Chan Tai San

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Chan

Chan Tai San (Chan Tai-San) (Chinese: 陳泰山) (1917-2004) was a Chinese Martial arts Grandmaster.

He began his Kung-Fu training at the early age of 8 years old. His first style was Hung Fist (Hung Kuyhnn - the predesessor to modern Hung Ga) taught by a friend of his parents, Yee Hoi-Loong. Grandmaster Chan studied with his Sifu several times a week for 5 years and became very proficient in that style.

At the age of 13, he was sent by his family to the Clear Cloud Temple where he began training in Kung-Fu and Buddhism. He was primarily a student of the well known Master, Jyu Jik Chuyhn 朱亦傳, but also was trained by Gaai Si Wu Song (Monk Gaai Si) at the temple. At the temple, he trained mostly in the Choy Lee Fut Style , but was taught many others as well.

At 18 he left the monastery to fight against Japanese occupation during World War II. He trained with and served with some of the great Kung-Fu fighters of that time; Cheung Lai-Chung (Bok Mei, White Eyebrow Style), Baahk Mo Jyu, Nicknamed the "White Haired Devil" (Hung Fut Style) and many more.

After the war, he travelled the country meeting and training with more Sifu, like the famous Mok Jing-Kiu (Head of the Mok Family Style) and Chan Sai-Mo of the Choy Lay Fut style. He returned in his 40s to the Clear Cloud Temple and learned Lama Pai 喇嘛派 from Jyu Jik Chuyhn.

He became a Master of dozens of Kung-Fu styles and most Chinese Kung-Fu Weapons: Iron Palm, Iron Body and Internal Energy (Chi). He was well-respected in China for his Staff technique and was famous for his "Jao-Gung" or Iron-Claw Skill.

He devoted his entire life to training and promoting Chinese Martial Arts in China and abroad. Grandmaster Chan was the coach of the Guangdong Province Martial Arts Demonstration Team from 1980-1982, and was recognized by the People's Republic of China as one of its 'Living Treasures.'

Chan's Choy Lay Fut, Lama Pai, Bok Mei and many other styles have been passed down to Sifus such as Michael Parrella, David Ross, Stephen Innocenzi, Chris Jurak, and Steven Ventura. These Sifus have experience in 1-3 styles under Grandmaster Chan.