Grandmaster Chen Zheng Lei is the 11th generation inheritor of Chen Tai Chi.{See biography at bottom of page}
The Galway Tai-Chi Academy and Limerick Tai-Chi School in association with Master Wang Hai Jun -www.wanghaijun.com- were delighted the clubs co-hosted the world renowned Tai-Chi Grandmaster Chen Zheng Lei open and advanced seminars on "Tai-Chi Principles" in November 2009 and a intermediate/advanced seminar in May 2010
This event was a unique opportunity for those interested in understanding the internal martial art of Tai-Chi (Taijiquan) to learn the core principles from a master of the highest level,recognised as such by the Chinese Government and World Tai-Chi community . The two seminars sold out even faster than expected!
This event was a unique opportunity for those interested in understanding the internal martial art of Tai-Chi (Taijiquan) to learn the core principles from a master of the highest level,recognised as such by the Chinese Government and World Tai-Chi community . Tai- Chi is both a hard and soft martial art technique which means that a whole range of people can practise it, those who are young, those who suffer from fibromyalgia and those who exercise daily. It is not surprising that people want to learn an art with such great health benefits from a master, however the two seminars sold out even faster than expected!
Grandmaster Chen demonstrates the Lao Jia
Grandmaster Chen was assisted by Master Wang Hai Jun,3 times National Champion of China ,who has been training people on the west coast of Ireland for the past 7 years. This was an amazing event with the clubs members training with a Master and Grandmaster
Niall O'Floinn, Grandmaster Chen Zheng Lei, Master Wang Hai Jun and Natalia Krause at the Galway seminar in November 09
Grandmaster Chen teaching the class
BIOGRAPHY OF GRANDMASTER CHEN
Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei is the 11th direct-line successor of Chen style Taiji. He is the president of Wenxian County Chen Style Taiji Research Society and the general adviser and head coach of Henan Chen Zhenglei Taiji Culture Co.,Ltd. He is the vice-director of Henan Provincial Wushu Administration Center and the Vice President of Henan Wushu Association. He is also a national senior Wushu instructor and a committee member of China National Wushu association, an association of State Physical Culture Science and one of the Chinese government-selected "Top Ten Martial Arts Masters" of present day China.
Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei was born in the birthplace of Taijiquan, in Chenjiagou village, Henan province, in May 1949. From the age of 8 years old Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei learned Taiji from his two uncles: Chen Zhaopei (1893-1972) and Chen Zhaokui (1928 - 1981). (Chen Zhaopei was a famous instructor at the NanjingMartial Arts Academy, former honorary professor of Nanjing National Wushu Institute, state senior referee, and committee member of National Martial Arts Association in 1964. Chen Zhaokui was the third son of Chen Fake and a notable practitioner and teacher.)
He trained with these two masters for over 30 years, being taught both by their personal examples as well as their verbal instruction. In pursuit of their lofty ideals and the struggle to carry forward Taiji culture during the turbulent political climate of China's Cultural Revolution, he overcame many difficulties and hardships. He studied diligently, trained hard and made great progress in Taiji boxing, sabre, spear, sword, pole routine and push-hands. He also formulated his own theory of high-level Taiji, and enjoys the reputation of being one of the world's most outstanding Taiji masters.
From 1974 to 1987, Grandmaster Chen won First Place and gold medals over ten times in a row in national competitions; he won the national championship two times running, and the titles of " Excellent Performance" and " Golden Lion" at two successive national Taiji competitions.
From 1989 to 1997 students trained by Grandmaster Chen won the championship 65 times at national and provincial competitions.
Grandmaster Chen began his teaching career in 1972, and his thousands of students are now distributed over the world. Ceremonies of accepting apprentices have been held since Dec. 1996; now he has more than one hundred direct-line apprentices in China. In 1981 Grandmaster Chen began receiving foreign guests as students. Since 1983 he has taught outside China at the invitations of over 30 countries, including Japan, America, France, Italy, and Britain. He has been nominated as Taiji adviser, honorary chairman and director by over 50 wushu organizations around the world. He was awarded the silk banner "The Peak of Perfection" by the Taiwan Wushu Circles and was presented with the silver plate as "Mount Taishan and the Big Dipper" by Malaysia Taiji.
Putting his spare time to good use, Grandmaster Chen devoted himself to theoretical research. The following two are the most well known books written by him: 'Ten-phase Kongfu Discussion' and 'Chen-style Taiji Boxing', which have become precious documents for Taiji study. Teaching videos have been released by High Education Publishing House, People's Physical Culture Publishing House and Huanghe Video Works House, and some of the books and VCDs have been translated into other languages, including Japanese, English, French, Spanish and Korean.
Along with his great contribution to the development of Taiji, Grandmaster Chen enjoys the support of his home nation and well as widespread international acceptance. In 1986, he was selected as a member of the standing committee of Jiaozuo Political Consultative Conference. He was selected as deputy to the National People's Congress in 1988, the Principal of Chen Village Taiji School and the president of the Academy of Pingdingshan Taiji-shaolin Study and Research. He was put in the famous book of 'China's Great Figures' in 1992. He was elected as an International Taiji grandmaster in 1994 and "Top Ten Martial Arts Masters" of present day China by the China National Wushu Association in Dec. 1995.
He is listed in the following authoritarian and lexicographical works: 'China's Contemporary Education Notables', 'China's Present Martial Arts Masters', 'Contemporary Reform Elites', 'Contemporary Galaxy of Talent' and 'World Celebrities'.
