Master Pan Wing-Chow

The Lineage

Master Pan Wing-Chow

Master Pan Wing-Chow was the portrait of health as he continued to perform the original Chen style Tai-Chi Chuan — as taught to him by Master Chen Fake back in the early 1930s — until his death in 1996. Throughout his life, Master Pan maintained his dedication to the traditional style, preserving the original form without modification.

Master Pan began to learn Tai-Chi while attending university in Peking. He was one of a very few who learned Chen style Tai-Chi outside of the Chenjiagou village in Henan province. Master Chen Fake had been hired by a group of people to come and teach in Peking. Master Pan was introduced to Chen Fake at the home of his friend Mr. Liou, who belonged to the Henan Association. At that time Master Chen was living at the Henan Association Headquarters. Mr. Liou told Master Pan that if he truly wanted to learn Tai-Chi, he should learn from the master himself.

Master Pan described his teacher Master Chen as warm-hearted, willing to help people, humble, kind and very patient. Master Chen was about 44 years old at the time and his techniques were very powerful. He also taught Master Pan the history of Chen style — how the form had undergone many changes and had been passed down for over 600 years at Chenjiagou village until it became fixed in its present form.

Master Pan taught ten students in the United States. Since beginning his training with Master Pan in 1982, James McNeil has remained faithful to the art and currently teaches it at Little Nine Heaven in its original form.