Jason Tsou 鄒家驤

Jason Tsou (鄒家驤) was born in Taiwan, Republic of China, in 1949. He began his martial arts studies more than 50 years ago when at the age of eleven he learned Mei Hwa Chang Quan (Plum Blossom Long Fist kung fu) from Grandmaster Wu Ti-Pang. This was his first exposure to a Northern Chinese Kung Fu style. With that foundation, Master Tsou went on to study with the following masters and learned their respective styles.

## Mission

My mission is to promote traditional Chinese Martial arts. I believe in emphasizing  the **core values** of this art by adhering to both the **traditional training methods** and **fundamental principles** that make it unique.

Years ago, I called my school the Jason Tsou school of traditional Chinese Martial Arts. At that time I felt that using the term "Kung-fu" would suggest a narrower focus than the one I wanted to convey.

Often people will talk of Kung Fu as being external and contrast it with Taiji or Bagua or other so-called internal styles. I came to the decision that it was important to promote the real meaning of Kung fu which is a process that involves time, effort and discipline (both from oneself and from one's teacher).

When Kung fu is understood in thisway, it includes all Chinese martial arts.Kung fu as a process can be seen to apply to most endeavors that have self  improve -ment as a goal.

As I see it, the distinction between the so-called schools of internal martial arts and external martial arts has more to do with where one begins and not where one finishes. I see the goal of all students as similar in the sense that they need to understand energy, understand their physical/emotional make up and learn to improve their ability to function when in crisis mode.

The fundamental prin-ciples I previously referred to, include cultural, philosophical and traditional Chinese Medical concepts. I do not believe that the martial art itself can be fully appre-ciated outside of the culture that gave birth to it. For this reason I want to promote as deep and rich an understanding of this culture as possible. I want to use this under-standing to better appreciate the martial arts involved.

Most of my experience is with  Northern Chinese Arts. These include Baji, Pigua, Taiji, Bagua, Xingyi, Long Fist,  Praying Mantis and Shuai Jiao. What makes these styles similar is their use of footwork, their use of stances as a means of building structure and their reliance on the underlying principles of kung fu- or building from the ground up - to develop their respective training methods.

The mind needs to be trained along with the body. Mind training  is not just discipline. It involves body awareness and the proper use of imagination. We use the mind to  de-velop the ability to con-sciously borrow energy from the environment. I teach the use of Qigong along with other training strategies to better develop these mental components.

## **The Meaning of the Dragon within the Bagua Symbol**

I chose the Dragon within the Bagua trigrams as my logo for many reasons. First of all, the Dragon represents China. Legend has it that an earlier leader first united  various tribes that were to com[pose China disputes arose among the people as to which totem would have eminence.

The leader solved this problem by creating the dragon with the face of a water buffalo, the horns of a deer,  the claws of an eagle and the body of a snake. The skin has the scales of a carp. In other words,  the Dragon  represents the essence of China as it developed through the mixing of many tribes and people into one nation.

I surrounded the dragon with the Bagua Trigrams for many reasons. First of all we are all familiar with seeing theYin and Yang symbol in the center of these trigrams. Secondly, Bagua Trigrams contain Yin (broken lines) and Yang (solid lines) in a state of imbalance and yet the entire pattern is one of balance.   Thirdly, because it reflects the idea that Yin and Yang are developed to three dimensions in our world. If  be think of

* Wuji as 0 then
* Taiji is 2˚=1
* Liangyi is 2¹=2
* Sixiang is 2²=4
* Bagua is 2³=8

This progresses on into infinity.

We live in a Taiji world. Our planet Earth has a north and south pole. Yin and Yang is a binary system and as we look at the world around us we can't help but see that so much of our math and science is based upon such a system. Perhaps the best modern day example of this is the computers that we have all come to rely so heavily upon.

But the Bagua symbol has a different dimension as well. The premise of Bagua as a martial art is that of change. Acceptance of change as a constant in our lives in a core value accepted by those who aspire to the development of a "constant heart".

The constant heart  en-ables the martial artist to better cope with any attack while it helps the everyday person to better cope with an ever  chang-ing world. Kung fu is the process by which we de-velop our constant heart and it is through our acceptance of change that we learn to better cope with this rapidly changing world.

## Curriculum

#### Bare Hands

* Taiji Quan
* Xingyi Quan
* Bagua Zhang
* Chang quan (Long Fist)
* Baji Quan
* Pigua Zhang
* Praying Mantis Quan
* Shuai Jiao (Chinese Wrestling)
* Qinna (Restrict Opponents Energy)
* Sanda (Kung Fu Style Fighting)

### Weapons

* Saber (Willow leaf, Goose feather, Miao Dao, Da Dao, Double Saber)
* Sword
* Spear (Long Spear)
* Stick (Short Stick, Double Sticks)
* Staff (Long Staff)
* Cane
* Tiger Head Hooks
* Deer Horn Knifes
* Judge's Pens
* Elbow Knifes
* Iron Knuckles
* Nine-section Chain

## Lineages

***Master Yang Bao Zen -*** **Shaolin weapons, Mei Hwa Quan, Taiji Quan, and Taiji Qigong**

***Grand Master Chang Dong Shen* -** **Shuai Jiao**

***Master Chang Yi Cheng-* Xingyi Quan, Bagua Zhang, Taiji Quan**

***Grandmaster Liu Yun Chiao -* Bagua Zhang, Bagua Qigong, Baji Quan, Pigua Zhang and Baji Qigong**

***Dr. Su Yu Chang-*Praying mantis, 18 Lo Han, 12 Meridian, and 5 Element Qigong, Acupuncture, Herbs**

***Master Adam Hsu*-** **Islamic long fist, Chen style Taiji Quan**

***Master Deng Kuo Hua -* Southern Hung Gar Qigong**

***Master Liu Jen Jun -* Tibetan Qigong**

***Dr. Yu Ta Fang-* Tuina**

## Career

During his Taipei high school years at Jing Guo (1964-66), He studied with the famous Shuai Jiao Master, Chang Dong Sheng (The Iron Butterfly). Master Chang was also teaching Chinese wrestling at the National Police Academy and would frequently bring the young Jason Tsou to wrestle with his police students.

### College Years

During his college years (1967-70) in Taiwan, Master Tsou was chairman of his martial arts club. He contacted Liu Yun Qiao and invited him to teach at the university. Master Su Yu Chang was sent from Wutan to teach Tanglang and Baji. Master Tsou won the Singles **championship title at the 1971 National kung fu tournament** held in Taipei. From 1971-74, he would attend graduate school and continue his training with Su Yu Chang and Liu Yun Qiao in Taipei. He also served as the **chief martial arts instructor for the Taiwan Air Force**, **Fourth Division**.

### Move to the USA

Master Tsou immigrated to the U.S. in 1974 to pursue further graduate study at the **University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth** where he received a second Master’s Degree in Chemistry. His first Master’s degree was in Engineering from **Feng Chia University in Taiwan**. Master Tsou was **chairman of his kung Fu club**. Upon moving to Massachusetts, he founded the kung fu club at UMass and also served as a guest instructor at Harvard and MIT kung Fu club(s). During a time of civil unrest, Master Tsou was invited by the **Massachusetts State Police** to teach State Troopers riot control techniques.

In 1977, Master Tsou moved to Los Angeles, California and **co-founded a kung Fu club at UCLA.** He returned each year to Taipei to visit family and train with Liu Yun Qiao. During this time, he would frequently visit Master Adam Hsu in San Francisco.

In 1983, Liu Yun Qiao visited Master Tsou in Los Angeles for demonstrations and private seminars. From 1983-89, Master Tsou returned every year to Taipei and received private instruction from Liu Yun Qiao. He would then accompany him to Beijing the year before his death.

By 1990 what had begun as a hobby became the **Jason Tsou Kung Fu Academy** **(龍驤武壇)** with the opening of his studio in San Gabriel. For the better part of the last decade of the 20th century Master Tsou ran his studio as well as his engineering practice on a full time basis. In 1998 he closed the studio and returned to the park located at **400 S Casuda Canyon** where he had taught between 1978 and 1990. He continues to teach at Live Oak Park in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles and at UCLA and Cal State LA.

Master Tsou has become one of the premier instructors of traditional Chinese martial arts in the U.S. He has been featured in the following books and periodicals: Inside Kung-Fu, The Complete Guide to Kung Fu Fighting Styles, Karate and Kung Fu Illustrated, Black Belt, Fighting Stars, The Pakua Journal, and Tai Chi Magazine to mention a few.

In order to showcase traditional Chinese weapons fighting, Master Tsou formed an organization called **“Circle of Arms”.** He has also given his support to the promotion of Chinese sword fighting for sport (Jianshu) at major Chinese martial arts tournaments. He has functioned as chief judge for both Jianshu, **Extreme Push hands**, as well as form competition at Nick Scrima’s International Chinese Martial Arts Championships.

Master Tsou was also invited by the **Department of World Cultures and Arts at UCLA** to teach a course on Tai Chi Chuan in 2007 and continues to do so. He teaches Tai Chi Chuan, Jianshu (Chinese sword fighting) and Kung Fu as a guest lecturer of the kinesiology department at California State University, Long Beach. He also attended Bryman College in his spare time to learn western message techniques and obtain a certification from the State of California.

In 2005 Jason Tsou retired as full time from manager of his engineering company. Since then, he has had more time to work with his senior student Art Schonfeld (a retired lawyer) on many projects. These include instructional DVDs and books. His DVDs include

***Bagua Chi Kung- the secret’s of the dragon***, ***Tai chi- Chi kung-harmony in transition-***, ***Chin na: Taking control of energy*** (with accompanying book); ***The Random Circles-Tai Chi Push Hands***, and ***The Complete Jian Shu: Chinese combat sword for sport*** (with accompanying book). Master Tsou has also published a book on Taiji — Tsou and Schonfeld (2008)*, **Yang Taiji: The Untold Story.***

In the summer of 2017, Jason Tsou was elected as the president of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Federation (TCMAF). He has been continuously on the mission of promoting Traditional Kung Fu and unifying Kung Fu communities in USA.

Acknowledged worldwide for his skill and achievements in traditional Chinese martial arts, In 2007 Sifu Tsou was listed in the mainland government’s official publication of “Who’s Who in Chinese Martial Arts.”

## Legacy

### Notable Students

Certified instructor is the person who has shown his ability in both teaching and ﻿understanding of the traditional Kung Fu. To obtain the instructor's certificate, one has to take official tests, which is  recognized by both Sifu Jason Tsou and Wutan Los Angeles.

#### Lance Budris MD

Dr. Budris began his training in the Wutan lineage several months after Liu Yun Qiao's only visit to Los Angeles in 1984. Throughout his college years at UC Riverside and post graduate years, he intensively trained with Master Tsou in Tanglang, Shuai Jiao, Bajiquan, Piquazhang, Baguazhang and a variety of weapons including Miao Dao (two handed saber), Jian (straight sword), Long Staff and Long Spear (Da Qiang). During this time, he had the good fortune to meet and train with Master Adam Hsu, Master Su Yu Chang and Master Xie Pi Chi (Baguazhang). He attended medical school at New York Medical College and completed an anesthesiology residency at UCLA. He spent 20 years as a practicing anesthesiologist in Los Angeles. Throughout more than three decades, he continued his practice of traditional Chinese martial arts and his association with Master Tsou. He has been active in promoting weapons and bare hand sparring between other martial arts styles. During his Hawaii years, he was able to train with the competitors in the early UFC and Extreme Battlecage tournaments. In 1996, He visited Beijing to explore the traditional Chinese martial arts heritage. He remains focused on the teaching, preservation and practical applications of Bajiquan and Piquazhang. He continues to advocate for sword (Jian) weapon sparring and the preservation of the Baji jian based on Li Shu Wen's modifications of the Kun Wu Jian. He primarily resides in Los Angeles and remains one of Master Tsou's most senior and active students. He frequently posts new content to his instagram page (@bastard\_son\_of\_li\_shu\_wen).

#### Phunsak Thiennviboon

Phunsak Thiennviboon began his Chinese martial art training through studying Yang-style Taijiquan in Bangkok, Thailand from 1992 to 1996 (about 3 1/2 years). In 1996, he moved to Los Angeles for his graduate study (MS & Ph.D.) at University of Southern California (USC) which he graduated with Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering in 2002. Since December 1996, he has trained Northern-style Chinese martial arts under Sifu Jason Tsou. Through Sifu Tsou, he had many opportunities to meet many well known and knowledgable Chinese martial art masters. Currently, he considers Bajiquan, Piguazhang, Baguazhang, Taijiquan and Xingyiquan with related weapons as his major styles in Chinese martial art. Since 2007, he have started exploring other martial arts such as Western and Japanese martial arts by training from various schools. He is currently training in Kyudo (Japanese archery) and Ryabko Systema (Russian martial art). In August 2008, he was accepted as one of Sifu Tsou's disciples in Wutan lineage and he was accepted as one of Sifu Tsou's instructors since September 2005. He is also accepted as an instructor in training from Ryabko Systema since August 2010.

#### James Van

James began his martial arts journey in Tae Kwon Do while in junior high school in Hawaii.  James developed an aspiration for Kung Fu after he met Sifu Tsou in 1992, and soon after started his training under Sifu Tsou in Yang and Chen style Taichi Chuan, 8-Step Praying Mantis, Baji Chuan, Piqua Zhang as well as the 4 major Chinese weapon systems in long spear, staff, sword and saber,   James has spent the past decade focused on the training and better understanding of the intricacies in Baji Chuan, Piqua Zhang and saber.

James received his degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Southern California and pursued his career in the petroleum refining and petrochemical industries where he held various technical and executive management roles.

James Van resides in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles and remains an active senior student of Sifu Tsou. Dr. Budris and James Van frequently train together and continue to refine their understanding of the Wutan martial arts lineage.

#### Peter Wang

Possibly the first student of Master Tsou in Los Angeles. He was the first student of the Los Angeles group to receive Bajiquan instruction and allegedly special permission was required for this instruction. He spent a long career as a civilian engineer with the US Air Force and retired to his native Taiwan. He now studies Baguazhang with Master Adam Hsu in Taipei.

#### Jim Truong

In 1984, Jim joined the Kung Fu Club at Cal State Poly Pomona under the tutelage of Peter Wang. By 1986, he began attending weekend classes with Sifu Jason Tsou at the Monterey Park elementary school that was the training grounds for the Wutan LA group. In 1989, he received his BS degree in electrical engineering. He resides in the Los Angeles area and remains an active member of Sifu Tsou’s Saturday morning classes in Live Oak Park.

#### Blaine Brown

One of Master Tsou's first students from the early 1980's. He originally studied praying mantis and Northern Shaolin from Kam Yuen who was well known as the technical advisor for the television series Kung Fu and the instructor of the lead actor, David Carradine. Kam Yuen's martial arts school, Tai Mantis in Torrance, California was a hot bed of Chinese martial arts enthusiasts. Blaine Brown encouraged a group of students (Earl Chase, Greg Leblanc, Gary Cho, Lance Budris, Gerald Deleva, Gennaro Deleva) from this school to attend Friday night and Saturday morning classes with Master Tsou at an elementary school in Monterey Park. After many years of study with Master Tsou, Blaine Brown shifted his interests to become an acupuncturist and doctor of Chinese medicine. He is reportedly living in mainland China.

### Official Disciples

* Bulloch, Jay (L.A., CA)
* Chandra, Suwandi (L.A. CA)
* Kabaker, Jeff (Chicago, IL)
* Kim, Kieun (L.A., CA)
* Kohatsu, Eric (Torrance, CA)
* Le, Viet (Orange County, CA)
* Liljeblad, Jonathan (Pasadena, CA)
* Pacheco, John (New Hapshire)
* Schonfeld, Arthur (Encino, CA)
* Shen, Jonathan (Alhambra, CA)
* Thiennviboon, Phunsak (San Diego, CA)
* Thomas, Neil (Modesto, CA)
* Truong, Jim (Arcadia, CA)
* Van, James (Whittier, CA)
* Vijunas,Aurelijus (Lithua/Kaohsiung, Taiwan)
* Wang, Alex (Torrance, CA)
* Wang, Tommy (Pomona, CA)
* Yang, Yao Chi Simmon (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
* Yu, Cheng-Chieh (L.A., CA)
* Yu, Feng-Ger (Huntington Beach, CA)
* Zhao,Yun (Santa Monica, CA)

### Disciples on List

(These students are recognised but have not partaken in an official ceremony)

* Bevilacqua, Carl (Massachusetts)
* Lavoie, Jim (Massachusetts) (Deceased)
* Kummer, Karl (Florida)
* Kummer, Michael (Florida)

### Massachusetts Disciples (1970's)

* Aruda, Jim
* Chevrier, Paul
* Chow, Winnie
* Curren, Gary
* Jetta, Eddie
* Lautunbach, Tom
* Lindo, Dave
* O'conner, Martin
* Woo, Terry

## Martial Art Notable Facts

1. Master Tsou was a long term student of three of the most accomplished fighters in Taiwan, Liu Yun Qiao, Su Yu Chang and Chang Dong Sheng. All three masters emphasized full contact training. This unique background (Chinese wrestling, Baji/Piqua and Praying Mantis) gave him a unique perspective in the practical fighting applications of traditional Chinese martial arts.
2. Master Tsou returned to Taipei every year during the 1980s for private instruction with Liu Yun Qiao. This was particularly focused on mastering the Liu Da Kai (six major openings) and Ba Da Zhao (eight great invitations/usages). At this level, Bajiquan and Piquazhang are seamlessly married together. Master Tsou recounts many hours of being struck, slapped and thrown by the old master as he showed how to apply the techniques in a deadly fashion.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sifu Jason Tsou's Biography - Jason Tsou Kung Fu
2. ↑ Sifu Tsou's Disciple Data - Jason Tsou Kung Fu