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William Chi-Cheng Chen
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Master
Chen was born in Chekiang province, China, in 1935 and moved to Taiwan
with his family. His father took him one day to see his old-time playmate,
Professor Cheng Man-Ching, who was the best-known Tai Chi Chuan master. He
became the youngest of Prof. Chengīs student. He was assigned to teach Tai
Chi Chuan in 1953 and was taking part in Chinese martial arts tournaments
from 1954, competing with experts from Hong Kong and Macao. In 1958 he
became fairly succesful in the tournaments winning second place in the
Taiwan National Olympic Competition in the light-weight
division. Since 1959 he was teaching also in Singapore, Malaysia and
Thailand. Master Chen opened a studio of his ow in New York in 1965.
"Throughout all the years of my Tai Chi Chuan career, I have gained gratly in the knowledge and understanding of this unique form of martial art, which is one of the most effective for sef-defence, was well as for physical fitness and mental well-being. I am really happy to share it with all those in my school and my workshops in different parts of the USA and Europe. I am happy that they appreciate my way of using teh simplest, easiest and most common words, instead of the old terminology, to explain the mechanics and philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan." The principles of body mechanics which are found in Tai Chi Chuan are universal to all human beings. These principles promote good health and animate onesīs daily activities. There is no doubt that they help martial artists attaint their goal of speed and maximum power. Therefore, Tai Chi Chuan has been one of the best Chinese martial arts as well as a means of achieving physical fitness for centuries. "Over the past 45 years, my emphasis has always been on the realistic applications of Tai Chi Chuan. In fact, the concept of body mechanics is the result of my life long devotion. Some people may think I am against the "supernatural" elements of Tai Chi Chuan. I would rather say that I am very happy and satisfied with its parctical aspects." |