Home    School    Class Schedule     Styles We Teach     Instructors     Events     Pictures     Store     Videos     Credential     Contact Us

A Brief Biography of Taiji Master Wang-Lijun

Master Wang-Lijun is a 12^th  generation Chen  Style  Taijiquan Master specializing in Chen  Style  New  FormTaijiquan,  Tuishou  (push hand),  Qinna  (seize and control), Sanda (bare-handed combat), and weapons such as sword and staff. Master Wang is also an expert in external style  martial  art,  in  particular  Shaolin  Kungfu. He is very   knowledgeable about martial art  applications of  Taijiquan  and  is well known for his self-defense techniques that incorporate both  Taijiquan and external martial art styles.

Master Wang was born in 1964 in Xinyang, Henan, China. He joined the Xinyang City Martial Art Team when he was 8 years old studying Shaolin Kungfu. He was the star student of many external style martial art masters, including Zhang-Jianhua, Li-Moqi, and Zhang-Kejian. Master Wang learned Nanquan (South Fist), Zhangquan (Long Fist), Tongbiquan (Joined Arm Fist), Tanglangquan (Mantis Fist), Yingzhaoquan (Eagle Craw Fist), Zuiquan (Drunk Fist), as well as the use of weapons, such as sword, broad sword, spear, and staff.

        Master Wang joined the Henan Province Martial Art Team in 1984. He learned various competition forms from Master Qiao-Biao. Master Wang represented Henan Province in many national martial art competitions winning many titles:

·         Sanda Champion of the 6^th National Game in 1986

·         Shaolinquan Champion of the Shaolin Martial Art Festival in 1988

·         Staff Champion (Man Section) of the 1991 National Martial Art Competition

        Master Wang learned various standardized forms of Taijiquan at the Henan Province Martial Art Team including the 24, 48, and 56 forms. He won the following titles in Taiji and Shaolin Quan:

·         Taijiquan Champion of the National Taijiquan Championship 1991

·         Taiji Sword and Shaolinquan Champions of the National Taijiquan Championship 1992

        Motivated by his interest and achievement in martial art Master Wang attended the Martial Art Department at the Henan University. In addition to receiving comprehensive training in martial art, Master Wang also studied the mechanics and sport physiology of traditional martial art and explored applications of I-Ching (The Book of Change) and The Art of War in martial art.

         In 1994 Master Wang became a disciple of Master Zhang-Zhijun, a 11^th generation Chen Style Taijiquan Master. Master Wang also visited other contemporary Taijiquan masters, such as Jin-junguo, Ma-Hong, Zhu-Tiancai, and Chen-Xiaowang, to share and exchange skills and ideas.

         Master Wang has many outstanding achievements at national and international martial art competitions:

·         Champion of the National Martial Art Bare-Handed Combat Competition 1997

·         Taiji Sword and Shaolin quan Champions of the International Taijiquan Elite Competition 1998

·         Martial Art Form Champion of the Wudang shan Taijiquan Friendship Competition 1999

·         Traditional Form and Competition Form Champions of the International Martial Art Competition 2000

      In recent years Master Wang has devoted his energy to the promotion and development of Taijiquan and traditional martial art:

·         In 1996 Master Wang founded the Xinyang Martial Art and Fitness Center. Major programs include Chen & Yang Style Taijiquan, Push Hand, Sanda, Taijiquan Martial Art Applications, Police Self-Defense Qinna Techniques, and weapons.

·         Since his arrival to Los Angeles in 2000 Master Wang has devoted himself to the internationalization of Taijiquan. He has taught Taijiquan at University of Southern California, University of California at Irvine, and California Institute of Technology.

·         In 2001 Master Wang founded the Wang Kungfu Taiji Institute in Los Angeles teaching Taiji and Shaolin Kungfu.

·         In 2001 Master Wang served as a judge at the Orlando World Martial Art Championship organized by the International Martial Art Federation. He also gave a seminar on Self-Defense Techniques there.

       Because each movement in Chen Style Taijiquan has clear martial art applications, it is also notably the most difficult to learn among the different styles of Taijiquan. In order to make Chen Style Taijiquan easier to learn, Master Wang selected 32 movements from the Chen Style First Form, eliminated complicated transitions between movements, and strung them together into Chen Style Taijiquan 32 Movements. These 32 Movements are widely taught in physical education classes in elementary and high schools of Xinyang city.

        Master Wang has published many articles using modern concepts to elaborate traditional Taijiquan theory. His most recent contributions include the production of numerous instructional videos: