Faculty

Biography

I entered the world of taijiquan and martial arts in 1976, joining a martial arts club with classes in Chito ryu karate, Toi Gar Kung fu, iron palm, Yang Taijiquan, and various qigong sets. Years later the club awarded me a 5th degree black belt. In 1980, I was introduced to a disciple of Wu Kong Yi, a lineage holder of Wu taijiquan. I became an “indoor” student, and later, an “indoor” student of a former head of the South China Athletic Association in Hong Kong and a disciple of Wu Chien Chuan, the founder of Wu taijiquan. Private and intensive instruction went on for roughly 15 years with these two highly knowledgeable instructors. I began teaching Wu Taijiquan in the late 1980s. In the mid 1990’s I expanded my view and connections in the taijiquan world. At the time, the top Chen taijiquan teachers in the US were Ren Guang-yi and Zhang Xue Xin. I brought them to Rochester to teach seminars and teach me privately. I later brought Chen Xiao Wang, the lineage holder of Chen taijiquan, to Rochester for similar training. While hosting seminars and teaching Chen and Wu taiji, I was also attending seminars with other Chen Village instructors such as Li Lai Ren, Zhu Tian Cai, Wang Hai Jun, Chen Xiao Xing, and Cheng Jincai. My studies extended beyond taiji, including jujitsu, qigong and judo, and completing two levels of Judo instructor training.

I had a long career in technology and still work in some areas of patent law. I have an MS in Optics from U of R, a PhD in Imaging Science from RIT and I passed the US patent bar exam in 2012. I was a Research Fellow at Xerox Corp and PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) where it was my responsibility to invent new and useful technologies and lead younger research scientists in invention. I volunteer teach science in the Rochester City Schools through the Museum and Science Center. My approach to taijiquan and martial arts is colored by my scientific and analytical approach to solving problems.