Chen Zhonghua
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 陈中华 Chen Zhonghua | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1961 (age 63–64) Shandong, China |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Style | Chen-style tai chi |
| Teachers | Han Boyan, Hong Junsheng, Feng Zhiqiang |
| Years active | 1985-present |
| Other information | |
| University | Shandong University, University of Regina |
| Website | http://www.practicalmethod.com |
Joseph Chen Zhonghua (Chinese: 陈中华; pinyin: Chén Zhōnghuá), also known by his courtesy name Dongliang is a Chinese martial arts practitioner, teacher, and author from Shandong, China. Chen studied under two experts of the eighteenth generation of Chen-style tai chi, Hong Junsheng and Feng Zhiqiang (冯志强, 1928–2012).[1] In 1985, Chen and his family emigrated to Canada, where he began to promote Hong's version of Chen-style tai chi to a western audience.[2] In 2005, Chen was designated by Hong family as the International Standard-Bearer of Hong's Practical Method, during a ceremony held in Jinan.[3] Since 2006, he has overseen a residential tai chi training program on Daqingshan in Shandong.[4]
Chen was born in 1961 in Wulian County, Shandong province, China. Due to his frailty since childhood,[1] he embarked on studying martial arts at the age of 9 to enhance his health. Chen sought training from several local martial arts masters and delved into various traditional styles, including Tongbeiquan, Bajiquan and Chaquan.[1][5]
In 1979, Chen was admitted to the Department of Foreign Languages, Shandong University in Jinan. While pursuing his studies, he continued his martial arts training under the guidance of Han Boyan (韩伯言, 1907 – 1996), who himself had trained with the renowned Xingyiquan master Shang Yunxiang. It was during his time in Jinan that Chen heard rumors about a group of martial artists practicing near Black Tiger Spring. Intrigued, he made several visits and discovered that they were training in Chen-style tai chi under the instruction of Hong Junsheng.
Hong Junsheng was one of the longest-serving disciple of Chen Fake. Chen Fake himself was a well-known martial artist and the first to teach Chen-style tai chi to the general public. Hong was a traditional martial artist and did not actively promote or advertise his group.[6] Initially skeptical about the effectiveness of Chen-style tai chi, Chen became convinced of its value after training and collaborating with the group. Following a period of intensive training, he became Hong's disciple, dedicating himself solely to Chen-style tai chi as taught by Hong, also known as the "Practical Method" (陳式太極拳实用拳法).[7]
In Canada
In 1985, Chen made the decision to emigrate to Regina, Saskatchewan, in order to pursue his master's degree in linguistics at the University of Regina.[2] While studying, he began teaching tai chi part-time at the university.[8] After completing his degree, Chen became a Social Studies teacher within the Canadian secondary school system in Edmonton, Alberta where he continued to teach tai chi on a part-time basis. During this period, Chen combined his exposure to the Western interpretation of taijiquan[9] with his training under Hong Junsheng to develop his own martial arts ideas.
Chen eventually decided to dedicate himself to teaching martial arts full-time. He established his first school in Edmonton.[10] To ensure his own continued training and to foster connections with his teacher and fellow tai chi practitioners, he regularly returned to China with his new students.
