Our Lineage

Huang Sheng Shyan or Huang Xingxian (黃性賢; 1910-1992) was born Minhou County, Fujian Province, China. At the age of 15, he began training in White Crane Kung Fu, later going on to study Luohan fist and Shaolin gongfu.

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In 1932, at 22, he went to Shanghai, set up a school and began teaching White Crane and LouHan Kung Fu. In that time, he interacted with various martial arts practitioners and developed a great interest in Tai Chi.

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In 1948, Grandmaster Huang moved to Taiwan to teach martial arts and give talks at Taiwan University. While in Taiwan, he was accepted as a disciple by Cheng Man Ching (郑曼青), and studied Tai Chi with Cheng Man Ching for 8 years, mastering and refining the learnings to what eventually became Huang Style Tai Chi.

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In 1956, he was invited to Singapore to conduct Tai Chi training. In 1957, he brought his Tai Chi to Sarawak, Malaysia, and started a school in Kuching, subsequently expanding to Sibu, Bintang, Sarikei, Miri, Api Api Beaufort, Keningau and Tenom. By 1959, he had set up the Singapore Tai Chi Association. This was followed by creating the Malaysian Tai Chi Association in various parts of the country between 1973 and 1983. Across Asia, Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand, there are many schools dedicated to Grandmaster Huang’s martial art.

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Grandmaster Huang firmly believed that Tai Chi required the correct foundation of “song” (松; softness or relaxedness). To achieve song, he developed an exercise known as the “Song Shen Wu Fa” (松身五法; Five Loosening Exercises). Dedicating his entire adult life to practicing and refining his martial art, Grandmaster Huang and his exceptional skill continue to be celebrated and respected by many Tai Chi and martial artists.​