31Years of Wu Tang PCA - Lower East Side, New York City
When the Wu Tang Physical Culture Association was conceived and named it was believed, by us that Wu Tang was a single mountain in China. We later discovered, however, that it is an entire mountain range. This distinction seems to be more apropos to the history of the Wu Tang Physical Culture Association as it had its beginnings in Frank�fs apartment on 6th Street where, on April 17, 1979. Frank has his first Wu Tang $5 class consisting of one person, Tommy Grossa. Frank's public teaching in 1979, and the founding and naming of the Wu Tang Physical Culture Association were at the strong suggestion of his private students at that time: Jackie Smyth, Mike Auriti, and Len Harris - the friend who gave Frank the moniker of "Snake". �� The First Wu Tang Location ��
Before telling you about the past twenty-nine years of the Wu Tang Physical Culture Association, it is important to take a look at Frank Allen�fs life as a student of martial arts and internal energy. This path had the spirit of inquiry and apprenticeship at its core. It was no accident that Frank met Jan �gThe Iron-Man�h Lang in 1972 through his friend Susie. Jan had recently finished a six-month intensive study with Bruce Kumar Frantzis and was one of Kumar�fs first four American students ever! Susie and Jan began studying Aikido at the New York Aikikai, and then talked Frank and his companion, Laurie Vizet into buying memberships there as well. In January of 1973 Frank started his first martial arts training in Aikido under Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei, and at the same time started studying the fundamentals of Internal Martial Arts and self defense with Jan Lang in his storefront on the Since that humble beginning, the Wu Tang has found itself in several different places in the East Village �gmountain range�h and surrounding areas. The search for a home culminated here, on its present mountain peak at 7-1/2 2nd Avenue, currently also known as 9 2nd Ave., the corner of 2nd Avenue and Houston, referred to as OHO, On Houston. For those who knew Frank, before his currant traveling phase, the notion of him traveling may have boggled the mind. However, in those early years he accepted offers for class space that covered a fairly wide territory. Within two weeks of that first Wu Tang class in 1979, Jan Stacy offered his �gCity Folk Arts�h store-front on Lafayette street.
Frank teach at City Folk Arts, 1979
Then, weekend classes were held at Gingerbread Day Care Center in the West Village. During the weekdays, Frank taught classes at Guy Pascuzo's in Glendale, Queens where there was enough space to teach boxing classes. Frank also offered classes in John Lewis�f and Carol Sun�fs loft under the Manhattan bridge which was named DUMBO for �gDown Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass�h. In 1980 the present facility, then belonging to Sean Rosenberg, became available for classes. Frank offered classes in Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing-I, Ba-Gua Zhang and boxing, alternating his travels to and from OHO, DUMBO, and Queens. Gradually the Wu Tang Physical Culture Association took root where we all now know it to be, but the gym looked and felt quite different in those days. The windows over the fire escape were a solid brick wall making the room very dark because there was no lighting or heating. Candles became the main source of light, which resulted in the creation of Candle Mountain, an add-on wax sculpture that became the hearth to gather around. Former Assistant Director, Clarence Lu said:�hThe early years of the Wu Tang PCA had the atmosphere of a private speakeasy combined with an old style martial arts/boxing gym...whenever someone hit the heavy bags, (there were two then) the floor shook, and all the broken mirrors were the product of someone crashing into them while sparring.�h
In the late 1980�fs, Master Carpenter Phil Matsu designed and constructed the shelves, desks and lofts with some initial help from Mary Christianson, Doug Westlake and Chris Allen �gThe gym�h, Frank recalls �glooked like a ripped-up apartment with some equipment around and some circles on the floor.�h
Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan), 1983 Ba Gua Zhang (Ba Gua Chang), 1982
Xing Yi Quan (Hsing I Chuan), 1983
The Wu Tang Fighters and Event Competitors
The first Public appearance of the Wu-Tang in competition was the Tiger Claw Open Style Tournament on �� Jon McCabe, Guy Pascuze,
Frank Allen, Mike Auriti, May 16, 1982 In those days, there was very little gear worn, which meant they did not wear head gear, shin guards, chest protectors or foot gear. They wore 10oz. boxing gloves, cups and mouthpieces but had nothing on their feet. They fought completely barefoot. It was full contact and KO�fs were allowed as well as all punches, kicks, sweeps, throws and knees to the body. Frank v.s. Mike Wallace May 16,? ��
Click HERE to continue the reading of " The Wu Tang Fighters and Event Competitors".
________________________________________________________________________________________
Wu Tang Candles Light up Worldwide
It has also become apparent to the students of the Wu Tang that Frank�fs teaching has also taken a turn in the last five years. He is developing a reputation for being �gthe man�h with whom to study Ba Gua Chang on the East Coast. His quarterly seminars in Ba Gua Zhang quickly fill up, which has encouraged him to go on and offer a week long Ba Gua Zhang seminar sponsored by Healing Tao In September of 2000, Frank taught his first European workshop for Chris Chappell�fs SkyChord Studios in He was asked to do some workshops in Frankfurt, Germany for Jamie Dibdin Internal Arts Studio and these continue to this day.
Frank was becoming increasingly sought after for private lessons from those that want to concentrate in a particular area of study. Some of these areas include utilizing the internal arts in boxing and fighting; more in depth study of the I Ching and its relation to the energies of Ba Gua; and a further study of weapons forms. So far, Frank has authored 31 articles for major martial arts and Taoist study magazines. Most were co-authored by Clarence Lu, some were co-authored by Sally Kealy and Terry Ferrari. Frank has also authored not yet published book �gThirteen Chapters on Celtic Taoism�h, and co-authored �gThe Kung Fu Almanac�h with Clarence Lu, which was purchased by a publishing company, but as yet also remains unpublished.
Forging the Path
Finaly, Frank and Tina published their books of "Classical Northern Wu Style Tai Ji Quan" in 2006; "The Whirling Circles of Ba Gua Zhang" in 2007, and Tina's "Earth Qi Gong for Women" in 2008. The dream of contribution of Chinese Internal Martial Arts to the world came true!