of life—a way to return to your natural rhythm and walk in harmony with the world around you.
