Wu Jianquan was originally an Imperial Guard in the palace battalion of the Qing Dynasty, but after the emperor Puyi abdicated the throne, he was appointed teacher to the Eleventh Corps of the Presidential Body Guards. It is said that he was also good at horse-riding and arrow shooting and could hide himself under the saddle of a horse or stand on his head on the back of a horse when it was running fast. In 1916 he, along with other famous wushu experts of the time including Yang Shaohou, Yang Chengfu, and Sun Lutang, established the Beijing Institute of Physical Education. Wu Jianquan's sons, Wu Gongyi and Wu Gongzhao were among the first graduates. Other students were selected from provinces throughout China and trained at the school for a period of two years. After returning to their homes they became wushu teachers. This helped spread Wu style Taijiquan throughout China.

In 1935, Wu Jianquan established what is now the Jian Quan Taijiquan Association in Shanghai. When he passed away in 1942, his eldest daughter, Wu Yinghua (1907-1996), and his son-in-law, Ma Yueliang (1901-1998), became director and deptuy director of the association, respectively. Their eldest son, Ma Hailong, is the current director.

Wu style Taijiquan has a variety of forms. In the primary branch from the old Shanghai association, there are three empty-hand forms: the short form, long form, and fast form. Also taught are the 13 push-hands (tui shou) drills which develop and apply the fundamental movements embodied in the short, long, and fast forms. The weapons forms include sword (jian), sabre (dao), spear (qiang), and staff.

Hong Zhongnan (洪宗南), a trustee of the Shanghai association, teaches the short form, long form, fast form, sword form, and push hands. For years, classes were held on the U.C. Berkeley Campus just south of Koshland Hall every Thursday night from 7:30pm till 9:00pm. Master Hong currently only teaches private lessons at his home in Walnut Creek, California.