[Martial Arts] In 1993, I became connected with Master Lin Wenhui.

Author: Jeffi Chao Hui Wu

Time: 2025-7-12 Saturday, 1:34 AM

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[Martial Arts] In 1993, I was destined to meet Master Lin Wenhui
In 1993, among the many crossroads of my life, there is one irreplaceable node that still resonates today: that year, I met Master Lin Wenhui. This seemingly accidental encounter quietly opened the source of my decades-long journey in Tai Chi and became the true starting point for my later entry into the authentic Tai Chi lineage.
At that time, I had not imagined that one day I would enter the core lineage of Tai Chi. It was merely out of a natural desire for physical cultivation that I crossed paths with Master Lin during a martial arts event in Hong Kong. He appeared low-key, yet exuded a calm presence, carrying an undeniable aura in his every gesture. The first time I saw him demonstrate his skills was at a small practice exchange; with a single move of "Peng Jin," I witnessed the opponent seemingly lose weight and fly out with just a slight touch. I was instantly shocked, and a sense of recognition welled up within me.
Subsequently, I began to learn Tai Chi from him, starting from the most basic stances, silk reeling, and push hands, step by step. He emphasized "internal inquiry into the body, external alignment with the force," valuing inner strength over superficial display. Initially, I felt that the movements were slow and lacked practicality, but it was through his repeated emphasis on "sinking the qi to the dantian, relaxing the shoulders and dropping the elbows, and connecting each segment" that I began to grasp the true internal power of Tai Chi, which lies not on the surface but between structure and intention.
During this period, I gradually learned about Master Lin's background and martial arts lineage. He was not merely a teacher passing on the art in Hong Kong but the twelfth generation authentic heir of Chen-style Tai Chi, with his lineage tracing back to the grandmaster Wang Xi'an of Chenjiagou Tai Chi. Master Wang Xi'an is a heavyweight figure in contemporary Tai Chi, one of the "Four Great Kings of Chen Style Tai Chi," with profound martial skills and a renowned reputation in the martial arts community. Master Lin Wenhui is one of Wang Xi'an's direct disciples, fully inheriting his martial arts techniques and teaching system.
Since 1975, Lin Wenhui has been teaching Tai Chi in Hong Kong and is one of the key figures who introduced the practical Tai Chi system to Hong Kong society. He founded the Hong Kong Qigong Tai Chi Association, dedicated to systematizing and popularizing traditional Tai Chi in daily life. He possesses the strength and explosiveness of Chen-style Tai Chi while also incorporating the softness and health-preserving principles of Southern internal martial arts. His teaching content bridges internal and external practices, placing great emphasis on "standing post," "silk reeling energy," and "listening energy transforming energy," which laid a solid foundation for my early Tai Chi practice.
From 1993 to 2000, I frequently sought guidance from Master Lin in Hong Kong. Each time we exchanged ideas, he was always patient and generous with his knowledge. He never limited his teachings based on the students' qualifications, imparting the art with sincerity regardless of their backgrounds. It was during this enlightening period that I gradually established a deep understanding of the internal structure of Tai Chi and developed a genuine respect for the phrase "authentic lineage transmission"—this is not just a title but a cultural transmission that integrates body, consciousness, and philosophy.
In 2001, Master Lin officially appointed me as the honorary advisor of the Hong Kong Qigong Tai Chi Association he founded. Although I felt I had not truly "mastered the art," I understood that this was not only an acknowledgment of me but also a responsibility—to continue the transmission and dissemination of the authentic concepts of Tai Chi. When I received the appointment letter that year, I felt a solemnity, as if I were being drawn into the long river of history.
In 2008, Master Lin invited me again to attend the "Top Ten Masters Gathering in Hong Kong," where heavyweight figures from various schools of Tai Chi, Xingyi, and Bagua gathered. I was fortunate to be invited to witness and participate in that historical moment of the martial arts community. It was at that moment that I realized Master Lin Wenhui is not only a successor of Tai Chi but also a practitioner and evangelist of the Tai Chi spirit. He has cultivated the soil for Tai Chi in Hong Kong throughout his life, deeply embedding the essence of Chenjiagou's martial spirit into this modern city, influencing countless martial artists.
Looking back over thirty years, my connection with Master Lin has long transcended the simple notion of "apprenticeship." It was a convergence of life and culture, a collision of spirit and the rhythm of the times. I am well aware that if it were not for my encounter with him in 1994, I might still be practicing martial arts today, but I would not have entered this authentic lineage, nor would I have had the opportunity to be introduced by Master Lin to study under his master, the Tai Chi grandmaster Li Jingwu, ultimately establishing my identity as the twelfth generation of Chen-style Tai Chi and the sixth generation of Wu-style Tai Chi.
I respect Master Lin Wenhui not only for his profound skills and rigorous teaching but also for his unwavering commitment to promoting Tai Chi among the public. He has never boasted about himself, yet he has written a chapter on the promotion of Tai Chi in Hong Kong with his life. For me, this origin is not only a turning point in my personal destiny but also the anchor point for my subsequent writings on the Tai Chi system.
This article is dedicated to commemorating that starting point in 1993 and to honor Master Lin Wenhui for the life-changing direction he provided me.
This is the origin of my journey with Tai Chi, and it is also the first page of all my subsequent stories in Tai Chi practice.
—Jeffi Chao Hui Wu, respectfully recorded.
Twelfth Generation of Chen-style Tai Chi
Sixth Generation of Wu-style Tai Chi
Honorary Advisor of the Hong Kong Qigong Tai Chi Association (2001)

Source: https://www.australianwinner.com/AuWinner/viewtopic.php?t=696814