• GENERAL
  
• WUDANG SANFENG
  
• ZHAOBAO
  
• CHEN
  
• YANG
  
• WU (Wu Yuxiang)
  
• WU (Wu Jianquan)
  
• SUN
  
• HULEI
  
• OTHERS INTERNAL STYLES
  
  • XINGYI QUAN
  • BA GUA ZHANG
  • LIU HE BA FA
    
• WEAPONS
  
  • SWORD
  • SABER
  • SPEAR
  • STICK

WUDANG ZHAO BAO TAIJIQUAN (ZHAOBAO)

ZHAO BAO ORIGINS

Jiang Fa, (1547-1655) can be considered as the founder of this system of tai-chi chuan, whose Taoist roots have managed to prevail in such a way that the practitioners of the style feel proud of it, as much as of the particularly differentiating points that have been elaborated within the Zhao Bao.

Jiang Fa was originally from the town of Zhao Bao Zhen that gives its name to the style. He studied tai chi chuan (Taiji Quan) with Wang Zong Yue, who we know was a teacher, studied Taiji Quan and spear, and who also produced a compilation of theories on tai chi chuan that Zhang San Feng had formulated and transmitted orally through his successors. Wang Zong Yue added his own explanations to them, and titled the manuscript: "The theory of Taiji Quan". Wang Zong Yue indicates that he learned Taiji Quan from a Taoist monk, whose name is not mentioned, since by Taoist idiosyncrasy, humility is valued and personal fame is not sought after, although in respect to his ancestors, the monk did say that the art came from Zhang San Feng, who was another established Taoist monk from the sacred mountains of Wu Dang, in Hu Bei, China.

Jiang Fa studied with Wang Zong Yue for seven years after which he returned to his native town and choose only one student to pass on his abilities to, Xín Xîhuái. This way the line of succession of this tai chi chuan is inaugurated .

Xín Xîhuái as well, passed on his knowledge to Zhäng Chûchén, which made two students: Wáng Bâiqïng and Chén Jìngbâi.

The following successor was Zhäng Zöngyú, who taught Zhang Yàn and Yuán Fùkóng. Next followed Chén Qïngpíng who taught numerous students, twelve of which became famous, as Wû Yìxiäng (founder of the Wû form), Hé Zhàoyuán, (who made great contributions to the style) and Rèn Chángchün, whose student Dù Yuánhuà wrote Tàijí Quan Zhèn Zöng (Orthodox Treatise on the Taijiquan) in 1935.  The theory, the "bei si kou" method of training, and the seven levels of gong-fu are explained in this book.

Besides this work and previously like, Jiang Fa, Xín Xîhuái and Zhäng Chûchén had already written several texts that Wáng Bâiqïng compiled in 1728 under the title of "Taiji Mì Shù" (The Secret Theory and Technique of Taijiquan). Wáng Bâiqïng, in the prologue of his compilation, mentions the Taoist origin of Zhao Bao boxing and indicates that the secret of the technique resides indeed in the "Xiü Liàn" (Taoists Technical Power for Internal Development) and recommends not spreading these secret techniques to those who lack moral integrity or "Dé”