MG

Master Gu

Philosophy Advisor

12th-generation Chen-style tai chi lineage holder, national champion, and president of the Chenjiagou Tai Chi Association with decades of international teaching experience.

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bodyteachingtraditional martial arts tai chi

Articles by Master Gu

Wudang, Chen and Yang Tai Chi: How the Three Traditions Relate

September 10, 2026

Chen style, Yang style and Wudang Tai Chi are not three candidates for one origin. They are three layers of one tree — root, trunk and canopy. Wudang's culture is old and its recognisable routine is young, and holding both facts at once is the whole answer.

The Wushu Dan Ranking System: Chinese Martial Arts Degrees and the 9th Duan

September 10, 2026

The Chinese wushu grade is a state-recognised occupational rank, not a karate belt: the approval authority climbs from district to province or city to a centralised national review board as the tier rises, and above the 7th duan there is no longer a skill to perform — the review weighs a career instead. As of November 2024 the official count stood at 95 approved 9th duan; no authoritative living count exists, and the "only a dozen" line is outdated folklore.

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