William C. C. Chen

Chinese-American martial artist
William Chi-Cheng Chen
Born1933 (age 90–91)
Zhejiang, China
StyleYang-style tai chi
WebsiteWilliam C.C. Chen Tai Chi Chuan

William Chi-Cheng Chen is a Grandmaster of Yang-style tai chi who currently lives in the US. His school is in New York City and he has hundreds of students around the world.

He was born in 1933 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, China. A US Passport error has his year of birth as 1935. After his family moved to Taiwan, he began studying tai chi under the tutelage of Prof. Cheng Man-ch'ing who was a childhood friend of William C. C. Chen's father.

His skill, aptitude and language skills helped him become one of Prof. Cheng Man-ch'ing's favorite disciples. Not only was he an extraordinary student but he also helped as his teachers' translator. Through this he acquired a lot of knowledge from his teacher and insight from fellow students.

Tai chi lineage tree with Yang-style focus

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Yang-style tai chi lineage tree
Key:NEIJIA
Solid linesDirect teacher-student.
Dot linesPartial influence
/taught informally
/limited time.
TAI CHI
Dash linesIndividual(s) omitted.
Dash crossBranch continues.CHEN-STYLEZhaobao-style
(陈长兴)
Chen Changxing
1771–1853
6th gen. Chen
Chen Old Frame
(杨露禅)
Yang Luchan
1799–1872
YANG-STYLE
Guang Ping Yang
Yangjia Michuan
(王蘭亭)
Wang Lanting
1840–?
2nd gen. Yang
(杨健侯)
Yang Jianhou
1839–1917
2nd gen. Yang
2nd gen. Yangjia Michuan
(杨班侯)
Yang Banhou
1837–1892
2nd gen. Yang
2nd gen.
Guang Ping Yang
Yang Small Frame
(武禹襄)
Wu Yuxiang
1812–1880
WU (HAO)-STYLE
Zhaobao He-style
(李瑞东)
Li Ruidong]br />1851–1917
Li-style
(杨少侯)
Yang Shaohou
1862–1930
3rd gen. Yang
Yang Small Frame
(吴全佑)
Wu Quanyou
1834–1902
1st gen. Wu
(王矯宇)
Wang Jiaoyu
1836–1939
3rd gen.
Guang Ping Yang
(杨澄甫)
Yang Chengfu
1883–1936
3rd gen. Yang
Yang Big Frame
(田兆麟)
Tian Zhaolin
1891–1960
3rd gen. Yang
Qi Gechen(吴鉴泉)
Wu Jianquan
1870–1942
2nd gen. Wu
WU-STYLE
108 Form
Kuo Lien Ying
1895–1984
4th gen.
Guang Ping Yang
(孙禄堂)
Sun Lutang
1861–1932
SUN-STYLE
(褚桂亭)
Chu Guiting
1892–1977
4th gen. Yang
Beijing form
(傅仲文)
Fu Zhongwen
1903–1994
4th gen. Yang
Beijing form
(董英杰)
Dong Yingjie
1897–1961
4th gen. Yang
(郑曼青)
Zheng Manqing
1902–1975
4th gen. Yang
Short (37) Form
(陈微明)
Chen Weiming
1881–1958
(杨振铎)
Yang Zhenduo
1926-2020
4th gen. Yang
(杨振铭)
Yang Shouzhong
1910–1985
4th gen. Yang
(張欽霖)
Zhang Qinlin
1888–1967
3rd gen. Yangjia Michuan
(田英嘉)
Tian Yingjia
1931–2008
4th gen. Yang
Wudang-style(吴公儀)
Wu Gongyi
1900–1970
3rd gen. Wu
(吴公藻)
Wu Gongzao
1903–1983
3rd gen. Wu
TaiwanU.S.A
Robert W. Smith
1926–2011
(黃性賢)
Huang Xingxian
1910–1992
Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo
b.1927
William C. C. Chen
b.1935
Big Six
Tam Gibbs
Lou Kleinsmith
Ed Young
Mort Raphael
Maggie Newman
Stanley Israel
Little Seven
Victor Chin
Y. Y. Chin
Jon Gaines
Natasha Gorky
Fred Lehrman
Wolfe Lowenthal
Ken VanSickle
(杨军)
Yang Jun
b.1968
6th gen. Yang
Ip Tai Tak
1929–2004
5th gen. Yang
Chu Gin Soon
1932-2019
5th gen. Yang
(王延年)
Wang Yennien
1914–2008
4th gen. Yangjia Michuan
(田邴原)
Tian Bingyuan
b.?
5th gen. Yang
Yao Guoqing
b.?
5th gen. Yang
CHEN-STYLEYANG-STYLEWU-STYLEWU (HAO)-STYLESUN-STYLE
Note:
  • This lineage tree is not comprehensive, but depicts those considered the 'gate-keepers' & most recognised individuals in each generation of Yang-style.
  • Although many styles were passed down to respective descendants of the same family, the lineage focused on is that of the Yang style & not necessarily that of the family.
Yang-style tai chi lineage

Notes

  • William C. C. Chen (1985). Body Mechanics of Tai Chi Chuan: For the Art of Self-defense. William C.C. Chen.

References

  • Chen, William C.C.,An Autobiography of William C.C. Chen, https://www.williamccchen.com/gm-chen.html April 2010
  • Robinson, Ronnie, Grandmaster William C.C. Chen Interview, http://www.taichiunion.com/magazine/wccc.html
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