Grandmaster Cheng Man Ching

The principles of Tai Chi are firmly rooted in Chinese philosophy, particularly Taoism, and Chinese medical theory.  Hence, the benefits of practicing Tai Chi include enhanced health, prolonged youthfulness as well as being an unparalleled method of self-defence.  As a martial art, Tai Chi emphasises “softness” and relaxation as compared to so-called “external” styles that emphasise “hardness” and muscular tension.  Unlike external styles, Tai Chi exponents improve into old age. Shen Long Tai Chi is founded on traditional Tai Chi  concepts as developed by Grandmaster Cheng Man Ching (1901-1975), who was one of the greatest exponents of Tai Chi in modern times.  He was also versed in the arts of medicine, painting, poetry, and calligraphy yet his passion was to return Tai Chi to its purest form, adhering to philosophical concepts, particularly those of Taoism.   Cheng is known for developing his simplified form of Yang style Tai Chi, which consists of 37 Forms. He was constantly improving these forms and Shen Long Tai Chi teaches the style created in the final years of his life. Cheng’s supreme ability, however, was partly attributed to combining Yang style with the secret techniques of the Tso (Zuo) style, which emphasised development of internal power.  Cheng rarely taught these techniques and only passed these on to his most accomplished student, Master Wu Kuo Chung, shortly before Cheng’s death.