The Fu Family Wu Dang Wu Shu arts include Tai Chi Chuan, Bagua, Hsing-I as well as several other specialized styles and are classified as internal martial arts. Grandmaster Fu Zhen Song (1881-1953), was a famous practitioner of Bagua and created Fu Style Wu Dang Boxing.
Fu Zhen Song was born in HeNan province’s, Xin-Yangin district in the village of Ma-Po and as a teenager was very fond of martial arts. He began his studies in the small town of Chen Ja Go with Chen style sifu Chun Yen-Si a Chen Tai-Chi 8th generation master. During this time Fu also began his studies in Bagua Palm with Jia Chi-Hsan.
Later, Master Fu traveled throughout China seeking the best martial arts instructors and exchanged information with many of them. He learned, practiced, and taught martial arts over the entire course of his life and was famous for his Tai-Chi, Bagua, spear, and sword. Fu always helped those in need fending off bullies where ever he went. It was this boldness of character that led to his popularity during this time.
In 1925, Fu became the President of Tian Jing Martial Arts Association after having honorably served as a security guard for local businesses and banks. This brought him to the attention of the Chinese General Li Jin Lin.
General Li Jin Lin (photo on left), also known as “Miricle Sword Li”, was called by many (Chinese) the “Number 1 sword in the world” He was famous for his mastery of the sword and had heard of Fu’s accomplishments and deeds and invited Fu to teach his army martial arts, the broadsword, and other weapons. General Li also invited many of the best martial artists of other disciplines to teach, and discuss effective techniques for combat. This opportunity provided Fu contact with these martial arts masters and he was therefore able to learn their seperate fields of expertise. From this he perfected his own skills and was able to progress and develop more techniques and self-defense training creating his own style by distilling the various techniques from the other masters.
Among these styles are: Yin Bagua Palm, Yang Bagua palm, Orthodox Bagua palm, and Bagua Dragon Palm, Bagua Push hands, Tai Chi liang-Yi Boxing, Tai-Chi Lightning Palm, Spear, Broadsword, etc. By the 20th century Fu was well known all over the world in martial arts circles and in 1928 he became the Chief Instructor of the China Nanjing Martial Arts Association.
In 1929, the Governor of Guang-Dong, Li Ji Hsen, invited Fu and 4 other Masters: Gu Yu-Jiang, Wan Lai Hsen, Wang Shao-Jou, and Kang De-Hai (the 5 tigers, altogether) to his prefecture. This event was called “5 Tigers going south” and meant that 5 Northern Masters crossed the Yang Tze River to go to the southern part of China.
This is when Northern Styles of martial arts were introduced to Southern China and Fu Zhen Song became the first master to teach Northern style Taiji and Bagua to the South .