Taiji. Martial Arts for Health & Longevity.
Rooted in Daoist Energy Arts, Taiji is a martial art that has evolved into a profound practice for health, healing, and spiritual growth.
What is Taiji?
Originally developed as a martial art for warfare, Taiji incorporated the Daoist technologies of Neigong and Qigong. Over generations, it became a system not only for combat but also for cultivating balance, vitality, and longevity.
At Water Neigong, we train Taiji primarily as a practice for health, self-development, and inner strength - preserving its martial roots while emphasising its benefits for body and mind.
Taiji vs Taijiquan
Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan): the martial-oriented form, developed for combat applications.
Taiji: the health-focused approach, emphasising healing, balance, and spiritual growth.
Both share the same internal mechanics - the difference lies in where the energy is directed: outward in martial arts, inward in health and healing.
The Taiji Learning path
Training in Taiji is a systematic approach to transforming body and mind for health, healing, and growth.
The curriculum at Water Neigong includes the big frame of Yang Taiji to start the journey and the small frame of Wu Taiji to go deeper into the internal work:
Yang Style Taiji — large, circular movements ideal for opening the body, building foundations, and establishing energy flow.
Wu Style Taiji — a refined, subtle frame that deepens internal practice and embodies the full Neigong system.
Together, they create a complete system of Internal Taiji, incorporating the Neigong of the Water Tradition as passed down by Master Bruce Frantzis.
Yang Style Taiji
Students begin with Yang Style Taiji, learning a variation of Yang Chengfu’s form as taught by Paul Cavel. Its expansive, circular movements open the body, introduce key Taiji principles, and establish energy flow.
In parallel, students train the Daoist Neigong programme (Water and Wood elements), which provides the internal foundations for Taiji movements. Once proficiency is reached, students may progress to Wu Style Taiji.
Wu Style Taiji - A direct lineage
Wu Style Taiji, as taught at Water Neigong, can contain all 16 components of Neigong and serves as a direct vehicle for Daoist Meditation.
Lineage:
Grandmaster Liu Hongjie learned directly from Wu Jianquan, becoming a lineage holder. He then deepened the internal work within Wu Taiji to incorporate the Meditation and Shengong (Spirit Work) he had learned from the Daoist sages of the Water Tradition.
He later passed on the Wu Taiji long form, Bagua, Neigong, and Meditation systems to Bruce Frantzis, who was recognised as a lineage holder in the 1980s.
Under Liu’s supervision, Bruce Frantzis created the Wu Short Form and later developed the Wu Medium Form.
Through this direct lineage, students at Water Neigong receive Wu Style Taiji as an authentic and pure form.
