Stephen has been very lucky to meet and study under various top masters of Chinese Kung Fu and was entrusted with their knowledge and in time becoming their top student. 

Bei Shaolin and Er Mei Pai Kung Fu

Stephen began learning Bei Shaolin Kung Fu with Master Du Bao Kuen who was the top disciple of Master Dong Zhong Yi. During these early years Stephen was also privileged to study Kung Fu with Grand Master Lu Zheng Du.

During the early years of his martial arts journey Stephen also sought out instruction in Er Mei Pai Kung Fu and was taught this by Grand Master Tang Jing Yuan. Below is a pictorial veiw of his lineage in this art.

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Shuao Jiao

Stephen was also privileged to learn Shuao Jiao (Chinese Wrestling) with Master Li Chung Xing and Grand Master Ji JinSan. Below is a pictorial veiw of his lineage in this art.

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Stephen learnt Ying Yang Ba Pan Zhang (YinYang Baguazhang) from Master Lui Hong Jun. Stephen has written a comprehensive article on The connection between YinYang Baguazhang, Baguazhang, and Xinyi Liuhequan which has been translated into English and is available in the articles section

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Ba Gua Zhang (8 Trigram Palm)

Stephen was Grand Master Ji Jin San’s top student and was entrusted with Ba Gua, Xin Yi Liu He Chuan (Tang Wan Yi branch), Zui Ba Xian Chuan (8 Drunken Immortals) and Dong Bing Zui Jian (One of the Immortals called Lu Dong Bing, Drunken Straight Sword), Chin Na/Xie Gu Fa (Joint Locking and Dislocation), Dian Xue (Pressure Point Striking), Wu Xing Chi Kung (5 Element Internal Exercises), Martial Chi Kung (Body Conditioning and Power Delivery) and Ba Duan Jin (8 Pieces of Brocade).Stephen was also taught Chuang Shang Wu Xing  Ba Duan Jing (Invisible 8 Pieces of Brocade), this set was Grand Master Ji’s creation, which is usually performed lying down on a bed.

Chi Kung (or Qi Gong)

Stephen was trained in the associated Chi Kung (or Qi Gong) for each art as he learnt from his respective teachers. These practices include Ba Duan Jin (8 pieces of Brocade or Treasure), 5 Elements Nei Gong, Wu Qin Xi, Martial Chi Kung ( Body conditioning and Power delivery), etc. Stephen was also privileged to learn a very precious internal set known as Shi San Tai Bao Kung (13 Emperors Guardians Internal Exercises) from 2 teachers, Master Li Chun Xing and Master Ying Bao.Below is a pictorial veiw of his lineage in this art.

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Xing Yi Chuan (Shape,Intent style)

Stephen learnt all open hand Xing Yi Chuan forms from Grand Master Ying Bao Tang. Soon after Stephen went on to learn Xing Yi Chuan’s weaponry from Grand Master Zhang He Nian.

Liu He Ba Fa (6 Harmonies, 8 Methods)

Stephen met Master Lu Gui Yao, from which he learned Liu He Ba Fa and Yu Chuan Jian (Jade Stream Straight Sword).

Yi Jin Jing (Muscle & Tendon Changing Classic) and Tie Dang Kung (Iron Bottom Skill).

Grand Master Zhu Yun Fei was the only living master of his generation to know the complete traditional art of Yi Jin Jing and Tie Dang Kung. Stephen was his first student that was in a perfect state of health when he was taught this art. Prior to that Grand Master Zhu was very strict in admitting students. Before he would accept a new student, he required that they be suffering from an incurable disease that was proven to be untreatable with Western Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, or other Chi Kung. Only then would Grand Master Zhu assist the people in healing themselves with this precious knowledge. Stephen was the odd exception as Grand Master Zhu was curious to see what effects the Internal exercises would have on a healthy subject. Below is a pictorial veiw of his lineage in this art.

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Taiji Chuan

Stephan learned Wu Chian Chuan Taiji Chuan directly under Grand Master Ma Yue Liang and Wu Ying Hua and in fact is one of only 3 students, including Ma Jiang Bao and Shi Mei Lin, who learned the complete system. Below is a pictorial veiw of his lineage in this art.  

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To learn more about Wu Taiji History Click Here.

Xin Yi Liu He Chuan

Mai Zhuang Tu Xin Yi Liu He Chuan (Mai Zhuang Tu’s Heart/Intent, 6 Harmonies Style).

Stephen has followed the most prominent masters of this Xin Yi Liu He Chuan branch, being a top student of Li Zen Si, Wang Su Wen and Ma Gui Long. Stephen has also trained with Master Bai and Master Liu to enhance his knowledge and mastery of Mai’s Xin Yi Liu He Chuan, including both empty hands and weaponry. Below is a pictorial veiw of his lineage in this art.

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Dai Shi Xin Yi Liu He Chuan (Dai family Heart/Intent, 6 Harmonies Style)

In 1995 it was either by sudden coincidence but likely fate that Stephen happened to meet the leading Grand Master of Dai Xin Yi Liu He Chuan, Grand Master Yan Rong Chang. Grand Master Yan was the leading Master in Qi county, Shanxi province being the only person with the complete Dai family system and possesses unquestionable knowledge and skill. In time and after much hard work Grand Master Yan chose Stephen as his successor and has since ensured the complete Dai family system and the precious knowledge it contains lives on with Stephen.Below is a pictorial veiw of his lineage in this art.

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Luoyang Xin Yi Liu He Chuan also known as Ma Xing’s Xin Yi Liu He Chuan.

Xin Yi’s second birth place (first being Yong Ji Shanxi province) was Luoyang in the Hernan province, this is where Ma Xueli taught his 3 exceptional students, Ma Xing, Ma San Yuan and Zhang Zhi Chen. Ma San Yuan’s lineage has now sadly died out.  Mai Zhuang  Tu’s system is one of the most famous ones in Zhang Zhi Chen’s lineage. Ma Xing stayed in Luoyang and continued to pass down his art.

Luoyang Xin Yi Liu He Chuan is very conservative, being almost completely unknown to the outside world. Stephen was fortunate to have had a chance to meet and host to New Zealand, Grand Master Ma Hong Xian, the leading expert in the style who is still alive today. In time he entrusted Stephen to carry on his lineage, and named Stephen his successor. Below is a pictorial veiw of his lineage in this art.

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Stephen was also able to learn the Tang Wan Yi branch of Xin Yi Liu He during his time with Master Ji JinSan. Master Ji was taught by Xie ZhiDong. The Tang Wan Yi branch is descended from the Ma Xing family of Xin Yi Liu He.

During this visit, Jon Dyer, one of Stephen’s long time students, had the opportunity to learn directly from Grand Master Ma and upon his leaving New Zealand also granted Jon disciple status.

In fact Stephen is the only person in history to have had the opportunity to learn all 3 complete branches of Xin Yi Liu He Chuan and also the only person to have been taught by all the leading experts in these arts. Apart from passing down the empty handed forms, weaponry and so on, the Masters have presented Stephen with the associated Chuan Pu. Chuan Pu are known as the ancient and treasured texts which reveal key points, theory, applications, and so forth for each style. Chuan Pu are usually written in a poetic form of expression.

Summary

All these events have lead to the unification of this knowledge and have reinforced Stephen’s belief that it is his fate to devote his life to the preservation and maintenance of this ancient knowledge. In doing so he accepts the huge responsibility to carry on these arts and feels privileged to be able to share his knowledge with truly diligent students. If you are interested in learning from Stephen Click Here.

Stephen is at this present time writing a book entitled “A Journey of Xin Yi Liu He Chuan”, in which he shares his life’s research into these arts and their history.

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