About T’ai Chi Ch’uan, The Association, Our Teachers
T’ai Chi Ch’uan
T’ai Chi is a martial art, yet its benefits extend far beyond self-defense. T’ai Chi can be a marvelous life enhancer. It is an exercise, a way of moving, a way of thinking and a mindful practice. It can be practiced, studied, and enjoyed by anyone at any age. Many students of T’ai Chi Ch’uan enjoy the benefits of better health, inner calm, improved balance, strength, suppleness, self-defense, and increased energy.
History
The origins of T’ai Chi are obscured by legends and traditional secrecy. It has certainly existed for hundreds of years. The style we practice began with Yang Lu-ch’uan, (1799-1872) who learned T’ai Chi from the Ch’en family in the early nineteenth century. Yang Lu-ch’an modified the form he learned to create the Yang style, which is probably the most widely practiced style these days. Yang passed the art to his sons and they to theirs. One of his grandsons, Yang Cheng-fu, (1883-1936) was known throughout China in the early years of the 20th century as a formidable martial artist.
Our Lineage
Cheng Man-ch’ing (1902-1975) learned T’ai Chi from Yang Cheng-fu during the 1920s. The practice of T’ai Chi helped Cheng overcome serious illness, and he went on to become one of the most widely respected practitioners of T’ai Chi in modern times. Professor Cheng was known for his extraordinary accomplishments in the mastery of the five excellences: painting, poetry, calligraphy, Chinese medicine, and T’ai Chi. His senior student, Mr. Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo (1927-2018), who had his school in San Francisco, but traveled all over the world to teach, has provided instruction to many members of the St. Louis T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association via workshops in St. Louis and elsewhere. Mr. Lenzie Williams, a senior student of Mr. Lo’s carries on the tradition. The Association also hosts workshops with other senior students in the Cheng Man-ch’ing lineage.
The Association
The St. Louis T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association (SLTCCA) was formed in 1979 and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1981. From its start, Association members have practiced and taught Professor Cheng Man-ch’ing’s 37 Postures Yang style short form of t’ai chi.
Robert Goodwin was one of the co-founders and lead instructor of the Association until 1989. He was responsible for aligning the Association with Mr. Lo and regularly bringing him in for workshops. He also invited other students of Professor Cheng Man-ch’ing to visit St. Louis. Mr. Goodwin returns periodically as a visiting instructor.
From its start, Association members have practiced and taught Professor Cheng Man-ch’ing’s Simplified T’ai Chi Ch’uan.
The Association Board of Directors and Instructors are all volunteers. Class fees paid by students pay for rental space for our Sunday classes, the answering service, and advertising. Most importantly, class fees help defray the cost of special workshops led by internationally renowned instructors in Professor Cheng’s lineage, which enhance our training.
For more information about the Professor and the SLTCCA, visit the Association documents section.
Our Logo
The Association logo is Benjamin Lo’s calligraphy from his book “The Essence of T’ai Chi Ch’uan; The Literary Tradition.”
Our Teachers
Our instructors all volunteer their time with the Association and have a minimum of 10 years’ experience practicing the T’ai Chi form. Some have practiced 30-40 years and have had direct instruction from Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo, a senior student of Professor Cheng. All continue to train in workshops.
Lenzie Williams, a senior student of Benjamin Lo, has continued the relationship with our group, visiting St. Louis annually to conduct weekend workshops which include special training for our instructors.
Association teachers are dedicated to their own personal practice and want to share their experience and knowledge with students because of the personal health benefits they have derived. In addition to the solo/single hand form, most instructors practice two-person sensing hands exercises, and some practice a sword form.
Because T’ai Chi Ch’uan is a practice, there is always more to learn. Mr. Lo used to say, “There’s no limit to T’ai Chi. You can always improve.”