Tai Yi is distinctive to Wudang, and is part of a broader Liangyi system that emphasises the separation of yin and yang and dualities such as hard and soft; fast and slow, withdraw and attack. While Tai Ji is generally performed at the same speed throughout, Tai Yi is characterised by soft, slow movements suddenly punctuated fast and powerful explosive movements. Internal power is generated and then explosively expressed. Most of the Wudang weapons systems, including its famous sword-work, are Tai Yi systems.

At Daoshu we will initially study empty hand Tai Yi forms such as Wuxing Quan, and then eventually progress to sword, staff and fuchen (horsetail whisk) practice. These forms will be studied in the Gong Fu class, following the initial burst energy during Long Fist practice. We will use the moment of spent, tired muscles as a departure point to return to an internal, technical focus. 

In this section of the class we will also occasionally practice basic drills from Bagua Zhang and Xingyi in preparation for detailed study of these fascinating internal styles at a future point.