First of all, he is my master in Beijing. He is the lineal successor of Zhang Guodong, who is the founder of thunder taiji.
For more information, contact my shifu via email (taijihuleiquan@163.com).
张国栋Zhang Guodong (1866-1934), also named Dagui and used characters
Yinglin and Haishui, is the founder of Thunder T'ai Chi Ch'uan. Zhang was
born in Chenxin Village, Wenxian County, Henan Province. He studied martial art from uncle Li Jingyan (1825-1898) of the same village since
childhood and carried high hopes from Li as the latter's son Li Huoyan
died young. Zhang proved worthy of Li in the next decades and became a
master himself.
Zhang was chosen as the chief instructor and director of Martial Arts House of Henan province (in Kaifeng) of the Nationalist Government and Henan University in 1928. During his tenure he expanded his study into somatology, astronomy and meridian theories of traditional Chinese medicine. Inspired by the burst of lightning and thunder, he combined his learning with elite martial art skills such as "Golden-bell cover and iron-cloth vesture", and created the style of Thunder T'ai Chi Ch'uan as is passed till today. His creation contains two routine forms and 11 grades of exercises that suit the needs of almost all age groups.
