Zhang Zhao Dong (張兆東) was Great Grandmaster Wang Shu Jin’s teacher. Zhang became a famous Xin YI and Ba Gua fighter who taught many students back in the 1800s in Tian Jin (天津). His nicknames included “Son of Tiger and Panther” and “Lightning Hands Zhang.”

Zhang Zhao Dong was the student of Liu Chi Lan (劉奇蘭) and the older Gong Fu (Kung Fu) brother of Guo Yun Shen (郭雲深) and Li Cun Yi (李存義). He also served as Chief of Police in Tian Jin.

(Photo courtesy of Cheng Ming Israel)

Great Grandmaster Wang Shu Jin (王樹金) was born in mainland China in 1903. He began training with Master Zhang Zhao Dong from the age of 18 until Zhang Zhao Dong passed away. Other teachers were Wang Xian Chi and Shiao Hai Po.

In 1949 Wang Shu Jin moved to Taiwan. During the 1950s he was invited to Japan to demonstrate and teach Chinese martial arts at the Japanese Karate Federation. The best fighters in the world came to challenge him and study with him, including the famous boxer Jack Dempsey, the bodyguards of the royal family of Japan, and high-ranked karate experts. Wang Shu Jin visited Japan a total of 11 times. During those visits, he was undefeated. He is considered the person responsible for bringing internal martial arts to Japan. Learn more . . .

Grandmaster Wang Fu Lai (王福来) was born in Taiwan in 1941. The son of a blacksmith, he met Great Grandmaster Wang Shu Jin at the age of 14. He would ride his bicycle two hours from his hometown to attend Great Grandmaster’s school. At first young Wang Fu Lai was taught only one posture, Zhan Zhuang (Standing Like a Tree), and practiced it for an entire year before advancing. When he was allowed to study Xing Yi, he started with only the first element, Pi Quan (Splitting Fist), and practiced it with nothing else for a whole year. Learn more . . .