Taihe Wudang Taijiquan is an ancient form of Taijiquan that traces directly back to traditional Taoism. Unlike the many popular styles of Taijiquan practiced today, this distinct branch adheres to its own unique principles, techniques, and training methods. Due to its secretly bequeathed method, the teaching of Taihe Wudang Taijiquan has been strictly regulated, with each generation spanning a full 60-year cycle (a Jiazi in the Chinese lunar calendar), and only two disciples being taught per generation. This has led to its near extinction in the public domain.

Taihe Wudang Taijiquan is a rare gem in China’s Taoist cultivation culture, standing out with its unique theory and practices. It integrates Taoist teachings with martial arts, blending them into a unified approach to physical and spiritual cultivation, where martial techniques and Taoist principles become one.

The practice begins with stillness, balancing yin and yang. Practitioners first relax into softness, and then activate the muscles to build strength. The tendons stretch like bowstrings, the bones align like a bow’s frame, and the mind guides the body’s movements in harmony with the Five Elements. As yin grows, yang diminishes; as  yang prevails, yin retreats. The mind directs the flow of breath and energy, strengthening the bones and tendons. Each movement is infused with power: gentle at the start, resolute at the finis, the qi sinks to the Dantian, and the tailbone stretches outwards.

In Taijiquan practice, maintaining a stable posture is essential, with the navel (Mingmen or the Life Gate) serving as the central axis. The posture should be upright yet relaxed, with yin and yang forces contest within. Every movement follows both square and circular paths, embodying internal and external spirals throughout the body. The distinctive style of Taihe Wudang Taijiquan is characterized by the coiling, twisting, rolling, and releasing of the body, stretching the tendons and bones in the process.