Tai Chi Quan: A Balance of Health and Long Life

Ancient Chinese physicians believed that the internal energy of the newborn child was the purest and that it filled the whole body. They also observed that, not only does the newborn use its abdomen to breathe, but also when a baby is crying, it moves all of its body. Everything is unified in Tai Chi. Any movement involves the whole body so that if a movement ceases, the mind, energy and spirit also stops. A movement of only one part of the body is not in accord with the principles of Tai Chi or the Tao. Another name for Tai Chi is ‘prenatal Quan (boxing). After practicing Tai Chi for a while, the body becomes like that of a newborn baby, healthy, soft, relaxed and full of Qi.

Master Jong Hoon Jeon has lived in the United States since moving here in 1987 from South Korea, and is a 2nd Generation White Tiger Master. The original White Tiger Academy was founded in 1970 by Grandmaster Sung Ho Kim in Korea. At the time, the Chinese government was forcing the Cultural Revolution on the people of China, and had destroyed the venerated Shaolin Temple and imprisoned or exiled many of its monks. Shaolin and other Northern Kung Fu styles were in serious danger of becoming extinct. In the safety of Korea, Grandmaster Kim sought to keep alive and to pass on Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. The White Tiger Academy was founded to preserve traditional Kung Fu styles and teaching methods. It taught students the more esoteric elements of Kung Fu, which were quickly being lost in modern society. These included Qi Going breathing, development of inner power (Qi), creation of a calm state of mind, and the ability to apply Kung Fu forms and techniques on the street, in a tournament, against another martial arts style, or in any other situation. In 1972 Master Jeon began studying martial arts, and became a master under Grandmaster Kim in 1986. He founded the first American branch of the White Tiger Academy in 1999 in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania (just outside of Philadelphia). Master Jeon teaches traditional Northern Style Kung Fu, including Shaolin, Jin Woo, Chen Style Tai Chi Quan, and Qi Gong. He also knows many Southern Style forms and principles, such as Wing Chun and Hung Gar. He focuses on traditional training - energy cultivation, perfection of forms, strength building, application, and intensive sparring. Master Jeon has given many public demonstrations of Iron Body techniques, illustrating his mastery of internal Qi Gong practices. He is also an acupuncturist and a licensed herbalist.