Wu chaoxiang or Wu Chao-hsiang , (1917–2000), was a Chinese

China

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master of the Nei Jia (internal martial arts) styles of Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, Taijiquan and the Wai Jia (external martial arts) of Shaolinquan. Credited with taking the Che Style of Xingyiquan to Brazil.

Biography

Born July 22, 1917 in the province of Shanxi in the city of Taigu, Wu chaoxiang (Wu Chao-hsiang - Wade-Giles) began his studies of martial arts at the age of nine (1926) in the Taigu Guoshu Academy having as his teacher Bu Xuekuan in the art of Xingyiquan, Baguazhang and Taijiquan. Wu Chaoxiang continued his studies under Bu Xuekuan until he entered college. Wu Chaoxiang's college education included Agronomy, Business Administration and Economy. He also worked at the Central Bank of China. He traveled extensively throughout China (Beijing, Mongolia, Shanghai, Guanzhou and Xian among others) learning and exchanging with many teachers, during this time he learned Shaolinquan under Yu Zhensheng, a General in the Nationalist Army and Ma Jingbiao, General Yu’s bodyguard. He also began to take interest in the meditation arts during those years (1935–1948).

Taiwan

Wu Chaoxiang joined the Chinese Nationalist Government’s retreat to Taiwan in 1948. There he was a follower of Dr. Sun Peiyung, which was his acupuncture teacher and mentor, for ten years, He later became a Doctor of traditional Chinese medicine through the University of Medicine - Taipei. He was one of the founders of the “Tai Chi Chuan Association of the Republic of China” and was Director, Secretary General and President of the Association for three consecutive terms. Dr. Wu Chaoxiang also published a booklet (126 pages) in Taiwan called “Qiangshen Zhi Dao” (The Way to Strengthening the Body) in September 1972. He also wrote a number of articles on Taijiquan and Xingyiquan in the “Taijiquan Yanjiu Zhuanji” (Tai Chi Chuan Research Special Collection) and Wu Tan Magazine. He taught a younger generation of students at the Lifayuan (Legislative Building) gardens in Taipei, with many other teachers of the Chinese martial arts. This was a period that he exchanged a lot of information with many different teachers.

Brazil

Dr. Wu Chaoxiang, in 1973, decided to move to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where some of his friends had taken up residence. He taught his martial arts to many students at a local park (Aterro do Flamengo). Four years after moving to Brazil (1977), Dr. Wu founded the "Instituto de Cultura Chinesa" (Chinese Cultural Institute) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There he practiced and taught the arts of Shaolinquan, Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, Acupuncture, Moxabustion, Tui Na and Chinese language. Wu also authored a book in Portuguese called “Tai Chi-Chuan – Como Usar A Técnica da Grande Energia Cósmica” (Tai Chi Chuan - How To Use the Technique of the Great Cosmic Energy). Students from all walks of life came to learn from Dr. Wu's various disciplines. His contributions to the understanding and exposure of Chinese culture to the Brazilian people were great and he gained high praise for his work becoming a Cultural Ambassador of the Chinese people in Brazil.