About Robin Wu & Lineage
Taijiquan relies on direct teacher-to-student transmission. Learn about the teacher and the lineage.
Robin Wu
Chen Family Taijiquan Practitioner
Robin first encountered Chen Family Gongfu Jia in 2019 after a long period of searching for traditional training. What drew him was the school’s reputation for extreme physical demand — a method that challenged even experienced martial artists. He has trained exclusively in this lineage ever since, becoming an indoor student of Marin Spivack.
Marin Spivack (Mo Ling Taiji)
Robin Wu trained directly under Marin Spivack as an indoor student/disciple. Marin Spivack is a senior disciple of Master Chen Yu, the only son of Chen Zhaokui.
Visit Mo Ling Taiji Official Website (Mo Ling Taiji)Marin Spivack and Robin Wu
Push Hands (Ding Bu Tuishou) in Action
Robin Wu engaging in friendly Ding Bu Tuishou (Fixed-Step Push Hands) with the head judge at the Chinese Martial Arts Autumn Invitational.
Note: Competition Push Hands uses a restricted ruleset. Some methods found in our Fixed-Step Push Hands practice, including head control and joint locks, are therefore absent from this exchange.
What is Taijiquan?
Many Chinese martial arts follow a naming scheme: Taijiquan, Xingyiquan, Bajiquan, Tanglangquan, Hung Ga Kuen, etc...
“Quan”, or “Kuen” in Cantonese, translates to mean fist which denotes a martial art or fighting system. It does not literally mean an art about using fists. Taijiquan therefore means “Taiji Fist” — a martial art named after the concept of Taiji (the interplay of Yin and Yang). It is a Northern Chinese martial art that originated from the Chen Village (Chenjiagou) in Henan Province.
Taijiquan is a family art. It was commonly passed down from father to son or from “master” to “apprentice”. The Chen family developed it first. The founder of the Yang family learned from the Chen family; the founder of the Wu family later learned from the Yang family.
This is the historical root of what most people today simply call “Tai Chi.”
What is Gongfu Jia?
If Taijiquan refers to a martial art “style” and Chen Family Taijiquan refers to a “substyle” (hence Chen “Style” Taijiquan), then “Gongfu Jia” (Gongfu Frame) refers to a specific lineage and training approach within the Chen Family.
That lineage can be traced to Chen Zhaokui (son of Chen Fake).
Historical Lineage Tree
From 17th Century Chenjiagou origin down to local instruction today.
Accredited as the founder of Chen Family Taijiquan. It was said that Taijiquan used to have 7 bare-handed forms.
Teacher of Yang Luchan (Founder of Yang Family Taijiquan).
Moved from Chen Village to Beijing in 1928, bringing Chen-family practice into a major public martial-arts community and teaching extensively outside the village.
Younger son of Chen Fake; preserved traditional Gongfu Jia.
He was the only son of Chen Zhaokui. Began training under his father at age 7.
A senior disciple of Chen Yu.
Disciple of Marin Spivack.
Interested in joining a practice session?
Check out our class schedule, training location, and what to expect in your very first class.