Guro/Sifu John Chow
Learning History of Tai Chi
Chuan
Teaching History of
martial arts
Yang Style Tai Chi lineage tree of John Chow
Guro/Sifu John Chow is well versed in several systems of fighting,
but specialises in Arnis and Tai Chi Chuan.
His Arnis teachers include the very great and outstanding Grandmaster
Antonio 'Tatang' Illustrisimo,
and masters Tony Diego, Romy
Macapagal, Edgar Sulite,
Rey Galang, Yuli Romo,
Chris Ricketts, Raymond Floro,
Bobby Taboada and Dan Inosanto, including his father Henry Chow.
He is one of the few authorised teachers of Kalis Ilustrisimo
(Illustrisimo Kali) and Lameco Eskrima styles of eskrima in
Guro/Sifu John Chow is well versed in the complete system of traditional
Tai Chi Chuan, including the martial arts applications, healing and
spiritual cultivation. It is rare to find teachers who are knowledgeable
in all aspects of the art. He is a specialist in the combat applications
of Yang and Wu styles of Tai Chi Chuan and is an expert in the rarely seen
'Small Frame Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan'. He has created his own personal
style of Tai Chi Chuan, called 'Jin Gang Tai Chi Chuan' (Vajra Style Tai
Chi Chuan).
Guro/Sifu John Chow received martial arts training in the traditional
way from childhood. His training started long before the 'Bruce Lee fad'
and the hippy 'Tai Chi fad' and the 'Tai Chi/Chi Kung industry' began in
the 1970s and 1980s.
Guro/Sifu John Chow has taught martial arts since 1977, and has taught
in
For all his learning and experience, Guro/Sifu John Chow always stressed to
his student that he does not know much martial arts, and is capable of only 1 technique so
far. “I know only 1 technique, but that will do”
Besides being an expert in genuine traditional Tai Chi Chuan, he is also
a practising healer, meditation teacher, masseur (of traumatic/impact
injuries), and practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (herbs,
acupuncture, massage, gua sha, cupping).
Guro/Sifu John Chow has studied many spiritual paths from the time he
was a teenager. He has studied
ancient as well as modern New Age teachings, and has taken teachings and initiations
under notable masters such as HH Dalai Lama, HH Sakya Trizin, HH Karmapa
Rangung Rigpe Dorje, HH Drukchen Rinpoche, HH Chetsang Rinpoche, HE Shamar
Rinpoche, HE Terchen Khordong Chimed Rigdzin, Bairo Tulku, HE Beru Khyentse
Rinpoche, Gegen Khyentse Rinpoche, Gyalsay Rinpoche, Gen Rinpoche, Sogyal
Rinpoche, Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, Chagdud Tulku, Tulku Pema, Zazep Tulku, Lama
Trijang, Lama Thubten Zopa, Changling Rinpoche, Tan Acharn Booyarith Pandito,
Ven. Dhammananda, Ven. Keng Ang, Ven. Boon Ti, and many other teachers. His Hindu lineage came from the line of
the famous Kriya Yoga master Lahiri Mahasay. His Taoist lineage came from the secret
yoga tradition, as well as the open
tradition of Mantak Chia. He has
also studied Indonesian mysticism.
He is an authorized teacher of Yellow Bamboo, a form of Balinese mysticism.
Guro/Sifu John Chow was a founding member of the Monash University
Buddhist Society in 1976, and
personally managed the society from 1976 to 1979. During this time, he founded the Monash University Tai Chi
Club in 1977 and has remained the chief instructor and inspirational force
behind this club to this day. He
also founded the short-lived Natural Healing Club at Monash University in
1977. In addition, after leaving Monash University, on seeing the need for Chinese Buddhist
movements at that time, he founded
the Chinese Buddhist Society in 1982 to cater for Chinese Buddhists. This was later disbanded due to his busy
schedule and the fact that other Buddhist societies have risen to cater for the
same needs of the Chinese community.
It is Guro/Sifu John Chow’s wish to resurrect a centre in future
to cater for special needs of the community or
services that other societies have not yet provided.
In spite of his extremely busy schedule, Guro/Sifu John Chow was a temple drummer
(Zhong Gu) at the
Hong Kong 1998 Comic
sketch by a student 1999
Guro John Chow with some of his senior Arnis students
2002
With daughters Melysa and Zoe, and Kim Fung.
With His Eminence Beru Khyentse Rinpoche, 1st reunion in 2003 after
1979.
His Holiness Sakya Trizin blessing Sifu John Chow
during Vajrakilaya initiation.
Daughter Melysa playing the ‘Di
Zhong’.
Left to right:
Chan, Kim Fung, Zoe, Melysa, Sarina, Peter Wenzel, Alex Bellantonio, Jim
Sifu John Chow standing with Chinese temple
drum. Daughter
Zoe is also a temple drummer.
With Mrs. Liau on her 80th birthday
celebration at the Chinese temple.
Guru John Chow with Pak Serengen, founder of Yellow Bamboo, in Bali.
