Hong line
In Taichi Chuan, there exist different styles and substyles. Each one comes from different regions and schools which were founded by respected masters. From there, the five most important styles developed: Taichi Chuan Chen, Taichi Chuan Yan, Taichi Chuan Wu (Han), Taichi Chuan La Wu and Taichi Chuan Sun.
From these, a variety of styles and schools emerged, which are attributed to a renowned master or his students. The own flexibility in the art of Taichi enables the contribution and the permanent change of the discipline, which is
enriched in the course of the generations by great personalities. Teachers and students who have attained and demonstrated the highest level of their ability may propose a new branch within the art of the Taichi Chuan family tree.
The master of Taichi Therapy belongs to the "family tree" of the Chen style and his "ancestors" are respected masters who have deeply influenced the Chen style and Tai Chi in general:
Master Chen Fake
Chen Fake (陳發科, 陈发科 1887-1957) was one of the greatest masters of Taichi Chuan of the 20th century. He was born and raised in the village of the Chen family, Chenjiagou in Henan Province, China. He was the most important representative of the 17th generation of the Taichi Chen style and created the Chen style of Beijing (Xinjia). His great-grandfather was the famous master Chen Changxing, his grandfather Chen Genyun and his father Chen Yangxi were also acknowledged masters of Taichi. Chen Fake was a legendary man in whom the virtues of righteousness and honesty united with an extraordinary technique united. Even today, he remains a famous personality in the circles of Chinese martial arts.
Master Hong Junsheng
Hong Junsheng (洪均生), born 1907 in Henan Province (河南省), China, was a Chinese martial arts practitioner, teacher and author. Hong was the longest serving student of Master Chen Fake. From 1930, Hong began to train with Master Chen Fake for fifteen years without interruption. In 1956, Hong moved to Jinan (济南) in Shandong Province (山东省), where he practiced and researched the meaning of Taichi Chuan Chen.
He reflected his own understanding of ch'uan in his teachings and writings. His theories and training principles are known in The Practical Method for Chen-style. Despite the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution, Hong continued his devotion to his art. In the years of the restauration of the country, Hong had trained a new generation of Chen style and written several articles
illuminating the mysteries of the Taichi Chuan Chen style. When China opened itself to the international community, Hong was rediscovered as an important link to this ancient tradition of Chinese martial arts. Enthusiasts of Taichi from all over the world came to train with this remarkable
man. Fame and honor had not changed Hong. He remained steadfastly true to the ideals of the Tao.
Towards the end of his life, he continued his daily Taichi training despite his old age and poor health.
In 1996, Hong died at the age of 90. He continues to exist in his family, through his dedicated
students and his legacy of his Practical Method.
Master Chen Sheng Yu
Master Chen Sheng Yu was born in 1958 in Chen-Ao, in the village Chang-Quiao, which is located in the province Zhejiang (China). The region is known for its great martial activity. From an early age, he learned the Kung Fu style and other martial arts, including Xing-Yi, Nan-Chuan, Pa-kua, Tai-Chi Sun and Tai-Chi Yang. At the age of 16, he met the Shaolin monk Youlongji, also known as "the iron monk", with whom he practiced Shaolin for five years. In 1983, he heard from Master Hong Junsheng, a famous master of the Chen style of Taichi Chuan and decided to travel to Shandong Province to meet him and train with him. Master Hong was 73 years old at that time and ran four schools in China.
Master Chen Sheng Yu took lessons every morning in his school. During this time, he met another teacher, Master Liao Chende, one of Master Hong Junsheng's excellent students, who taught in the public park in the afternoon. Very often the training lasted up to ten hours a day, which Master Chen Sheng Yu went through continuously for 12 years. In 1996, Master Chen Sheng Yu returned to Ruian. There, he began to teach himself as a master of his subject, his reputation improvesd over time and students from far came to study with him. A series of unfortunate events forced him to leave his homeland in 2000. Between many journeys and incidents, he finally came to Madrid, Spain, in 2003, where he taught.
Master M. Ismael Al Majdoub
As a direct student of Chen Sheng Yu, whom he met in 2001 in Madrid, Shifu Ismael Al Majdoub practiced daily with his master. He deepened himself in the healing and fighting techniques of Aikido, Judo, Taekwondo (Pumsae, where he gained a black belt earlier in the International School Club Azofra in Madrid with master Miguel Azofra) and Muay Thai (traditional, full contact, kickboxing earlier with the Thai master Attila, national and international competitions). He was forced to practice Tai Chi every day to combat the physical weakness caused by asthma. He practiced various martial arts to search for healing methods against his allergic and respiratory problems. Master Cheng Shen Yu taught his disciple how to make the path to recovery based on various movement techniques of Qigong with the aim to clean and strenghten the internal organs and hence to heal the body.
After nine years of hard training, Master Ismael attained the higher degree of Master of Taichi Chuan Chen style. Based on the principles of Tai Chi Chuan and his experience, he has developed his own healing techniques, which are applied to the patient through medical, energetic (Chi) massages and other specific treatment methods. His knowledge of the teachings and principles of Tao Te King (Taoism), which are deeply rooted in Tai Chi Chuan, make Master Ismael an extraordinary and unique master and doctor. His healing abilities have been recognized by the national Organización Colegial Naturopática FENACO OCN. Master Ismael continues to practice Taichi Chuan on a regular basis and performs treatments on patients using his skills, which he has acquired through his hard training and is continuing to develop.