Tai Chi Chuan Development in Malaysia

1. The founder of Yang Tai Chi Chuan Grand Master Yang Lu Chan(楊露禪) perfected the Yang family Tai Chi, his grandson Master Yang Cheng Fu (楊澄甫) set the standard form of Tai Chi. Yang style Tai Chi become popular in whole China and was later spread around the world.

2. In around 1926 , merchants and street medicine sellers from China brought in Chinese kungfu and Tai Chi Chuan into Malaysia. The teachings of Tai Chi were done in a smaller scale.

3. From 1929 onwards, the Chin Wu Association (精武會) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia promoted Wushu (武術) and other sports activities. Famous Wushu and Tai Chi masters , including the students of Chen Wei Ming (陳微明), Lin Bo Yan (林伯炎) and Tung Yin Kit (董英杰) were brought in from China to teach in Chin Wu Association and its branches throughout Malaysia.

4. In 1957, Cheng Man Ching (鄭曼青) and his students Huang Sheng Shyuan and Ye Xiu Ting (葉秀挺) came to Malaysia, spreading Tai Chi in Sarawak, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Negeri Seremban, Malaka; while Ye Xiu Ting in northern peninsular of Penang and Thailand.


5. Later many Tai Chi masters from China came to Malaysia , teaching in different organisations and groups. Their main groupings are as follows:

Yang Style Tai Chi

5.1 Tung Yin Kit – Selangor Yang’s Tai Chi Physical Culture Association
(雪蘭莪楊家太極健身社)
5.2 Huang Sheng Shyuan -Huang’s Tai Chi Society(黃氏太極學會)
5.3 Ye Xiu Ting -Tai Chi Physical Culture Association, SBN Perai
(威北太極體育會)
Taiji Association Penang
檳城太極體育會
5.4 Fu Sheng Yuan - Fu Sheng Yuan International Tai Chi
( 傅聲遠太極學院)
Yongnian Taijiquan Association Johor
(永年太極學會)

6. In 2003 Master Yang Zhenduo visited Malaysia - all Yang Style Tai Chi Associations and groups warmly welcomed him. The strong desires to form a parent body were expressed during the gathering which prompted Master Yang’s inner door student Madam Lim Chiew Ah, together with her Malaysian counterparts, to successfully formed The Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association in 2006. The Association’ first major project , namely The 2007 World Tai Chi Health Convention , was successfully organised. The 5 Main groups of Tai Chi Grand Masters, Chen, Yang , Wu, Wu/Hao, Sun were invited and present at the Convention in Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007.


7. After successfully organising the 2007 World Tai Chi Convention in Kuala Lumpur, the Association continued to spread the concept of “ All Tai Chi Are One Family”, touring Malaysia to conduct seminars and exchanging of ideas with all associations and groups from different masters. In January, 2009 the first seminar was successfully held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah of East Malaysia.

8. In February 2009, Grand Master Yang Zhengduo sent his grandson Master Yang Bin to Malaysia on a mission to spread the original form of Yang Family Tai Chi - this was the first time that a direct descendent of the Yang family was in Malaysia to teach the original Yang family style. The first training sessions were conducted in the Association Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for the Association pioneer Instructors Group, teaching Tai Chi 16 Forms, refining Tai Chi 103 Forms, Sword and Sabre. Later Master Yang Bin , accompanied by President Lim Chiew Ah, Chief Instructor Chin Kim Loy, Medical Advisor Dr. Yap Yok Sing, Secretary General Sim Eng Ker, and instructor group Wong Yew Chee, Chong Kon Thai, Ho Siew Chun visited Penang , Ipoh and Seberang Prai to conduct seminars.

9. The Association will continue to conduct world Tai Chi conventions and seminars in future to further promote and develop Tai Chi in Malaysia. We will welcome and invite all Masters to Malaysia to share their views and teaching.