[1] The oldest son of Wu Gongyi, he was born in Beijing, raised in Shanghai (where he was first taught tai chi by his grandfather, Wu Jianquan) and spent most of his adult life teaching in Hong Kong.
[2][3] Wu Ta-k'uei was active in the resistance to the Japanese invasion of China, yet he later taught martial arts in Japan after the war.
[2] Wu Ta-k'uei was reputed to be a fierce fighter, and known as always ready to accept a challenge match.
The dockworkers eventually fled to a local police station for protection from the enraged Wu.
Interviews with dockworkers and the police records of this fight led to sensational newspaper headlines in Kowloon and Hong Kong.