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 a
teacher of Arnis, Tai Chi Chuan, Qi
Gong, healing and meditation.
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 traditional Tai Chi Chuan, which includes the martial arts applications, healing and spiritual cultivation. He has been teaching Yang and Wu styles of Tai Chi Chuan since 1977.
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.
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”.
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).
Sifu Chow created Amazing Qi
Healing Therapy that includes Tai Chi Chuan, Qi Gong,
Qi Massage, Paida Fa (Patting and Hitting), La Jin Fa
(Stretching the Tendons) and many other methods.
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, HE Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, HH Drukchen Rinpoche, HH Chetsang Rinpoche, HE Shamar Rinpoche, HE Terchen Khordong Chimed Rigdzin, Bairo Tulku, HE Beru Khyentse Rinpoche,
HE 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, Tahn 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. Most of all, he is a
disciple of a secret teacher who does not seek publicity as a master, thereby
deliberately remaining unknown.
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
Sifu John Chow is now practicing as a spiritual
healer, and teacher of Amazing Qi Healing Therapy and
the Filipino martial art of Kalis Ilutrisimo.
Guro John Chow
with some of his senior Arnis students 2002
With Kim Fung of Hong Kong, disciple since 1998.
With His Eminence Beru Khyentse Rinpoche, 1st
reunion in 2003 after 1979.
His Holiness Sakya Trizin blessing Sifu John Chow during Vajrakilaya
initiation.
Sifu John Chow standing with Chinese temple drum.
Guru John Chow with Pak Serengen, founder of
Yellow Bamboo, in Bali.
