Overview
The Northwest T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association (NWTCCA) was formed in the early 1970s in Seattle, Washington, as a nonprofit organization by senior students of Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-tchen. Originally, the group was called the Chinese T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association (CTCCA) and was based in Seattle’s Chinatown, at what is now the site of an Asian Health Center. The kwoon later moved to the University District as part of the Chinese Cultural Education Center. Eventually, the organization’s official name was changed from CTCCA to NWTCCA by Tchoung’s senior students.
At the time, CTCCA was widely regarded as the only place in Seattle to learn the authentic art of t’ai chi ch’uan.
Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-tchen
Although there were other teachers in the area, those “in the know” recognized Tchoung Ta-tchen as the only true t’ai chi grandmaster in the region—his “eyes were high.” Seattle’s other respected kung fu masters addressed him as “Sifu,” acknowledging his deep knowledge of the art.
In the early 1970s, Tchoung embodied what many considered the true expression of t’ai chi ch’uan in the Pacific Northwest. Advanced students from Canada traveled to study with him in order to learn higher levels of the art that other teachers either did not know or were reluctant to teach.
At that time, it was widely discussed that some Chinese masters in Vancouver, British Columbia, were unwilling to teach more than a superficial t’ai chi form to non-Chinese students. As a result, many serious martial arts practitioners left those schools and joined Tchoung’s Chinese Tai Chi Chuan Association in Vancouver and Seattle. Rumors circulated that some kung fu masters were displeased, claiming Tchoung was teaching too much to non-Chinese students. His philosophy, however, was to teach the complete art to all students so that the overall level of t’ai chi ch’uan would rise.
Many serious Chinese students also studied with Tchoung, recognizing that he was one of the few instructors teaching the entire system. Despite this, most of his students were Chinese.
Preserving the Complete Art
Tchoung was deeply concerned about the decline in skill among t’ai chi ch’uan practitioners and feared the art would eventually be reduced to mere calisthenics. To counter this trend, he pushed his students rigorously.
Later, he took several intermediate-level students to China and Taiwan, where they won silver medals in open competitions. In playful pushing-hands exchanges, few Chinese masters could stand against them. Several Chinese masters also studied with Tchoung in China, Vancouver, and Seattle to update their skills.
Organizational Lineage and Affiliations of the Northwest T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association
The Northwest T‘ai Chi Ch‘uan Association is a branch of the Chinese Tai Chi Chuan Association (Canada), which is related to the Chinese T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association of Taiwan. Grandmaster Tchoung was an official representative and delegate of the Taiwan CTCCA. One of his students served as an official of that organization in 1977, and the Taiwan CTCCA later sent Tchoung as its representative to teach the president of Gabon.
The CTCCA is the official t’ai chi ch’uan organization in Taiwan, comprising many masters from different lineages. Today, the CTCCA is based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Northwest T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association in the United States
Major Northwest T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association groups in California are based at the University of California, Riverside. The Southwest Chapter is headed by Chief Instructor Harvey Kurland.
The Southwest Chapter is centered in the Inland Empire of Southern California, with its primary base at UC Riverside and a secondary location at Santa Ana College, led by Level 6 instructor Stephen Bay.
Pacific Northwest Branches of the Northwest T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association
The major NWTCCA branch in Seattle today is the Internal Wushu Arts Xin Qi Shen Dojo, headed by Sifu Andrew T. Dale. Sifu Dale also has several certified students teaching throughout the Pacific Northwest and other parts of the United States.
Another certified CTCCA/NWTCCA instructor, the late Sifu David Harris, taught in Seattle and specialized in his application-based system of Shoshin Karatejitsu, which combined t’ai chi, aikijutsu, and other martial arts.
In Spokane, Washington, NWTCCA classes have been taught through the Institute of Extended Learning at the Community Colleges of Spokane by Jeff Herda, Kevin Harms, Daniel Brasher, and Bernie Elmendorff. Harms and Herda are senior students of Harvey Kurland.
Grandmaster Tchoung preferred the terms “Sifu” or “Sehfu” (Cantonese and Hunan Mandarin transliteration) rather than “Shrfu” (the harder Beijing Mandarin “R” transliteration). He authorized several students to use the title Sifu.
International Reach
Related schools exist in Canada, Taiwan, South Africa, Germany, and Japan. Canada has the largest membership, with over 3,000 past and present members of the CTCCA. Sifu Tim Glasheen and Sifu Laurens Lee teach at the main CTCCA branch in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
Following Grandmaster Tchoung’s retirement, Sifu Tim Glasheen and Sifu Laurens Lee assumed responsibility for teaching his classes at the main Vancouver school. Other senior students teach in additional locations throughout Canada, Australia, and Japan.
Chief Instructors and Certification
Master Andy Dale and Sifu Harvey Kurland are currently the only Chief Instructors teaching the complete Northwest T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association system in the United States. Both were granted full authority by Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-tchen to certify teachers.
Teachers directly trained and authorized by Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-tchen were listed in a past issue of Wushu Kungfu. All CTCCA instructors are also pictured in Grandmaster Tchoung’s book, released in 1995. At the next tier are instructors certified by Tchoung’s Chief Instructors, holding certificates issued by Tchoung Ta-tchen or his authorized representatives.
Use of the Title “Sifu”
“Sifu” denotes a certified professional instructor—a teacher of teachers—and literally means “father-teacher.” In the United States, only Harvey Kurland, Master Andy Dale, Master David Harris, Dr. Carey Brooks, and Dr. Don Scott were directly taught and certified by Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-tchen and the Chinese Tai Chi Chuan Association to teach the complete system and use the title Sifu.
Northwest T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association Curriculum
The NWTCCA and CTCCA teach a specific curriculum based on the Old Form of the Yang Family style as transmitted by Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-tchen. Official instructors complete defined levels of the curriculum and pass corresponding examinations. Chief Instructors (Sifu) have completed all levels and were taught and certified directly by Grandmaster Tchoung.
Historical Notes
Taiwan Connections
When Sifu Harvey Kurland traveled to Taiwan in 1977, he met officials of the Chinese T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association of Taiwan, including Sifu Fei Pei Liu. Sifu Fei was both a student of Grandmaster Tchoung and Kurland’s senior t’ai chi brother. The CTCCA of Taiwan is separate from the Republic of China Kuo Shu Organization, which represents Shaolin ch’uan kung-fu (Koushu) organization. The Koushou Organization sponsors tournaments every year in Taiwan. He also met t’ai-chi masters in Taiwan who were students of Grandmaster Tchoung and were teaching in Taipei, including Kan-sheng Hsiao-chou. Sifu Fei later moved to California and retired.
Lineage Holders Certified by Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-Tchen
According to CTCCA President Laurens Lee, the following people are the only ones directly trained and authorized by Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-tchen to teach his system (in alphabetical order). Some have official Teaching Certificates from Tchoung Ta-tchen and the CTCCA and others do not:
United States of America, Chief Instructors (Northwest T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association):
- Carey Brooks
- Andrew Dale
- Dave Harris
- Harvey Kurland
- Don Scott
Canada, Chief Instructors (Chinese T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association):
- John Camp
- Patrick Carter
- Peter Dickson
- Eric Eastman
- Tim Glasheen
- Michael Juzenas
- Laurens Lee
- Kim Ray
- Francis Tsen