Zhu Tian Cai was born July 1944 and grew up in Chen Village (Henan Province) - the ancient birthplace of Tai Chi. Along with his other famous cousins (Chen Xiao Wang, Chen Zheng Lei and Wang Xian) he descends from the illustrious Chen Chang Xing who taught Yang Luchan.

Chen Xiao Wang's grandfather is the legendary 17th generation standard bearer, Chen Fa-Ke (1887-1957) who spent much of his life revealing and teaching the Village's secret art for the first time in Beijing from the 1920s.

Chen Zheng Lei's uncle is the revered 18th generation grandmaster, Chen Zhao Pi (1893-1972). It was he, along with Chen Fake's son (Chen Zhao Kui) who, from the 1950s, returned to Chen Village and revitalized the Chen family Art which was in danger of being lost.

Zhu and the other three boys above were the cream of this new "crop" of Chen Village Tai Chi artists and they were intensively trained by these venerable Masters. Zhu was recognized as a gifted teacher and at the age of 22 given a teaching position at Chen Village school.

From the age of 28 these future 19th generation Masters participated yearly at every level in just about every Wushu event available in China - successfully representing both their Village and Henan Province. All this time Zhu maintained his teaching position at Chen Village.

In 1978 China organized a first national training program for Wushu coaches. It was restricted to one participant per province and Zhu was selected to attend. Upon return he worked as a full-time Taiji coach stationed at Wenxian, under the Henan Sports Authority. Throughout the 1980s he continued to compete or lead teams to Wushu meets, winning gold medals both for himself and or the team.

In this period these four dedicated Taiji practitioners emerged to be the most outstanding examples of their day - dominating the Taiji sport. Soon they came to be affectionately referred to as the four great "Jin Gang," a term referring to a fearsome bronze statue guarding Buddha or a deity in a temple, and borrowed from the name of the first move, "Jin Gang Dao Dui." In later times they become known in English speaking circles as the "Four Tigers" of Chen Village.

From the 1980s onwards isolated Chen Village became a Tai Chi training "Mecca" for young men, and women, from both China and around the world. In 1982 Chen Village built its first modern building to house the Chenjiagou Taiji School. Zhu Tian Cai was appointed Head Coach. He continued to rise thru the ranks of Taiji and eventually became a competition judge.

In 1989, China established positions to support the country's artists in all fields - Wushu included. The highest rank of these positions is "Gao Ji Jiao Lian" ("Senior National Coach"). The 1989 award in Henan Province went to Chen Xiao Wang and later (1991) to Zhu Tian Cai.

In 1983 Singapore invited Chinese authorities to send over two Taiji Masters (one Yang style, one Chen style) to pass on the authentic traditional teaching of their country. Zhu was chosen as the Chen style teacher. He made a "base" in Singapore and it is from that time on that he began his yearly teaching circuits around the world - which he maintains to this day. His contribution was so well regarded by Singaporean authorities that in 1996 he was granted a residency there.

Master Zhu was almost single-handedly responsible for establishing Chen style Tai Chi in Singapore and Malaysia as well as making significant regular contributions in such countries as Korea, Japan, Italy, Czech Republic, Britain, USA, and Canada.

In more recent times he has included New Zealand in his international circuits. He came to Auckland in 2004 at the behest of his "indoor student" (Malisa Ng of Chenshi Taichicise Auckland) who moved from Malaysia to Auckland in the late 1990s.

Despite his impressive background Master Zhu is an uncomplicated and easy going sort of person who doesn't stand on ceremony and is very animated and enthusiastic when it comes to Tai Chi. He prefers to walk the countryside rather than the city shops and is most at home when given free reign of his host's kitchen!

He is well known for his straightforward, clear-cut and helpful teaching. He confidently cuts through the seemingly complicated and esoteric mysticism which so often besets Tai Chi teaching - for which skill beginners are especially thankful.

As with his previous visits, Master Zhu is mindful of beginners who know nothing or little of the Chen style of TaiChi. Introductory Workshops will be made available (the Chen 13 Step Form along with the Silk Reeling Internal Skills). These are a quick start-up into the primal Chen style Routine (the 75 movement "Old Frame One") already being taught by Chenshi Taichicise Clubs to established students.

Chen Village Push Hands (a cooperative, two-person tai chi martial art training form) will be of interest to those with some experience in the single person routines. This training rests on a lightly choreographed 6 step pattern which is eventually practised "freestyle."

It takes a little time to learn this Push Hands routine to the point of habit so the three hour tapes of the 2004 Beginner Push Hands workshop available here will be of great help. Obviously attendees who have grasped this basic "choreography" beforehand will experience and absorb considerably more of the deeper teaching in Master Zhu's workshop.

Interested readers may like to peruse a more detailed online article about Master Zhu written by C.P. Ong available here

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