Winged Lion School of Taijiquan

SCHOOL LINEAGE

Within a lifetime, an individual can accomplish many great things. It helps to inherit a few hundred years of accumulated experience that can be imparted by a qualified teacher. This is why a "master-disciple" relationship has been held in high regard across cultures. In the Asian martial traditions, this relationship is beyond the common concept we associate with the student-teacher method of instruction. It is much more personal, taking into account students' character and emotional maturity. Lineage is the vital link in the transmission of any martial art.

As the main instructor at the Winged Lion School, Mike DeMarco focuses on Yang Style Taiji, but has studied other martial arts which have enriched his study and practice of Taijiquan. The people who most influenced Mike's studies listed chronologically:

• 1965 – began studying Indonesian martial arts (Willam Reeder's
system) under Art Sykes and Thomas Pepperman.
• 1971 – continued under Richard Lopez, whom Mike holds in
great esteem for his deep knowledge and respectable character.
• 1973 – studied Dong Style Taijiquan from Harold Chou,
a student of Dong Yingjie (1898-1961).
• 1976 – studied Yang Style Taiji in Taiwan under Yang Qingyu
(b. April 12, 1915; d. Feb. 6, 2002).
• 1984 – 85 & 1989 - studied the original Chen Style Taiji in
Taiwan under Du Yuze (1896-1990) and Tu Zongren (b.1944).