Although most famous for his tai chi, Wang began training in martial arts with the Ma Gui, learning Yin-style Baguazhang 64 Palms.
At the age of 15, he became a teaching assistant to tai chi master Yang Yuting.
After Yang's death in 1982, Wang became the head of the Northern Wu-style tai chi group in Beijing.
[1] Wang was also very skilled in tongbeiquan, tantui, xingyiquan, and bajiquan, having studied with famous masters of each of these arts.
In the 1950s he developed a shortened 37 posture Wu-style form presented in his book 'Wu-Style Tai Chi' (Zhaohua Publishing House, Beijing, 1983).