Tai Chi Photos and Certificates

Receiving posture correction by Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei, 19th generation Lineage Holder and Standard Bearer of Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan. 2006.

Following a semi-private workshop with Master Chen Bing, 20th generation member of  Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan(center), with Master Jesse Tsao (far left) presiding.     

 With Master Wen-Ching Wu at his Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan workshop in Asheville, NC during 2015.

Chen Tai Chi posture on the Great Wall of China outside of Beijing during 2005.

After a workshop with Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai, 19th generation Lineage Holder and Standard Bearer of Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan. April 30, 2007.                                  


In China at Chen Village (the birthplace of Tai Chi Chuan) during 2005, standing in between Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing, 19th generation member of Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan and my teacher, Master Jesse Tsao.

After a workshop in San Diego, CA with Professor Li Deyin, a highly distinguished world-renowned Tai Chi Grandmaster who provided 10 years of intensive training to my teacher. Circa 2008.


With former Shaolin monk Dr. PuQuan Xiao (in white) and Master Jesse Tsao (in black)                                   at a “Tai Chi & Self Healing Workshop” during July 2006 in San Diego, CA.

Tai Chi Sword play during World Tai Chi & Qigong Day on April 25, 2009 in Asheville, NC.

In Chen Village, China during 2005. Tai Chi play in Master Chen Changxing's famous courtyard, where Master Yang Luchan secretly observed Master Chen teaching his disciples. During that time, Master Yang was a servant to the Chen family. Master Chen saw him and immediately ordered him to engage in combat against his top disciples. Master Yang quickly defeated all of them, which opened the door for him to learn directly from Master Chen, ultimately leading to the creation of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. And so the story goes...

These statues represent the transmission of knowledge from Master Chen Changxing (left) to Master Yang Luchan. This photo was taken in Chen Village, China during 2005.

At the "1st Health Qigong Seminar for International Instructors" presented by the Chinese Health Qigong Association in Beijing, China during December 2011. This invitational event involved 124 participants from 31 nations. Together, we learned and refined 3 health qigong forms: Wu Qin Xi (5 Animal Frolics), Liu Zi Jue (6 Healing Sounds), and Shi Er Duan Jin (12 Piece Brocades).


With Professor Yu Dinghai, who taught the 5 Animal Frolics form for the Chinese Health Qigong Association at the seminar. Professor Yu is responsible for the new compilation of this classical form of qigong.

After several intensive training days at the international seminar in Beijing, I was pleased to receive my certificate of completion from the Chinese Health Qigong Association!

Sharing a lighthearted moment with famed Tai Chi Grandmaster Professor Li Deyin, who dropped by for dinner at the Beijing seminar. My famous Beijing roommate and good friend Karl Newmeyer is the last person on the right.

With my friend and teacher, Master Jesse Tsao, Ph.D., in San Diego, CA during March 2012. 

Although I’ve been teaching Tai Chi since 1992, I was certified by Master Tsao in 2008.

Snake Creeps Down in various places

Atop the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina during May, 2016

In the Anza-Borrego Desert of southern California, circa 1993

Taiji at the Greek ruins in Segesta, Sicily (2017)

In Bali, Indonesia during July, 2013

At the Greek ruins in Segesta, Sicily during September, 2017

With Master Zhongxian Wu, during a workshop on Fire Dragon Meridian Qigong in Asheville, NC, August 4-5, 2012.

Co-leading Tai Chi play with Liz Ridley at World Tai Chi & Qigong Day in Asheville, NC, April 25, 2015

Chen Tai Chi Sword Demonstration at World Tai Chi & Qigong Day in Asheville, NC, April 25, 2015

With Master Yang Jun, the 5th generation inheritor and lineage holder of Yang Family Tai Chi. This photo was taken on May 7, 2022 during a Tai Chi seminar in San Ciprián (San Cibrao), Galicia, Spain. Other related photos from the seminar are posted below.

Group photo of the seminar participants. I’m seated in the front row, third from the left.

Once upon a time on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla (San Diego), California during 1991, a photographer saw me practicing Tai Chi and asked me if he could photograph me for his newspaper. I was greatly surprised when the photos were displayed on a full page of the San Diego edition of the Los Angeles Times—especially considering I had only been practicing for Tai Chi for eight months at that time!

Where it all began: Circa 1990 in Escondido, CA with my very first Taiji teacher, the late Scott MacIsaac. After about a year of studying with him, I started to assist him in teaching our class. He was originally a black belt in Uechi-Ryu (Okinawan) Karate and also attained a Master level Kung Fu (Choy Lay Fut) teacher status. From the Boston area, he studied with some famous tai chi masters, notably Gin Soon and Yang Jwing Ming. He taught me some Kung Fu forms, including Choy Lay Fut broadsword and he had a natural inclination toward the self-defense aspects of the forms. In his later years (during my association with him), he gravitated toward Tai Chi and became a peaceful warrior with a good heart. I’m grateful to have discovered Taiji through Scott’s initial teaching.