The founders of the Wu-Tang Clan were RZA, GZA, and Ol' Dirty Bastard, who had previously formed the group Force of the Imperial Master (later known as All in Together Now after the release of a popular single by that name). The group attracted the attention of some notable figures in the industry, including Biz Markie[2], but did not manage to secure a record deal. After the crew dissolved, GZA (then known as The Genius) and The RZA (then known as Prince Rakeem) embarked on their solo careers with Cold Chillin' Records and Tommy Boy Records respectively, but to little success. Their frustration with the workings of the hip hop music industry would provide the main inspiration to Wu-Tang Clan's revolutionary business plan. According to The Wu-Tang Manual, at the group's inception, RZA promised the members that if he had total control of the Wu-Tang empire, it would conquer the hip-hop world within a dynastic cycle, after which he would relinquish his total control. Wu-Tang Clan was gradually assembled in late 1992 from friends and accomplices from around Staten Island, with The RZA as the de facto leader and the group's producer.[3] Two of the cousins, GZA (pronounced Jizza) and The RZA (pronounced Rizza), created their new Wu-Tang aliases by mimicking the sound that the words "Genius" and "Rakeem" (RZA's old alias) would make when scratched on a turntable. Shaolin MonasteryThe name "Wu-Tang" is derived from the name of the holy mountain Wu Dang (Wudang Shan) in northwest Hubei Province in central China with long history associated with Chinese culture, especially Taoism, martial arts and medicine; it was also the site of the Ming Dynasty Purple Imperial City built during the reign of the Yongle Emperor in the early 15th century. The RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard adopted the name for the group after seeing the Kung fu film Shaolin and Wu Tang, which features a school of warriors trained in Wu-Tang style. The group's debut album loosely adopted a Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang theme, dividing the album into Shaolin and Wu-Tang sections. The album also features several samples from the film. The group has also developed various backronyms for the name (as hip hop pioneers like KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane did with their names), including "We Usually Take All Niggas' Garments," "Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game" and "Wisdom, Universe, Truth, Allah, Nation, and God". Popa Wu has also mentioned that the "Wu" is the sound a sword makes when cutting through the air, and "Tang" is the sound it makes against a shield. ................The Wu Tang seeks to preserve, study, teach, and advance the martial arts developed in ancient China. The Wu Tang teaches self-defense and advanced fighting techniques, as well as the philosophy and psychology of fighting. The Wu Tang employs a traditional style of instructionâ€‿a style of training that emphasizes the studying of forms (sequences of movement) and how to use those forms. The Wu Tang teaches combat in real world situationsâ€‿when your life depends on it. Everything we teach has a purpose. The Wu Tang teaches several styles of Northern style Kung Fu, which when properly understood, modify and enhance one’s skills as a kung fu practitioner. Both Internal and External styles are studied to give the student ability to fight with both types of power. Generally, students begin by studying the basic foundational stances that are the building blocks of everything one will learn in Kung Fu. Like a building without a strong foundation, a fighter without a good foundation is weak and unstable. Structure gives one both protection and power. Students then learn long fist, a style that emphasizes flexibility, stretching, and stamina. At the Wu Tang we teach Tan Tuei (spring legs), which is a basic form of Long Fist. Its relative simplicity allows the learner to gain a greater awareness of his/her body, and it gives the learner a taste of learning long sequences of movements. Despite it’s “simplicity‿, Tan Tuei is an efficient and powerful fighting style. After developing both physically and mentally through learning long fist, the next step is usually the praying mantis style of Kung Fu. Praying Mantis emphasizes using speed and power together. Students study how to control enemies, critical strikes, close- and middle-range fighting for engaging multiple opponents. Praying Mantis Kung Fu is a vicious fighting style that requires dedication and a deep understanding of one’s own body and those of others. The Wu Tang also teaches Tai Chi Chuan, which many people regard as simply exercise. The Wu Tang teaches Tai Chi Chuan in the proper manner, emphasizing that Tai Chi, roughly translated, means Great Power. It is a martial art, and without understanding that it is meant for fighting, one cannot gain all the benefits that the study of Tai Chi offers. Students are trained to not only learn the sequences of movements, but to apply them and how to generate the most power from them. What the western world refers to as martial arts is actually a scienceâ€‿a science of how to fight in war. At times of war, one does not march into battle empty handed. Instead, a soldier takes weapons with him. At the Wu Tang, training in combat with weapons is regarded as both useful and necessary. Once students have developed both their minds and bodies to the proper level with empty-handed combat, learning armed combat enhances their awareness and abilities. Wu Tang teaches combat with the Da Dau (Saber or Chinese Broadsword), Double Sabers, The Jinn (the Chinese Long Sword), the Staff, and the Spear. Finally, after years of study at the Wu Tang, some students are offered the chance to learn Ba Chi Chuan and Pi Kua Chuan. These styles are a combination of both internal and external power, and both complement one’s abilities in other fighting styles. Ba Chi means roughly “eight powers,‿ and it emphasizes structure that creates power. It teaches a fighter to use all the weapons of the body. Pi Kua or “Axe Hands‿ uses flexibility and flowing motion to generate power. Wu Tang Kung Fu is not for everyone. It requires time, patience, dedication, and intelligence. Fighting is a science that requires thought, analysis of problems, experimentation, and practice. Mastery or even understanding of Kung Fu does not come overnight. Yet, with proper instruction and much effort, kung fu will change a person’s life.