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Due to the tremendous impact of the teachings of Cheng Tinghua, I decided to add a section to this website that outlines some of his students. This information is added to highlight the contributions that many of his students had on promoting the art of Baguazhang, Cheng Style in particular. It is not intended to provide a detailed examination on the lineage of Cheng Style Baguazhang. The decision to add this section was due to several cases of cross pollination that occurred between various students of Baguazhang in the early years of the art. Several times in my research, a student would be referenced as having studied under several instructors. This paid no attention to the established Bagua lines that we are familiar with today. Fu Zhengsong is a prime example. He trained under Jia Fengming, a direct disciple of Dong Haichuan. Later he trained under Ma Gui who is considered as a disciple of both Dong and Yin Fu. Still later in his career, Fu studied with Sun Lutang, a disciple of Cheng Tinghua. So, I determined that there was a need to outline many of Cheng Tinghua’s disciples in order to provide the western reader a better understanding of the various training relationships.
  Cheng Youlong (1875-1928) – was the oldest son of Cheng Tinghua and was born in 1875. He trained under his famous father from an early age. After the death of his father in 1900, he practiced his skills even more diligently and achieved a high level of skill in Cheng Style Baguazhang. Later, Cheng trained with Yang Jinahou in Taijiquan and blended the two teachings to make Bagua Taijiquan. Cheng Youlong was fair-skinned and had a frank manner. He was also a master of calligraphy and drawing. He did extensive research in the principles of Baguazhang and became very skilled with the use of crescent moon knives and halberd. According to his student, Sun Xikun, his instructor was a bit of an eccentric and did not give demostrations of his art. He was a person that practiced in private and taught in a true “closed door” fashion. Cheng had a bad habit of smoking too much and this lead to his early death in 1928 at the age of 53. He was also known as Cheng Haiting. Besides the four disciples that are outlined below, Cheng Youlong was one of the principle instructors of Sun Zhijun, who is listed under the disciples of Cheng Youxin.
 Sun Xikun (1883-1952) - was one of the few disciples of Cheng Youlong and became a leading advocate of Cheng Style Baguazhang. Sun intially trained in Xingyi before training under Cheng. Later in his life he trained in Taijinquan. In 1934 he authored an important book on Cheng Style called The Real Teaching of Bagua Quan. This book is the most comprehensive of any of the early books on the subject of Baguazhang. Without his effort the teachings of his instructor might have been lost. Sun established the Morality and Martial Arts Society in Tienjin. During World War II he moved to southern China and taught martial arts. After the war Sun moved to Hong Kong, and eventually to Taipei, Taiwan. He died there in 1952. His most notable student was Liu Qian.
Liu Qian - was the top disciple of Sun Xikun. In 1949 he came to Taiwan with the Nationalist Army. He is reported to have had a firm command of the theories and training methods that are unique to Baguazhang. Liu had a close relationship with Sun Xikun both before their exile on Taiwan and earlier on the mainland. He reported that he had observed the classes of Cheng Youlong, but was a student of Sun Xikun. Liu Qian was one of the instructors of Luo Dexiu and played a major role in Luo’s understanding of the advanced principles of the art..
 Guo Zhushan (1901-1968) – was born in Tianjin in 1901. His father, Guo Tiancheng, was a wealthy owner of a factory, who invited various martial artists to his home to perform. Many of the Republican Era martial art greats were guest to include; Li Cunyi, Liu Dekuan, Chang Chankuei, and Li Kuiyuan. At the age of eight, the great Li Cunyi accepted Guo Zhushan as an official disciple and started instructing him in Xingyi. He eventually became Li Cunyi’s adopted son. During this time another martial artist, Cheng Youlong (son of the late Cheng Tinghua), visited the Guo estate. He ended up staying at there for over ten years. During that time Cheng and the younger Guo developed a bond of brotherhood. Cheng taught him Bagua and Taiji Neigong in an effort to help cure a rare leg disease that Guo had contracted. Guo fully recovered from the disease due to the exercises and guidance from Cheng. He moved to Jinan in Shandong Province in 1931, and there until 1966 when he returned to his childhood home. Guo Zhushan passed away in 1966. The teachings that he received from Cheng Youlong were passed down and are known today as Bagua Taijiiquan, which reflects the blending of the two arts by Cheng Youlong. Guo’s most notable students were Jing Dewai, Qiao Hongru, and Zhang Wanying (his student, Zhang Fengjie, has a VCD available on Bagua Taijiquan - scroll down.) Click here to read Jarek Szymanski’s article about Guo Zhushan and Bagua Taijiquan.
 Chen Panling (1892-1967) - was born in Xiping in Hunan Province in 1892. He was also known as Chen Junfeng and is more remembered for his contributions to Taijiquan. Chen also taught Baguazhang, but there is some question to his lineage. From Chen’s book, Taiji Quan Teaching Material, he states that his Xingyiquan instructor was Lu Cunyi, who was also noted for his Baguazhang skills, and Liu Caichen. He claimed that his Baguazhang training was under Cheng Youlong and Tong Lianji. (Chen’s other martial art instructors will not be addressed in this stekch.) It is documented that Chen was an associate of Wang Shujin. According to Wang, he learned Taijiquan from Chen Panling and in return he instructed Chen in Baguazhang. Both of their statements may be correct, but observation of Chen’s Baguazhang method indicates a close association with the methods taught by Wang Shujin. Chen may have used the teachings he received from Wang to supplement earlier training in Cheng Style Baguazhang. Regardless, Chen’s method of Baguazhang is still practiced, though his Taijiquan is generally accepted as being more refined. Chen Panling died in 1967 in Taiwan. His top disciples were his sons, Chen Yunching and Chen Yunchao. Click here to visit the website of the Chen Panling Foundation, which is headed by his son, Chen Yunching.
Ma Deshan - was a disciple of Cheng Youlong. He is also noted as a student of Yang Mingshan. Research has yield little concerning Ma Deshan from English sources and references. Hopefully, additional information will become available and added to this stekch. Ma Deshan’s most notable disciple is Si Zhen.
 Si Zhen - was a disciple of Ma Deshan. Research has yield little concerning Si Zhen from English sources and references. Hopefully, additional information will become available and added to this stekch. Click here to watch a video of Si Zhen on YouTube.
  Gao Yisheng (1866-1951) – was born in Shandong Province in 1866. He was first taught the martial art of his family, which was a form of Hong Style Boxing. He was injured as a child in an accident involving a mule cart that resulted in a broken leg. The bone was not set properly and Gao suffered with it the rest of his life, causing him to walk with a cane. He began his training in baguazhang under Song Changrong, one of the senior students of Dong Haichuan, in 1892. After three years of practicing the basics Gao requested higher instruction, but Song refused. Gao left in search of another teacher. In 1896 was defeated in a fight by Zhou Yuxiang. As per custom of the day, Gao asked to become a disciple, but being close to the same age, Zhou instead introduced him to his teacher, Cheng Tinghua. Gao was soon accepted as a formal disciple of Cheng and began learning Cheng Style Baguazhang. He trained under the famed Baguazhang practitioner for four years prior to Cheng’s death in 1900. Afterwards, having grasped the fundamentals of the art, Gao started teaching the method. He continued his relationship with Zhou and further refined his art. He also met the famed Li Cunyi, known both for his Xingyi and Bagua skills, and started training in Xingyi under his guidance. Gao returned to his hometown in Shandong in 1911 at the age of 45. Five years later he moved further north and continued to teach and refine his art. Gao returned to his hometown from 1926 to 1936 at the request of his nephew, Liu Fengcai. He taught his art at that time, which had its roots in Cheng Style Baguazhang, but had been influenced by Xingyi and other refinements from Gao’s personal development. He passed down his teachings in the six volume manual, The Important Meaning of Baguazhang, to his students. Additionally, Gao made some claims that his Bagua had came from an unknown Taoist monk. These claims have never been verified and in constrast to his known development under historical instructors. Gao Yisheng died in 1951, but his teachings, which are known as Gao Style Baguazhang, are still practiced today.
 Zhang Junfeng (1902-1974) – was born in Shandong Province in 1902. He began training with Gao Yisheng at the age of sixteen. Zhang was a private student of Gao, which was due to his work schedule that prevented him from attending Gao’s formal classes. This arrangement allowed Zhang to advanced very rapidly and he gained a high level of skill and understanding the Gao Style Baguazhang. Zhang also trained in Xingyi from Li Bintang, the son of the noted practitioner Li Cunyi. He eventually became the Chairman of the Tianjin City Martial Arts Assocation. He was well-known for his fighting skills. During to Communist takeover in 1949 he fled to Taipei, Taiwan. Gao gave his lineage of the art the name of Yi Zong, which it is known by today. He was an associate of Wang Shujin and the two often exchanged ideas and training concepts. Zhang’s most notable students were Wu Zhaofeng, Wu Mengxia (better known as a disciple of Han Muxia), and the Hong brothers; Hong Yixiang, Hong Yiwen, and Hong Yimian.
 Hong Yimian (1920-?) - was born to a wealthy family and did not start training in the martial arts until the end of World War II. Yimian was physically small, thin, talkative, and very energetic. He was drafted into the Japanese Army and fought against the American forces in the Philippines. Yimian was captured and sent to a POW Camp in Australia. He returned to Taiwan after the war, where he met and started training with Zhang Junfeng. His two brothers, Hong Yiwen and Hong Yixiang, both started training with Zhang at about the same time, which was shortly after the end of World War II. He was first taught Xingyi by his instructor. Later, he was instructed in the art of Gao Style Baguazhang. Many people in Taiwan claimed that Yimian was the best fighter out of the three brothers. He was the instructor of the noted American Bagua practitioner, Allen Pittman.
 Hong Yixiang (1924-?) - was born to a wealthy family and was brother to Hong Yimian and Hong Yiwen. Yixiang had an early interest in the martial arts and first studied Shaolin Quan. When the Japanese occupied Taiwan he studied Judo, but it was after the end of World War II that he started training in earnest. The Hong brothers became students of Zhang Junfeng and were instructed in Xingyi and Gao Style Baguazhang. Yixiang was the physical opposite of his brother, Yimian. He had a large build and was physically strong. His method of fighting was very direct and short to the point. His most notable student is Luo Dexiu.
 Luo Dexiu (1956-present) - was born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1956. He began his training under Hong Yixiang in 1971. He learned Xingyi, Gao Style Baguazhang and Taijiquan from Hong Yixiang and became one of the best fighters at the school. Luo also learned with the other two Hong brothers, Yimian and Yiwen. He would later further his studies in Cheng Style Baguazhang with Liu Qian, a student of Sun Xikun. He teaches in Taiwan and conducts seminars throughout the world. Click here for a link to the Yi Wong Website. Click here to view a YouTube video of Luo Dexiu. One of his students is noted American Bagua practitioner, Tim Cartmell.
 Hong Yiwen (1916-?) - was the oldest of the Hong brothers and is the least well-known of the three in the martial arts community. He studied under Zhang Junfeng and learned Xingyi, Gao Style Baguazhang and Taijiquan. The later became his specialty. Yiwen was the brother with the highest level of understanding of the advanced principles and theories of the Internal Arts.
 Wu Zhaofeng - was a disciple of Zhang Junfeng, the student of Gao Yisheng. He was a martial brother of Wu Mengxia and may have been kin but more research is needed to be certain. Wu’s instructor, Zhang Junfeng, passed on a manual called The Important Meaning of Baguazhang to both Wu Zhaofeng and Wu Mengxia. Additional research is needed.
Wu Jinyuan - studied under Gao when he first taught in the Shandong Province. Wu became Gao Yisheng’s first formal disciple. Wu’s son, Wu Huaishan, also trained under Gao. They both fled to Taiwan during the Communist takeover in 1849.
 Liu Fengcai (1908-1987) - was the nephew of Gao Yisheng and trained with him between 1926 and 1936 in Shandong Province. He gained a high level of skill and eventually taught classes for Gao. During his life he taught many students. He was invited by Li Ziming to assist in the relocation of Dong Haichuan’s tomb in 1980. Liu is remembered for his dedication to training and for over sixty years of daily practice. His branch survives today and is taught by his senior students, Wang Shusheng and Liu Shushang. Click here for more information.
 Wang Shusheng (1920-1995) - was born in Anxin County in Hebei Province in 1920. His first martial arts training was in Shaolin and Eight Pole Boxing. Wang became a disciple of Liu Fengcai in 1948. He was an excellent student and gained a complete understanding of the principles, theories, and applications of Gao Style Baguazhang. Wang became a respected fighter and was known for his quick hands and clever techniques. He started accepting his first students in 1960. He was appointed to an instructor position at the Nankai Martial Arts Academy in 1983 and held that position into his later years. Wang traveled to Japan to spread Gao Style Baguazhang in 1987. He died in 1995, at the age of 76. He taught many students, but his most notable disciples were Ge Guoliang and Li Xueyi. Wang Shusheng, Liu Shuhang, Ge Guoliang, and Li Xueyi are part of the North American Tang Shou Tao Association.
 Liu Shuhang (1947-present) - was born in 1947 in Tianjin. He began training in 1962 under the guidance of his great-uncle, Liu Fengcai, in Gao Style Baguazhang. Liu’s grandson started training during the same period, but died in his late teens. This unfortunate event placed Liu Shuhang as the sole member of the Liu family to carry on Gao Style Baguazhang. Liu Shuhang trained under his great-uncle until 1976. Beginning in 1984 Liu started accepting students in Gao Style Baguazhang. He worked with Professor Kang Gewu in researching the roots of Gao Style Baguazhang. He assisted Liu Fengcai and his martial brother, Wang Shusheng, in the publication of Gao Yisheng’s martial manual, The Cheng-School Gao-Style Eight Diagram Boxing Manual. Liu lives in Tianjin and continues to research and instruct Gao Style Baguazhang.
Zhou Yuxiang - research has yielded little on Zhou Yixiang, who is also referred to as Zhou Yuquan. It is known that he was near the age of Gao Yisheng, who was born in 1866. He reportedly had earned the nickname of Peerless Palm Zhou due to his exceptional skills in Baguazhang. Zhou was challenged by Gao in 1896 and easily defeated him in three different bouts. Gao asked to become a student, as was custom in the day, by Zhou refused since they were near the same age. Instead, he introduced Gao to his instructor, Cheng Tinghua. Gao trained primarily under Zhou for the next six years. Zhou is also considered as a disciple of Liu Fenchun. Zhou’s notable students were Yan Dehua and Liang Kequan. No additional information.
Yan Dehua - was a noted student of Zhou Yuxiang. He published an important book on Baguazhang in 1936 called Baguazhang Combat Applications. Click here for information on ordering this book. He was also a student of Jiang Rongqiao. No additional information.
Liang Kequan (1918-2003) - was born in Zhuozhou in Hebei Province in 1918. He became a disciple of Zhou Yuxiang. He also received instruction from Cheng Youxin and Zhang Yinwu, who was a disciple of Li Cunyi. Liang learned Xingyi, Taiji and Bagua from these men and became a proficient boxer. During the Sino-Japanese War, which started in 1937, Liang joined the Chinese army and reportedly utilized his martial skills in several hand-to-hand combat encounters. He is remembered for defeating a Japanese Judo expert during a competition at festival. Liang moved to Tangshan and took up the business of fish breeding. This allowed him more time to spend on his martial training. He was involved in numerous challenge matches and fights throughout his life. Liang collected rare martial arts texts and manuals. He emphasized the importance of soft power in his teachings, which gave his flavor of XIngyi an appearance of being less aggressive than the norm. His power was not in the outward expression, as he could strike a tree with his shoulder and cause it to shake. Liang Kequan died from a heart attack in 2003.
 Sun Lutang (1861-1932) – was born in Hebei Province in 1861. His given name was originally Fuquan, which was given to him by his parents. Though later in life he received his second name, Lutang, he continued to use his birth name in many of his published works. Sun first trained in the art of Xingyi under the guidance of the famed practitioner, Li Kuiyuan. In 1882 he would study under another Xingyi great, Guo Yunshen. Sun developed a solid martial foundation while training under these two noted instructors. Sun became a disciple of Cheng Tinghua in 1892. Cheng was one of the top disciples of Dong Haichuan, the founder of Baguazhang. Considering that Sun already had gained a deep understanding of the internal aspects of Xingyi, he excelled in his study of Bagua. He continued to train with Cheng until his instructors death in 1900. Sun trained with the noted Taijiquan expert, Hao Weizhen, starting in 1911. He was one of the rare class of that eras martial artist that trained in all three of the major internal arts. Granted, he started his training in taiji late in life, but given his grasp of the internal aspects of Xingyi and Bagua, he had no problem in digesting the concepts of his third art. His taiji skills developed to a very high level, which was done much more quickly than usual. He was invited to teach at the Beijing Physical Education Research Institute in 1914 and became a prominent instructor in Taiji. He taught there until 1928, which is considered to be the golden era in the development of Yang, Wu, and Sun Style Taijiquan. The later bears the name of this major figure in the development of modern taijiquan. Sun was an accomplished Neo-Confucian and Taoist scholar, with a special interest in the theories of the I Ching. Utilizing these skills, he authored five books on the Internal Arts that contributed greatly to their popularity. In fact, Sun was the person that first coined the concept of Xingyi, Bagua, and Taiji representing the three Internal Arts. His significant works on Baguazhang were A Study of Eight Trigrams Boxing, and The Study of Bagua Sword. Sun is without doubt remembered for his scholarship, but he was also a tremendously talented martial artist. This is verified in the 1921 challenge match with Sakakaki Kazuo, a noted Japanese jujutsu champion Kazuo had heard of Sun’s reputation, probably through his writings, and came to China with the expressed purpose of challenging him. Sun defeated Kazuo in the match, which dispelled any doubts concerning Sun’s martial skills. His most notable students were Sun Cunzhou (his son), Sun Jianyun (his daughter), Chen Weiming, Fu Zhensong, Jin Hsinhan, Jin Yunting, Li Yulin, and Zhang Huaxian.
 Sun Cunzhou (1893-1963 – was the second son of the famed Sun Lutang, who was the noted author of several books on the Internal Arts and a recognized expert of Baguazhang, Xingyi and Taijiquan. Cunzhou started his training at the age of six and being highly intelligent, he quickly gained a basic understanding of the principles of the arts. In 1910 he followed his father to Beijing and the opportunity to train with many of the Republican Era martial art greats. Two years later, Cunzhou would travel to southern China on a quest to gain further martial knowledge. He lost his left eye in an accident and became reclusive for a number of years. During that time he worked to refine his skills with the goal of becoming unbeatable. Many would consider that he achieved that goal by the time he ended his self-imposed exile in the 1930’s. Cunzhou was also known for his proficiency in qigong practices. He spent his entire life perfecting and researching the martial arts with a focus on their combative techniques. He ceased to teach after 1949 and during the rest of his life only accepted two disciples. Sun Cunzhou died in 1963. He is best remembed for his skills in Sun Style Taijiquan.
 Zheng Huaixian (1896-1981) - was a disciple of Sun Lutang. Zheng was chosen as a member of the Chinese Guoshu Team that represented Chinese Martial Arts at a demonstration during the XI Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. After the Olympics, the team traveled to Denmark, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, and Italy to demonstrate Chinese Martial Arts. They were warmly received and highly acclaimed for their performances, which included empty hand forms and those with swords, cudgels, and spears. Zheng went on to become the President of the Chinese Wushu Association. He was one of the instructors of Liang Shouyu.
 Liang Shouyu - is a well-known and highly respected Chinese martial artist that currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He has published numerous articles and books on the Chinese Martial Arts. Additionally, he has produced several training videos on various Chinese martial arts. Liang has received high awards and honors from the Chinese government for his achievements in the martial arts. He received instruction from several top level martial artists. Specifically, he learned from Zhang Huaixian in the Cheng Style and Wang Shutian in Liu Style. Liang also learned from instructors on Emei Mountain, but their lineage has not been determined. His most notable student is his daughter, Helen Liang. Click here to view his website.
 Li Yulin (1888-1965) – was born in 1888 and became a highly respected martial artist during the first half of the last century. He first studied under Hao Enguang, and his instructor Li Cunyi. They instructed Li Yulin in Xingyi and Luhan Quan. Both were known for their Bagua skills as well, but it is unclear if they instructed Li in the art. In 1924 he began formal martial studies under Sun Lutang, a highly respected disciple of Cheng Tinghua, in the arts of Sun Style Taijijquan and Cheng Style Baguazhang. He is generally regarded as one of Sun’s most highly respected students. He was appointed as Chief Instructor of the Shandong Central Wushu Association. Li Yulin is better known for his contributions to the art of Taijiquan, but he did learn and teach Cheng Style Baguazhang. His most notable students were his two sons, Li Tianji and Li Tianchi.
 Li Tianji (1913-1996) – was the son of the legendary Li Yulin and trained under the guidance of his father from an early age. He was a graduate of the Shandong Martial Arts College and earned the title of Martial Arts Instructor. He taught throughout Shanxi and Heilongjiang Provinces at various schoold and universities. In 1950 he came to Beijing and was appointed Coach to the State Wushi Team. From 1955 until 1996 at his death, he was an executive member of the Institute of Physical Education and Sports. He is remembered for his dedication to research, study and development of Taijin.
 Sun Jianyun (1913-2003) – daughter of the famed Sun Lutang, a noted author and practitioner of Bagua, Xingyi and Taiji. She started learning the martial arts from her father in her childhood. She initally trained in the three Internal Arts of Bagua, Xingyi and Taiji. She became a coach at the Jiansu National Wushu Academy. She published several books such as Sun Style Taijiquan, Xingyi Sword and Eight Forms of Xingyiquan. Jianyun also was featured on a VCD series on Sun Style Taijiquan that are still available. Her noted students are Sun Baoan, Liu Yanlong, and noted American Bagua practitioner, Tim Cartmell.
Chen Weiming (1881-1958) – was from Hebei Province and came from a educated family. He had a cultured childhood and studied Chinese literature, calligraphy and poetry. He became a disciple of Sun Lutang around 1904. He learned Bagua and Xingyi from Sun. He also studied under Yang Chengfu in the art of Taijiquan. He moved to Shanghai in 1925 and established the Achieving Softness Taijiquan Assocation. Chen is remembered more for his contributions to Taijiquan and published three books on the art. He died in 1958.
 Cheng Youxin (1891-?) – was born in 1891 in Beijing and was the second son of the Cheng Tinghua. He began training with his father at an early age, but was only nine years old when his father was killed during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. Youxin was taught Baguazhang by his uncle, Cheng Dianhua, and several of the close disciples of his father. He trained with determination and progressed in his abilities until he achieved a high level of skill. Youxin was known to have specialized in Bagua Deer Horn Knives and is credited with developing the sixty-four palm routine of Cheng Style Baguazhang. Because of the manner that he was taught, Youxin did not receive the lineage of any one particular practitioner. He learned from many of the eras Bagua greats and developed into an excellent boxer. It is said that his skill eventually matched that of his older brother, Cheng Youlong, but did not surpass it. He was of short stature and was small in size. Due to these physical qualities, he excelled at Lower Basin training, which is specifically designed for the smaller practitioner. He was nicknamed Cuo Ye (Short Uncle). During the 1960’s, he was known as one of the Three Elders of Beijing Bagua within the martial art community, sharing this title with Guo Gumin and Fan Fenglan. For many years he would teach at the Dong Dan Park in Beijing. His most notable students were Liu Jingru (also known as Liu Tafeng), Xu Lifang (his disciple was Ma Lincheng - click here for a link to his VCD’s - scroll down), Duan Bingzhang, Xu Fanzeng, Zhang Rongli. Sun Zhijun, and Qian Wanzhang.
 Sun Zhijun (1933-present) - born in Cheng Village, Shen County in Hebei Province in 1933. He eventually became chief disciple of Cheng Youxin and trained a new generation of Cheng Style Baguazhang both home and abroad. Some of his disciples won championships in national and international Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Competitions. Jia Shusen, one of the disciples of Sun Zhijun, is the current chairman of Ba Gua Zhang Research Institute. One of his disciples was Jia Shusen, the current president of the Beijing Baguazhang Research Association (BBRA). It should be noted that Sun Zhijun was also the student of Cheng Yousheng, the son of Cheng Dianhua. This allowed him the unusal distinction of be trained by the son and nephew of the founder of the Cheng Style Baguazhang branch, Cheng Tinghua. Sun also recieved instruction from Liu Ziyang, who was a student Cheng Dianhua (brother of Cheng Tinghua). His notable students were Lin Haizhu and Wilson Wu. Click here to watch Sun Zhijun’s Baguazhang on YouTube.
 Xu Fanzheng - was a disciple of Cheng Youxin in Cheng Style Baguazhang. He was also a noted expert in Song Style Xingyiquan. He authored a book on the subject titled, About Practice of Xingyiquan. No additional information. If you can provide any additional background on this practitioner please contact me. Zhang Rongli (1933-present) – was born in Beijing and had an early interest in the martial arts. He received instruction from Cheng Youxin in Baguazhang and Li Buoying in Taichi. He is a very kind individual that goes above and beyond in helping students learn Cheng Style Baguazhang. He is still active in teaching Baguazhang in Beijing.
 Liu Bin (1866-1930) – was one of Cheng Tinghua’s earliest disciples. He became highly skilled in Cheng Style Baguazhang and his branch of the art remains active to this day. One of his major contributions to the system was the preservation of the Nine Palace and Coiling Body Methods of Bagua, which he developed from his own understanding of Bagua combined with Chinese astrology. Liu studied many of the most secretive aspects of Bagua and I-Ching philosophy under Ji Fengxiang and gained a reputation for being a mystic and astrologer. His Bagua brothers aided and supported Liu, allowing him to concentrate on refining and preserving his studies in the art, instead of worrying about making a living. He taught at the Tan Tong area of the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing. Many of the eras Bagua greats would meet and train at that location. It was the same location utilized by Cheng Tinghua to teach and the practice continued after his death by Liu Bin, Sun Lutang, and other disciples. Liu Xinghan, Liu Bin’s adopted son and martial disciple, recounts the class being visits by the famed Sun Lutang and other classmates of Liu Bin during his early training years. He also states that Liu Bin developed the concept of the Nine Palaces method due to the influence of an astrologer, who was not a martial artist. These concepts were added to the already proven combat effectiveness of Cheng Style Baguazhang. The Nine Palace method was passed down to Liu Bin’s disciples. Liu Bin was one of the Five Old Master of Beijing Southern District Baguazhang, which included Ji Fengxiang, Liu Zhenzong, Li Heting and Guo Fengde. These men practiced daily and researched the advanced information of the I-Ching and its relation to Baguazhang. Liu Bin’s most notable students were Liu Xinghan, Liu Shikui (his son), and Wang Wenkui.
 Liu Shikui (1899-1976) - son of Liu Bin. He kept the Baguazhang notes of his father and passed them to Liu Xinghan during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Those notes contributed greatly to Liu’s books on Baguazhang that were published in China. Zhang Jie, a disciple of Liu Xinghan, states that Liu Shikui had a high level of skill in qinggong and that on his job he would leap and scramble to the top of a 10-foot-high steambolier to throw the pressure-relief value when it was about to explode. Liu Shikui’s most notable students were Zhang Yuehua, Gu Zhenying, Teng Haolin, Tie Enfang, Xu Zhenbiao, Zhu Zhenhua, Teng Entian and Han Wu.
 Xu Zhenbiao (1913-1991) - was a direct dsciple of Liu Shikui and also studied with Liu’s martial brother, Wang Wenkui. Xu Zhenbiao was active in the Beijing Baguazhang Research Association. There have been no disciples of Xu Zhenbiao identified. Hopefully, additional information will be found and added to this stekch.
 Han Wu (1912-?) - was a direct disciple of Liu Shikui. Han Wu was one of many Baguazhang practitioners that assisted in the move of Dong Haichuan’s tomb in 1981. He was an active member of the Beijing Baguazhang Research Association. Han Wu, besides from gaining an high level of skill in Baguazhang, was a highly respected practitioner of Shuai Jiao. He was a student of the famous Zhang Guoxing, a noted Shuai Jiao instructor. His most notable students was Han De, his grandson, and Zhang Jie. Research has yielded little else on Han Wu and it is hoped that additional information will be found and added to this stekch.
 Wang Wenkui (1900-1986) - was the one of the senior students of Liu Bin. He was a close associate of Liu Xinghan and the two trained together for many years. They trained together at the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing. He was well-known in the Beijing martial arts community and a member of the Beijing Baguazhang Research Association. Wang is remembered for not only his high level of skil and knowledge, but for his training ethic. He trained everyday and worked very hard to develop his Baguazhang skills throughout his life. His most notable students were Xu Zhenbiao, Bai Yucai, Wang Zhenting and Zhang Jie. Hopefully, additional information can be discovered that will add to the sketch of this Bagua practitioner.
Bai Yucai - is a direct disciple of Wang Wenkui. Bai Yucai is considered as Wang Wenkui’s best and most highly taught student. Click here to watch Bai Yucai video on YouTube.
Wang Zhenting - was the son of Wang Wenkui and also trained under his father in Cheng Style Baguazhang. Zhenting became the Vice President of the Beijing Baguazhang Research Association. No additional information.
  Liu Xinghan (1909-2000) – was the adopted son and martial disciple of Liu Bin. He became a formal disciple in 1925 at the age of 19, eventually being chosen by Liu Bin to be the lineage carrier of his branch. His biological father was a martial brother of Liu Bin and both trained under Cheng Tinghua. It is not known what became of Liu’s biological father or the reason that Liu Bin adopted him. Not only did he learn from Liu Bin, but he also received the instruction of Li Heting, Ji Fengxiang, Guo Fengde, his father, Liu Zhenzong, Wang Danlin, Liu Shikui and Wang Wenkui. Training under the watchful eye of Liu Bin, his technical skills developed to a refined level. Liu Bin conducted his training at the Temple of Heaven Park in south central Beijing. Numerous classmates of Liu Bin would visit and assist in the teaching, often giving words of advice to the students. Liu Xinghan stated that on one occasion the famed Sun Lutang visited and talked to his instructor and senior students. The two men were martial brothers of the same generation and disciples of Cheng Tinghua. Sun Lutang gave the young Liu Xinghan the advice to practice hard and listen carefully to everything that Liu Bin said. He followed that advice and trained everyday for many years, gaining a high level of understanding in Liu Bin’s method. Dark times came to Beijing during the Japanese occupation from 1937 to 1945. The practice of martial arts was forbidden, but many students still trained in private. The Cultural Revolution was another difficult time for Chinese martial arts and it became impossible to teach openly during that time. It was not until 1976, at the end of the Cultural Revolution, that Liu Xinghan returned to the Temple of Heaven Park and started openly teaching Liu Bin’s method of Baguazhang. The location was the same one used by Cheng Tinghua and Liu Bin. He was the subject of a China National Television documentary in 1996 on his contributions to the martial arts. Additionally, Liu Xinghan has been written about in numerous magazines, martial arts journals, and newspapers. He authored three books on Baguazhang in China and co-authored one in the United States. Liu Xinghan, the lineage holder of Liu Bin’s Cheng Style Baguazhang, passed away in 2000. His most notable students in the United States are Zhang Jie and John Bracy. HIs notable students in China were Liu Jinliang, Xing Yuncai, You Degen, Li Guogun, Xiao Haixue, Cui Yuke, Liu Chuang and Li Zongchuan.
Liu Jinliang - was the first student of Liu Xinghan and was his oldest student. He was born in Kun Ming in Yunan Province. He became certified by the Chinese Government to teach Baguazhang. He was appointed Vice President of the Wushu Association of Yunan Province. Liu Jinliang received numerous awards from the government for his excellent Baguazhang skills.
Liu Zhenzong - was a disciple of Cheng Tinghua. Liu was the father of Liu Xinghan, who rose to a high level skill in Lin Bin’s Baguazhang and contributed greatly to spreading the art in Beijing and abroad. Liu Zhenzong is remembered as being an excellent businessman and helped support the research on Baguazhang of the Beijing Southern District. He and Liu Bin became formal blod brothers, which probably explains why Liu Bin adopted Liu Xinghan after the death of Zhenzong. He was gained excellent level of skill at Baguazhang forms and weapons. It is not clear if Zhenzong studied directly under Cheng Tinghua. It is recorded that Liu Bin and Ji Fengxiang, after reviewing the high level that Kiu Zhenzong’s Baguazhang had risen, decided to organize a Pai Wei ceremony, which made Liu an official disciple of Cheng Tinghua. This reportedly happened after the death of the founder of Cheng Style Baguazhang. The ceremony placed Liu Zhenzong on the same level as Liu Bin and Ji Fengxiang, both of whom were disciples of Cheng Tinghua. Liu Xinghan, Liu Zhenzong’s son, trained with his father before becoming a student of Liu Bin. The specifics of the death of Liu Zhenzong are not known, but his son was adopted by Liu Bin at an early age. Liu Zhenzong, along with Liu Bin, Li Heting, Ji Fengxiang and Guo Fengde, were known as the Five Old Masters of Beijing Southern District Baguazhang. The group trained together and researched Baguazhang to a high degree. Liu Bin and Wang Danlin would come to his house and pracitce on a regular basis.
 Ji Fengxiang - was a scholar of Chinese philosophy and astrology. He became a student of Baguazhang under Cheng Tinghua, but also contributed to applying principles of the I-Ching and Chinese astrology to the concepts of Cheng Style Baguazhang. He also became a mentor in these studies to Liu Bin. Ji influenced another of Cheng Tinghua’s disciples, Sun Lutang, who became one of the leading contributors to the popularization of Chinese Internal Arts. He was also known as Long Whip Ji, which was due to the business that he operated selling whips. Ji was reportedly very good as the use of the whip as a weapon. He was also a noted doctor of Chinese Medicine and incorporated that knowledge into his understanding of Cheng Style Baguazhang. He was one of the Five Old Masters of Beijing Southern District Baguazhang, which also included Liu Bin, Li Heting, Liu Zhenzong and Guo Fengde. This group worked to understanding the relationship between the martial art of Baguazhang and the classical Chinese text known as the I-Ching. He passed on much of his knowledge to a young Liu Xinghan, the orphaned son of Liu Zhenzong.
Li Heting - was a disciple of Cheng Tinghua. He is reported to having an excellent understanding of the advanced qigong practices of the art. Li Heting, along with Liu Bin, Ji Fengziang, Liu Zhenzong and Guo Fengde, were known as the Five Old Masters of Beijing Southern District Baguazhang. This group met nearly every day and practiced their art. Additionally, they gained an advanced understanding of the relationship of I-Ching to the martial art of Baguazhang. No additional information.
Guo Fengde - was a disciple of Cheng Tinghua. He had an excellent understanding of Baguazhang forms. He is reported to have been a very humble person that was quiet and extremely nice to other people. Guo also developed a high level of internal balance from his work with qigong. He was one of the Five Old Master of Beijing Southern District Baguazhang with Liu Bin, Ji Fengxiang, Liu Zhenzong and Li Heting. No additional information.
 Liu Fengchun (1855-1922) – was born in Luo Jia Ying Village, Zhu County in Hebei Province in 1855. His father was a farmer and the family was very poor. At the age of nine, he stated training in the martial arts with locals. Liu moved to Beijing around 1872 to seek employment. He first took a job as a polisher in a jewelry job. Liu learned the various skills of the jewelry business and eventually started his own business doing the same. This profession gained him the nickname of Jewelry Liu. He met and started training with Cheng Tinghua in Baguazhang. Impressed with the training ethic of the man, Cheng recommended him to his instructor, Dong Haichuan. He entered Dong’s school very late and was only able to receive a small amount of training prior to the famous martial artist’s death. It is said that Liu Fenchun only received Dong’s teaching superficially, but received Cheng Tinghua’s teaching very strongly. His skills became refined and he was eventually considered one of the best Baguazhang practitioners of his time. He also received instruction in Xingyi from Liu Jilan after the death of Dong Haichuan. During middle age, Liu became well known in the Beijing martial arts community. He was appointed an instructor at the Beijing Athletic Research Institute from 1912 to 1916. He method of teaching centered on the use of very few of the established palm methods common to Baguazhang. His art was considered pure and simple, but no one could match him. Wang Zingzhai during a speech in 1940 stated, “Liu Fengchun and I were good friends, his skills were very deep. He never practiced the 64 palms or 72 legs. None could match him.” Liu Fenchun died in Beixiguo Village in Zhuo County in 1922. He had many students and disciples. The notable ones were Zhou Yuxiang, Xu Yusheng, Li Jianhua, Zhang Guangyu, Tiao Chunxiu, Wang Zhongxian, Liu Wenhua (son of famed Xingyi instructor Li Qilan) and Fu Jianqiu.
Xu Yusheng (1879-1945) - was a disciple of Liu Fengchun, but became better known for his skills in Yang Style Taijiquan, which he learned under the guidance of Yang Jianhou. He was also a student of Chen Fake in Chen Style Taijiquan. Xu was known to be the instructor of Shen Zirong. He instructed Shen in Baguazhang, which he learned from Liu Fenchun, and in Yang Style Taijiquan. Xu Yusheng also was known as Xu Chonghou. In 1916, he was key in establishing the Beijing Institute of Athletic Improvement. Also critical in the formation of this organization was Sun Lutang, a well-known student of Cheng Tinghua.
Li Jianhua - was a disciple of Liu Fengchun. Li also studied Chen Style Taijijquan under Chen Fake. Li eventually became a martial arts coach at the Northeastern University and was noted for his skill in Baguazhang. No additional information.
Cheng Dianhua (1848-1935) - was the brother of Cheng Tinghua. Dianhua was invited to Beijing by his famous brother. He initially apprenticed under Tinghua at the eyeglass shop. His brother began training him in Baguazhang during that time. He also received instruction from Dong Haichuan, but is considered to have received the majority of his instruction from his brother. Cheng Dianhua is reported to have gone into the streets of Beijing with his brother during the Bocer Rebellion in the summer of 1900. They searched for the invading western armies that were looting the capital. The two came upon a small unit of German soldiers. Two versions exist of what happened. One states that the Germans were rounding up locals for a work party and approached the two brothers. Tinghua and Dianhua resisted and made a run to escape. The Germans fired at them and shot Tinghua as he was climbing a fence. Tinghua later died from the wounds. In another version, and the one that is more common, is that the two brothers actually attacked the group of German soldiers. Whirling into their ranks, they managed to kill or wound several of them before the Germans could react. Tinghua is said to have killed eight of them, but he was shot and killed during the battle. Dianhua managed to escape without harm. Regardless of which story is correct, Tinghua did not survive the Boxer Rebellion. Cheng Dianhua continued refining his art after the death of his brother. He eventually returned to his home village in Shen County, Hebei Province and taught Baguazhang to local practitioners. His most notable students were Cheng Yousheng (his son), Cheng Yougong (his nephew and also a student of Cheng Tinghua), and Liu Ziyang.
 Cheng Yousheng (1903-1961) - was the fourth son of Cheng Dianhua and the nephew of Cheng Tinghua. He received a full transmission of Cheng Style Baguazhang from his father, Cheng Dianhua. Research indicates that Cheng Yousheng taught along side of Cheng Youxin, his cousin and son of the famed Cheng Tinghua. He was one of the instructors of Sun Zhijun and Xu Lifang, along with Cheng Youxin. Others are thought to be the same men that are attributed as students of Cheng Youxin. More research is needed.
Liu Ziyang - was a direct disciple of Cheng Dianhua. Research has yielded little information on him. It is hoped that additional information will come to light and it will be added to this sketch. Liu Ziyang was one of the principle instructors of Sun Zhujin.
Cheng Yougong – was born in Cheng Village, Shen County in Hebei Province. His father, Cheng Tingguang was the eldest brother of the famed Cheng Tinghua, who was the third oldest. He received training from his uncle, Cheng Tinghua, in the art that is now known as Cheng Style Baguazhang. Yougong is said to have been an excellent student that would get up very early to start his training, which he practiced fully. His uncle was a strict taskmaster and instructor, he trained Yougong in a harsh manner. It is remembered that Cheng Tinghua would sit in the central room of the eyeglass shop and his disciple, Cheng Yougong, would practice in the courtyard. Tinghua, being a strick teacher, would not allow Yougong to take a break or pause in his training. This type of training caused the young man to develop into an excellent Baguazhang practitioner within three years. Cheng Yougong, at the urging of Li Wenbiao, went to Fengtian to search for spies against the Imperial Family. During this time, it is reported, Cheng Yougong would practice for hours using a ten pound iron staff. While not training, Yougong would arrest bandits without assistance from anyone. His skills had progressed to a high level. He was eventually appointed to a position at the Headquarters of Indoctrination Hall of the Northeast Army of Zhang Zuolin. This force was responsible for enforcing the ban on the opium trade. There were numerous conflicts with the opium merchants and it was determined to provide martial arts training to the troops. Cheng Yougong was the man in charge of this training. He went on to work in a similar capacity under Generals Li Jinglin and Wang Yizhe. He would later be employed at the Loyang Guoshu Guan as head teacher. When hostilities began with the Japanese occupation of Shenyang in 1931, Cheng Yougong did not return to the south. Instead, he took a position in Changchun as an instructor in Xie Gong’s school. It was during this time that Yougong accepted his first formal disciple, a man named Du Shaochen from Taiwan. It is said that Du returned to Taiwan before the liberation from the Japanese and did not receive the full transmission of Yougong’s art. At the age of forty, his first wife passed away. He remarried when he was fifty and had two sons and one daughter. In his old age he had to work hard and lived in poverty. He died in Changchun Dongan Village in the home of his eldest son, Cheng Qinghai, at roughly seventy years of age. Hopefully, additional information will emerge that provides data on his disciples.
Li Wenbiao (?-1925) – was a disciple of Cheng Tinghua. His birth year and location is unknown, but his contribution to Baguazhang stands today. Li was considered to be one of Cheng’s most outstanding students. He was physically a large and powerfully built man with bright eyes and a tremendous spirit. He has been described as burly and extremely strong. He gained a deep understanding of Cheng Style Baguazhang directly from the Cheng Tinghua. Li accepted a command position under Xu Shichang, the Supervisor of the Military, and went to Fengtian in search of foreign spies. He asked his friend and Bagua brother, Cheng Yougong, to accompany him on this mission. He reportedly accompanied Sun Lutang on many of his teaching journeys. After the death of Cheng Tinghua, Li took a position in the Imperial Guard of the Ching Dynasty. He eventually served as a martial arts instructor to the Imperial troops. Later in life, he would hold office under President Cao Kun in Beijing. The troops under his command were filled with his Baguazhang brothers and many junior practitioners to include: Cui Yugui (a student of Miller Zhang), He Jun (a student of Cheng Youlong), Liu Zhigang (a student of Zhu Wenbao), and Liu Zitai (a student of Cheng Tinghua.) Li Wenbiao wore his hair in the traditional manner with a long braid. His troops were referred to as Li’s Twenty Best Braids and they were all skilled in Baguazhang. In 1925 during the rebellion by Feng Yuyang to overthrow President Cao Kun, Li Wenbiao was killed by a large group of rebels. Li Wenbiao had personally volunteered to stand post at a garrison to allow his troops to spend a holiday with their families. By chance, the rebels planned to attack the same garrison that night in order to steal the arms at the location. This placed Li Wenbiao in a completely outnumbered position and it is reported that he bravely fought the rebels alone, killing many of them before being gunned down. This event is oddly reminiscent of the death of Cheng Tinghua in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion. Li Wenbiao is remembered for his Depressing Palm (ta zhang), which it is said that if Li used 30% of his power that his opponent would surely be injured and if he used 50% power that the opponent would bleed from the mouth. Li Wenbiao was held in high esteem in the martial arts community. His most notable disciple was Luo Xingwu.
 Luo Xingwu (1881-1969) – was born in Lu County in Hebei Province. He was a direct disciple of Li Wenbiao, and also studied with Cheng Youlong, the son of Cheng Tinghua. He worked under Li Wenbiao in the Ching Dynasty Imperial Guard and was considered one of Li’s Twenty Best Braids. (See account of Liu Wenbiao for more details) He was an associate of He Zhongqi, the grandson of Yin Fu, and trained with him as well. Luo was able to transition to the new Republic of China army and was posted to Manchuria in the 1930’s. During the Sino-Japanese War during that time, Luo had an encounter that would immortalize his Bagua skills. During a point in the hostilities, Luo found himself facing a famed Japanese warrior who was carrying a katana (Japanese sword). Luo was weaponless and quickly grabbed a slender branch from a nearby tree. Given this vastly inferior weapon, Luo was able to use the clever footwork of Baguazhang to confuse and elude the Japanese warrior. He eventually was able to disarm the Japanese soldier and then beat him into submission. His most notable student was Liu Jingru.
  Liu Jingru (1936-present) – was born in Gaoyang County in Hebei Province in 1936. He started training under Luo Xingwu in 1957 at the age of twenty-one and became a direct disciple. He gained ability and skill under the guidance and teachings of Luo Xingwu. This lead to Liu taking first place in the Baguazhang division in the last martial arts competition before the start of the Cultural Revolution in 1963 at the age of twenty-seven. Once this dark era of Chinese history ended, another national martial arts competition was held in 1979. This time Liu was forty-three years of age, but still won the gold medal. He competed one more time the following year before turning to a career as an instructor. Liu also studied Cheng Style Baguazhang with Cheng Youxin. He has published two books on Baguazhang in China. He still trains daily and is reported as being fast, loose, powerful and full of energy. Click here to visit his website. Click here to read Jarek Syzmanski’s interview with Liu Jingru. Click here to check out his VCD series - scroll down.
Yang Mingshan (1891-1942) - was a direct disciple of Cheng Tinghua. It is reported that Yang initially was an apprentice at Cheng’s eyeglass shop in Beijing. Because of the constant discussion and practice of other students at the shop, Yang took an interest in the art. He asked Cheng to become a student and was accepted. Yang was employed to train bodyguards for the Huiyou Secuirty Agency at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Research has yielded little other information on this man. It is hoped that in the future additional information will be discovered and added to this sketch. Yang’s most notable disciples were Wang Rongtang and Ma Deshan (his disciple is Si Zhen).
 Wang Rongtang (1913-1996) - was a direct disciple of Yang Mingshan. He was a major contributor to the Beijing Baguazhang community. Wang was a member of the Beijing Baguazhang Research Association, which was founded by Li Ziming. He was one of the instructors of Jia Shusen, but in the arts of Wu Style Taiji and Xingyi. He was also noted as an expert in Cheng Style Baguazhang. His notable students are Zhao Minhua (teaching in Italy) and Jia Shusen (current president of Beijing Baguazhang Research Association). His other notable disciples were Li Tailiang, Mei Huizhi, Wang Liyuan, Guo Xuexin, Wang Zhongyong, and Li Wenshang. More research is needed.
 Li Tailiang - was a closed door disciple of Wang Rongtang. Li is better known as a top practitioner of Xingyiquan. He initially studied under his grandfather, Li Shiquan. The elder Li had been a student of famed Xingyi instructor, Bue Xuekuan. Li Tailiang also received instruction from Zhao Shouyin and Wang Yinghai, both noted Dai Style Xingyi men. As a youth he studied under Tao Yuanzi, another noted Dai Style Xingyi practitioner. Click here for more information on Li Tailiang. Click here to view his website.
 Mei Huizhi - was a disciple of Wang Rongtang and learned Baguazhang and Xingyiquan. Later, he studied western boxing and Shuai Jiao. He was instrumental in conducting full contact tournaments in China. He instructed Jia Shusen in Sanda and combat applications of Chinese Martial Arts. No additional information.
 Geng Jishan (1860-1928) - was born in Shenxian County in Hebie Province in 1860. Geng was a cousin of Li Cunyi and was a close associate of Liu Dekuan and Cheng Tinghua. He is more noted as a skilled practitioner of Xingyiquan and studied under Liu Qilan in the Hebei Xingyi method. Conflicting sources state that Geng was a disciple of Yin Fu, Cheng Tinghua and Liu Dekuan. Though listed as a student of Yin Fu by some, Geng probably received more Baguazhang instruction from Cheng and Liu. He was one of the already skilled Xingyiquan practitioners that cross-trained in Baguazhang. The others were his cousin, Li Cunyi, Liu Weixiang and Liu Dekuan. In fact, they formed a relationship of sharing their respective martial skills along with Cheng Tinghua, who was famous for his Baguazhang skills. This brotherhood sparked the development of the cross-training tradition between Baguazhang and Xingyiquan that still exists today in many branches of the art. Geng founded the Beijing Simin Martial Arts Society. He is more remembered as the founder of the Geng Style of Xingyiquan. He was nicknamed Geng Chengxing. Geng taught many students, but the most notable was Teng Yunfang (1873-1941).
The research on the following practitioners has yielded little more than their name being listed as a student of Cheng Tinghua. Hopefully, additional information will surface and will be added to his page in the future. Other students of Cheng Tinghau: Chiang Jungchao, Feng Junyi, Han Qiying, Hon Muxi, Kan Lingfeng, Li Hanzhang, Liu Zitai, Qin Cheng (also listed as a student fof Dong Haichuan), Wang Tongli, Zhang Changfa, Zhang Yongde, and Zhang Yukui.
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