# Wu Ta-k'uei

Wu Ta-k'uei or Wu Dakui (1923–1972) was a Chinese Wu-style tai chi teacher of Manchu ancestry.

## Biography

The oldest son of Wu Gongyi, he was born in Beijing, raised in Shanghai (where he was first taught tai chi by his grandfather, Wu Jianquan) and spent most of his adult life teaching in Hong Kong. Wu Ta-k'uei was active in the resistance to the Japanese invasion of China, yet he later taught martial arts in Japan after the war.
Wu Ta-k'uei was reputed to be a fierce fighter, and known as always ready to accept a challenge match. He is reported to have never been defeated, and to have been famous for badly injuring and taunting his opponents in those matches. An attested story circulated about Wu Ta-k'uei was about a fight that started in a Hong Kong dockside bar between an unarmed Wu Ta-k'uei and "over 30" stevedores armed with clubs and boathooks. The dockworkers eventually fled to a local police station for protection from the enraged Wu. Interviews with dockworkers and the police records of this fight led to sensational newspaper headlines in Kowloon and Hong Kong.
Wu Ta-k'uei assisted his father and his uncle Wu Kung-tsao to set up academies in Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. He also sat on the Advisory Board of the Martial Art Association in Hong Kong and taught martial arts in the Kowloon Police Force.
His oldest son, Eddie Wu Kuang-yu, is the current "gate-keeper" of the Wu family.

## Generational senior instructors of the Wu family

1st Generation
* Wu Quanyou (1834–1902), who learned from Yang Luchan and Yang Banhou, was senior instructor of the family from 1870-1902.
2nd generation
* His oldest son, Wu Jianquan (1870–1942), was the senior instructor from 1902-1942.
3rd Generation
* His oldest son, Wu Gongyi (1900–1970) was senior from 1942-1970.
* Wu Gongyi's younger brother, Wu Kung-tsao (1903–1983), was senior from 1970-1983.
* Wu Gongyi's younger sister, Wu Yinghua (1907–1997), was senior from 1983-1997.
4th Generation
* Wu Gongyi's daughter, Wu Yanxia (1930–2001) was senior from 1997-2001.
* Wu Kung-tsao's son, Wu Daxin (1933–2005), was senior from 2001-2005.
5th Generation
* The current senior instructor of the Wu family is Wu Ta-k'uei's son Wu Kuang-yu (born 1946).

## Tai chi lineage tree with Wu-style focus

Note:
* This lineage tree is not comprehensive, but depicts those considered the 'gate-keepers' & most recognized individuals in each generation of Wu-style.
* Although many styles were passed down to respective descendants of the same family, the lineage focused on is that of the Wu style & not necessarily that of the family.
* v
* t
* e
| Key: | Key: | Key: | Key: | Key: | Key: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NEIJIA | NEIJIA | NEIJIA | NEIJIA | NEIJIA | NEIJIA |
| Key: | Key: | Key: | Key: | Key: | Key: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NEIJIA | NEIJIA | NEIJIA | NEIJIA | NEIJIA | NEIJIA | | | | | | | Solid lines | Solid lines | Solid lines | Solid lines | Solid lines | Solid lines | Direct teacher-student. | Direct teacher-student. | Direct teacher-student. | Direct teacher-student. | Direct teacher-student. | Direct teacher-student. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dot lines | Dot lines | Dot lines | Dot lines | Dot lines | Dot lines | Partial influence /taught informally /limited time. | Partial influence /taught informally /limited time. | Partial influence /taught informally /limited time. | Partial influence /taught informally /limited time. | Partial influence /taught informally /limited time. | Partial influence /taught informally /limited time. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TAI CHI | TAI CHI | TAI CHI | TAI CHI | TAI CHI | TAI CHI |
| | | | | | | Dash lines | Dash lines | Dash lines | Dash lines | Dash lines | Dash lines | Individual(s) omitted. | Individual(s) omitted. | Individual(s) omitted. | Individual(s) omitted. | Individual(s) omitted. | Individual(s) omitted. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dash cross | Dash cross | Dash cross | Dash cross | Dash cross | Dash cross | Branch continues. | Branch continues. | Branch continues. | Branch continues. | Branch continues. | Branch continues. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CHEN-STYLE | CHEN-STYLE | CHEN-STYLE | CHEN-STYLE | CHEN-STYLE | CHEN-STYLE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zhaobao-style | Zhaobao-style | Zhaobao-style | Zhaobao-style | Zhaobao-style | Zhaobao-style |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | YANG-STYLE | YANG-STYLE | YANG-STYLE | YANG-STYLE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | (王蘭亭) Wang Lanting 1840–? 2nd gen. Yang | (王蘭亭) Wang Lanting 1840–? 2nd gen. Yang | (王蘭亭) Wang Lanting 1840–? 2nd gen. Yang | (王蘭亭) Wang Lanting 1840–? 2nd gen. Yang | (王蘭亭) Wang Lanting 1840–? 2nd gen. Yang | (王蘭亭) Wang Lanting 1840–? 2nd gen. Yang | | | Yang Jianhou 1839–1917 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Yangjia Michuan | Yang Jianhou 1839–1917 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Yangjia Michuan | Yang Jianhou 1839–1917 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Yangjia Michuan | Yang Jianhou 1839–1917 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Yangjia Michuan | Yang Jianhou 1839–1917 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Yangjia Michuan | Yang Jianhou 1839–1917 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Yangjia Michuan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Yang Banhou 1837–1892 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Guang Ping Yang Yang Small Frame | Yang Banhou 1837–1892 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Guang Ping Yang Yang Small Frame | Yang Banhou 1837–1892 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Guang Ping Yang Yang Small Frame | Yang Banhou 1837–1892 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Guang Ping Yang Yang Small Frame | Yang Banhou 1837–1892 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Guang Ping Yang Yang Small Frame | Yang Banhou 1837–1892 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Guang Ping Yang Yang Small Frame | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | WU (HAO)-STYLE | WU (HAO)-STYLE | WU (HAO)-STYLE | WU (HAO)-STYLE | WU (HAO)-STYLE | WU (HAO)-STYLE | Zhaobao He-style | Zhaobao He-style | Zhaobao He-style | Zhaobao He-style | Zhaobao He-style | Zhaobao He-style |
| | | | Li-style | | | | | | | | Yang Shao-hou 1862–1930 3rd gen. Yang Yang Small Frame | | | | | Wu Quanyou 1834–1902 1st gen. Wu | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (齊閣臣) Qi Gechen 2nd gen. Wu | (齊閣臣) Qi Gechen 2nd gen. Wu | (齊閣臣) Qi Gechen 2nd gen. Wu | (齊閣臣) Qi Gechen 2nd gen. Wu | (齊閣臣) Qi Gechen 2nd gen. Wu | (齊閣臣) Qi Gechen 2nd gen. Wu | | | (夏公甫) Xia Gongfu 2nd gen. Wu | (夏公甫) Xia Gongfu 2nd gen. Wu | (夏公甫) Xia Gongfu 2nd gen. Wu | (夏公甫) Xia Gongfu 2nd gen. Wu | (夏公甫) Xia Gongfu 2nd gen. Wu | (夏公甫) Xia Gongfu 2nd gen. Wu | | | Wu Jianquan 1870–1942 2nd gen. Wu WU-STYLE 108 Form | Wu Jianquan 1870–1942 2nd gen. Wu WU-STYLE 108 Form | Wu Jianquan 1870–1942 2nd gen. Wu WU-STYLE 108 Form | Wu Jianquan 1870–1942 2nd gen. Wu WU-STYLE 108 Form | Wu Jianquan 1870–1942 2nd gen. Wu WU-STYLE 108 Form | Wu Jianquan 1870–1942 2nd gen. Wu WU-STYLE 108 Form | | | (常遠亭) Chang Yuanting 1860–1918 2nd gen. Wu | (常遠亭) Chang Yuanting 1860–1918 2nd gen. Wu | (常遠亭) Chang Yuanting 1860–1918 2nd gen. Wu | (常遠亭) Chang Yuanting 1860–1918 2nd gen. Wu | (常遠亭) Chang Yuanting 1860–1918 2nd gen. Wu | (常遠亭) Chang Yuanting 1860–1918 2nd gen. Wu | | | (郭松亭) Guo Songting 2nd gen. Wu | (郭松亭) Guo Songting 2nd gen. Wu | (郭松亭) Guo Songting 2nd gen. Wu | (郭松亭) Guo Songting 2nd gen. Wu | (郭松亭) Guo Songting 2nd gen. Wu | (郭松亭) Guo Songting 2nd gen. Wu | | | Wang Maozhai 1862–1940 2nd gen. Wu | Wang Maozhai 1862–1940 2nd gen. Wu | Wang Maozhai 1862–1940 2nd gen. Wu | Wang Maozhai 1862–1940 2nd gen. Wu | Wang Maozhai 1862–1940 2nd gen. Wu | Wang Maozhai 1862–1940 2nd gen. Wu | | | SUN-STYLE | SUN-STYLE | SUN-STYLE | SUN-STYLE | SUN-STYLE | SUN-STYLE | | | | |
| | | | | Dong Yingjie 1891–1960 4th gen. Yang | Dong Yingjie 1891–1960 4th gen. Yang | Dong Yingjie 1891–1960 4th gen. Yang | Dong Yingjie 1891–1960 4th gen. Yang | Dong Yingjie 1891–1960 4th gen. Yang | Dong Yingjie 1891–1960 4th gen. Yang | | | (齊敏軒) Qi Minxuan 3rd gen. Wu | (齊敏軒) Qi Minxuan 3rd gen. Wu | (齊敏軒) Qi Minxuan 3rd gen. Wu | (齊敏軒) Qi Minxuan 3rd gen. Wu | (齊敏軒) Qi Minxuan 3rd gen. Wu | (齊敏軒) Qi Minxuan 3rd gen. Wu | | | Cheng Wing Kwong 1903–1967 3rd gen. Wu | Cheng Wing Kwong 1903–1967 3rd gen. Wu | Cheng Wing Kwong 1903–1967 3rd gen. Wu | Cheng Wing Kwong 1903–1967 3rd gen. Wu | Cheng Wing Kwong 1903–1967 3rd gen. Wu | Cheng Wing Kwong 1903–1967 3rd gen. Wu | | | Wu Yinghua 1907–1997 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Yinghua 1907–1997 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Yinghua 1907–1997 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Yinghua 1907–1997 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Yinghua 1907–1997 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Yinghua 1907–1997 3rd gen. Wu | | | Wu Gongyi 1900–1970 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Gongyi 1900–1970 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Gongyi 1900–1970 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Gongyi 1900–1970 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Gongyi 1900–1970 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Gongyi 1900–1970 3rd gen. Wu | | | Wu Kung-tsao 1903–1983 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Kung-tsao 1903–1983 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Kung-tsao 1903–1983 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Kung-tsao 1903–1983 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Kung-tsao 1903–1983 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Kung-tsao 1903–1983 3rd gen. Wu | | | Ma Yueliang 1901–1998 3rd gen. Wu | Ma Yueliang 1901–1998 3rd gen. Wu | Ma Yueliang 1901–1998 3rd gen. Wu | Ma Yueliang 1901–1998 3rd gen. Wu | Ma Yueliang 1901–1998 3rd gen. Wu | Ma Yueliang 1901–1998 3rd gen. Wu | | | Yang Yuting 1887–1982 3rd gen. Wu | Yang Yuting 1887–1982 3rd gen. Wu | Yang Yuting 1887–1982 3rd gen. Wu | Yang Yuting 1887–1982 3rd gen. Wu | Yang Yuting 1887–1982 3rd gen. Wu | Yang Yuting 1887–1982 3rd gen. Wu | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (鄭天熊) Cheng Tin Hung 1930–2005 Wudang-style | (鄭天熊) Cheng Tin Hung 1930–2005 Wudang-style | (鄭天熊) Cheng Tin Hung 1930–2005 Wudang-style | (鄭天熊) Cheng Tin Hung 1930–2005 Wudang-style | (鄭天熊) Cheng Tin Hung 1930–2005 Wudang-style | (鄭天熊) Cheng Tin Hung 1930–2005 Wudang-style | | | | | | | Wu Ta-k'uei 1923–1972 4th gen. Wu | Wu Ta-k'uei 1923–1972 4th gen. Wu | Wu Ta-k'uei 1923–1972 4th gen. Wu | Wu Ta-k'uei 1923–1972 4th gen. Wu | Wu Ta-k'uei 1923–1972 4th gen. Wu | Wu Ta-k'uei 1923–1972 4th gen. Wu | | | Wu Yanxia 1930–2001 4th gen. Wu | Wu Yanxia 1930–2001 4th gen. Wu | Wu Yanxia 1930–2001 4th gen. Wu | Wu Yanxia 1930–2001 4th gen. Wu | Wu Yanxia 1930–2001 4th gen. Wu | Wu Yanxia 1930–2001 4th gen. Wu | | | Wu Daxin 1933–2005 4th gen. Wu | Wu Daxin 1933–2005 4th gen. Wu | Wu Daxin 1933–2005 4th gen. Wu | Wu Daxin 1933–2005 4th gen. Wu | Wu Daxin 1933–2005 4th gen. Wu | Wu Daxin 1933–2005 4th gen. Wu | | | (立群) Li Liqun 1924–2013 4th gen. Wu | (立群) Li Liqun 1924–2013 4th gen. Wu | (立群) Li Liqun 1924–2013 4th gen. Wu | (立群) Li Liqun 1924–2013 4th gen. Wu | (立群) Li Liqun 1924–2013 4th gen. Wu | (立群) Li Liqun 1924–2013 4th gen. Wu | | | Wang Peisheng 1919–2004 4th gen. Wu | Wang Peisheng 1919–2004 4th gen. Wu | Wang Peisheng 1919–2004 4th gen. Wu | Wang Peisheng 1919–2004 4th gen. Wu | Wang Peisheng 1919–2004 4th gen. Wu | Wang Peisheng 1919–2004 4th gen. Wu | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Wu Kuang-yu 1946–Present 5th gen. Wu | | | | | | | | | | | | (骆舒焕) Luo Shuhuan 1935–1987 5th gen. Wu | | | | | | | |
| CHEN-STYLE | CHEN-STYLE | CHEN-STYLE | CHEN-STYLE | CHEN-STYLE | CHEN-STYLE | | | YANG-STYLE | YANG-STYLE | YANG-STYLE | YANG-STYLE | YANG-STYLE | YANG-STYLE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | WU-STYLE | WU-STYLE | WU-STYLE | WU-STYLE | WU-STYLE | WU-STYLE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SUN-STYLE | SUN-STYLE | SUN-STYLE | SUN-STYLE | SUN-STYLE | SUN-STYLE | WU (HAO)-STYLE | WU (HAO)-STYLE | WU (HAO)-STYLE | WU (HAO)-STYLE | WU (HAO)-STYLE | WU (HAO)-STYLE |