A Modern Approach to Tai Chi & Wushu
The Ji Hong Tai Chi College was founded in Edmonton, Alberta in 1989 by Masters Hong Yuan Luo and Jennifer Gu. Both Masters specialized in Wushu (Chinese martial arts) at the University of Guangzhou and were instructors and lecturers at the South China Normal University. In addition to many articles and an earlier publication on Tai Chi theory, Master Luo and Master Gu published a book under the title “The Ji Hong Tai Chi System, Evolution of Theory, Methodology and Applications”.
The name of the college was chosen in honour of the late Tai Chi Grand Master Ji Hong Luo, the father of Master Hong Yuan Luo. Owing his recovery from a terminal illness to the healing benefits of Tai Chi, Grand Master Ji Hong Luo dedicated more than 30 years to research Tai Chi and develop the foundation of a modern, systematic and scientific teaching method for Tai Chi, which he formulated in “Theory of Systematic Approach to Tai Chi” and “Scientific Training Methods of Tai Chi.” By adopting the works of Grand Master Ji Hong Luo, his son and daughter-in-law, Master Hong-Yuan Luo and Master Jennifer Gu continued his research and created the “Ji Hong Tai Chi System” which has proven to be a highly successful training and teaching method for Tai Chi.
The “Ji Hong Tai Chi System” is a contemporary, versatile and scientific training method for teaching a traditional health/exercise and martial art system. Students who practice Tai Chi using our method benefit from better health, balance, core strength and mind/body harmony, which not only helps them deal with stress but also provides the foundation for high performance in day-to-day activities. At the competitive level, Ji Hong students have been impressively demonstrating the success of this training system over the past 20 years, even winning championships on both the national and international stages.
Master Hong Yuan Luo
Mr. Luo grew up in the province of Guangdong, China and graduated from the Guangzhou Physical Education Institute. He is an accredited International Class A Wushu Adjudicator as well as a 7 Duan (Level) Wushu master as recognized by the Chinese Wushu Association. Mr. Luo is the president of the Ji Hong Wushu and Taichi College. As the third son of the renowned Taichi master Ji Hong Luo, Mr. Luo learned Taichi from his father at an early age and has acquired the profound Taichi knowledge from his father. Mr. Luo also received in-depth Taichi training from two great Taichi masters: Gu Liu Zin and Lei Mu Ni. Upon graduation in 1982 from the Guangzhou Physical Education Institute, Mr. Luo became a faculty member of the Physical Education Department lecturing on Wushu at the South China Normal University. In 1984, Mr. Luo won gold medal at the International Taichi Tournament in Wuhan, China. In the following years, he published numerous papers amongst which are the following:
- An Analysis of the Generation of Internal Power in Taichi and Related Theories;
- On the Exploration and Methods of Preserving and Developing the Best of Advanced Wushu;
- An Exploration of the Theory of Dantian Mechanics.
For his presentation of papers, Mr. Luo received honours and awards from various conferences amongst which are:
- The First National Conference on Taijiquan Dissertation;
- The First National Conference on Wushu Study;
- The First World Traditional Wushu Festival – Presentation of Wushu Papers;
- The Second World Traditional Wushu Festival – Presentation of Wushu Papers.
In 1988, Mr. and Mrs. Luo (Jennifer Dai Juan Gu) co-authored “Theories and Training of Taijiquan” published by the Guangdong Higher Education Press. In 2003, a second edition with major revisions was published accompanied by an English translation titled “The Ji Hong Taichi System – Evolutionary Theory, Application and Methodology”
In 1988, Mr. Luo was invited by Newberry College in the United States to host a seminar on Taijiquan and Qi Gong. In the same year, Mr. Luo was invited to teach in Calgary, Canada. In 1991, Mr. Luo and Jennifer Gu co-founded the Ji Hong Wushu and Taichi College in Edmonton, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Luo have, for several decades, devoted whole-heartedly to Wushu and Taijiquan and, in particular, to the research and promotion of the theories and methods of Taijiquan. During their search for a deeper understanding and interpretation of the fundamentals and scientific basis of Taijiquan, they were not satisfied in simply following the beaten path. Instead, by adopting modern scientific knowledge and using contemporary terminology, they have opened up a new path. Through the years, they have trained a multitude of outstanding students of Taijiquan and Push-Hand. These students have achieved high standings in major international competitions in North America and China. In 2002 and 2005, Ji Hong students won gold medals in the International Taiji Push Hand Tournament in Jiaojuo, China.
Mr. Luo was a past president of the Guo Shu (Chinese Martial Arts) Association of Canada and Canadian Wushu Federation. He was a founding member of the National Wushu Federation of Canada and was elected its First Vice-Chairperson. In 1996, Mr. Luo was presented by the Mayor of Edmonton the Outstanding Contribution award. In the 1997 and 1999 World Wushu Championships, Mr. Luo was appointed the Coach of the Canadian Wushu Team and the Coach of the Canadian Sanshou (Sparring) Team respectively. In 2001, Mr. Luo attained the International Wushu Adjudicator status, and was upgraded to Class A International Wushu Adjudicator in 2003. In 2004, Mr. Luo was award the 7th Duan (Level) of Chinese Wushu, and in 2005 he was listed in the overseas section of the Chinese Contemporary Wushu Who’s Who. In 2006, Mr. Luo presented a paper in The Second World Traditional Wushu Festival – Presentation of Wushu Papers that won him first class honours and was invited as one of the guest speakers of the conference.
Master Jennifer Gu
Dai Juan Gu (Mrs. Luo) grew up in the province of Guangdong, China and graduated from the Guangzhou Physical Education Institute. She is an accredited International Wushu Adjudicator and the President of the West Coast Division of the Canadian Wushu Federation. Mrs. Luo began learning Wushu at the age of eight, and became a student of the renowned Taiji master Ji Hong Luo. Mrs. Luo also received in-depth Taichi training from two great Taichi masters: Gu Liu Zin and Lei Mu Ni. Upon graduation in 1985 from the Guangzhou Physical Education Institute, Mr. Luo became a faculty member of the Physical Education Department lecturing on Wushu at the South China Normal University.
In 1983, Jennifer Gu (Dai Juan) won gold medal in the Guangdong Athletic Tournament, Mixed Taiji Division. In 1984, she won gold medal in the Wuhan International Taijiquan (and Sword) Invitational Tournament. In the same year, Jennifer won women’s gold in Taiji form, and bronze in soft weapon in the National Physical Education Institute Wushu Tournament. In 1986, she was award silver medal in Guangdong Provincial Athletic Tournament, and in 1998 she took gold medal in both Taiji form and Taiji sword in Guangzhou Selection Tournament.
In 1988, She and Mr. Luo co-authored “Theories and Training of Taijiquan” published by the Guangdong Higher Education Press. In 2003, a second edition with major revisions was published accompanied by an English translation titled “The Ji Hong Taichi System – Evolutionary Theory, Application and Methodology”. In 1988, Jennifer was invited by the city of Calgary to teach Wushu and Taijiquan. In 1991, she and Mr. Luo co-founded the Ji Hong Wushu and Taichi College in Edmonton, Canada where she has devoted herself to the teaching of Wushu and has trained many outstanding Wushu athletes. Since 1995, her students have been selected to the national team every year representing Canada in World Wushu Championships and the Pan American Wushu Championships. In 1995, Jennifer was presented the Distinguished Athlete Awards by the major of Edmonton and the CFRN Television Network. In 1996, the mayor of Edmonton awarded her the Outstanding Contributor honours.
Jennifer Gu was at one time the Vice-President of the Canadian Wushu Federation and a director of the Canada Wushu Association. She is currently a director of the Canadian Wushu Association and the President of the West Coast Division of the Canadian Wushu Federation. In 2005, Jennifer was appointed coach of the Canadian National Wushu Team that competed in the World Wushu Championship. In the same year, she attained the International Wushu Adjudicator status, and was listed in the overseas section of the Chinese Contemporary Wushu Who’s Who. In 2006 and 2007, Jennifer Gu was again appointed coach of the Canadian National Wushu Team participating in 2006 the Pan American Wushu Championship in Metro Toronto and in 2007 the 9th World Wushu Championship in Beijing.
