FOUNDER'S  PAGE

Founder and First Patriarch
of Tai Chi Youth and Shaolin Chi Mantis

Young Master Zhen

This dragon spear was a gift from a Shifu of the Tai Mantis Federation.

I remounted it later on a Chinese white waxwood pole.

In later years, when I started teaching staff and spear classes, I would build spears and customize weapons for my students.

I became so popular as a "Spear Maker," that in 2006, half of all our internet sales were spears ordered by Kung Fu schools all over the United States and Canada.

 

 

Early Years of Shaolin Chi Mantis

A couple of my early students who performed with me.

The Utah Chinese community hired us for many of their Chinese New Year's events and other occassions throughout the year.

At one of these Chinese New Year events in Salt Lake City, I was proclaimed to be "...an honorary Chinese person" to an overwhelming ovation. Subsequently, the Chinese name of "Zhen Shen-Lang" (Spirit Wolf of Truth) was bestowed upon me.

When Mr. Chen, of Chenchiakou, China, (the village below the Daoist Monastery where Tai Chi was created), finished showing me how to write my name in Chinese, he commented, "Zhen Shen-Lang -- good Kung Fu name!"

Shaolin Chi Mantis Rules Utah
  
The student on the left is using movements from "Luohan 1" Kung Fu Form taught to beginning students of Shaolin Chi Mantis.

There is NO SPARRING in any of our Tai Chi or Kung Fu schools.

We do practice self-defense techniques, but with limited risk to either person.

As of 1996, there has not been one broken bone in any Shaolin Chi Mantis or Tai Chi Youth program.

I started teaching Kung Fu in 1984 after graduating the Tai Mantis Federation programs in Torrance, California.

Some of my students have come from other martial arts schools where they had broken their bones and dislocated joints. Some students joined other martial arts schools and within a few months had broken fingers, broken elbows, dislocated shoulders...

We don't spar. We don't fight. We don't hurt people. We avoid getting hurt by other people. We may even 'protect' other people, but we AVOID ALL VIOLENCE all the time.

Tai Chi Kids can 'smell trouble' and avoid it.

Be smart. Don't get into situations or be in places where you might get in trouble.

Tai Chi Monk

In Utah, most people knew me as the "Shaolin Monk who teaches Tai Chi."

Many Mormons joined my classes for a "breath of Buddhism" or to learn Tai Chi.

The police force praised my work in the community and claimed that my Shaolin Chi Mantis classes cleaned up Liberty Park of the "bad element."

I remember in the early years at the park, there were people drinking beers and hanging out in gangs near our classes.

After only a couple years teaching at Liberty Park, the gangs were gone, at least on our side of the park, and people used to come just to see your classes. Even the Utah Governor and the city Mayor praised our classes and work in the community.

 

Master Zhen Creates Tai Chi Youth in 1996.

I had created youth programs for several years prior to the creation of Tai Chi Youth.

In 1994 I donated many FREE SCHOLARSHIPS to the BIG BROTHER organization and the BIG SISTER organization. Some of these students stuck with the school for many years until I left Utah.

Tai Chi Youth is a NONPROFIT 501(c)(3) organization and has been funded by the Utah Governor, The NEA National Endowment of the Arts, many corporations, grocery stores, and donations from students and the community.

Thank you to everyone who helped us get off the ground in Utah.

I'm looking forward to launching many Tai Chi Youth programs in California. Hopefully, I can create more Tai Chi Youth instructors to open more schools to help more people and make the world a better place.