Grandmaster Cheng Jin Cai, president of the US Chen Tai Chi Federation, 19th generation grandmaster of Chen Tai Chi, is a familiar name to people in Houston through his teaching at the International Chen Style Tai Chi Development Center. His fame extends to other areas of the United States and to China through his community and professional service, his participation in national and international martial arts and tournaments, and his publications.

Born in 1953, Cheng Jin Cai grew up in Wen Xian county, He Nan province, China. As a child, he learned, at home, the basics of Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan from his older brother. At seventeen, he became a student of Chen Tu Yuan, 19th generation master of Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan Small Frame. From 1970, he learned Old-Frame first routine, second routine, and weapons under Grandmaster Wang Xian.  In the same year, he had an opportunity to study more Old-Frame under the tutelage of 18th generation Grandmaster Chen MauTsang.  Three years later, in 1973, he went to Grandmaster Wang Xian to study New-Frame first and second routines under Grandmaster Chen Zhaokui.  He became Grandmaster Chen Zhaokui’s teaching assistant from 1973 through 1981.  In North America, Master Cheng Jin Cai is the only successor of the 18th generation Grand Master Chen Zhaokui.

 Between 1976 and 1985, Cheng Jin Cai served local and provincial martial arts associations in various capacities. Recognized by the Jiao Zuo City Athletes Association, he was hired to coach martial arts students and selected to be a member in the city’s Martial Arts and Qi Gong Societies. In 1982, he was invited to teach martial arts at the City’s Police Training Academy. Three years later, he started serving as the secretary for the Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan Association and continued more training with the 18th generation master, Feng Zhi Qiang.

The year of 1989 was the first turning point in his career when he began earning a national reputation. The Central Media Network featured him in a television program based on his research on martial arts and the pottery of the Long Shan Culture. He was soon promoted as an honorary member for the Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan Professional Association in Zi Bo city, Shan Dong province, which is east of his home province, He Nan.  

When he was invited back to He Nan province by different groups in 1992, he was first appointed the trainer for the He Nan Provincial 7th Annual Youth Sports Meet. He was officially named as the descendent and carrier of Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan in the book The Old Form of Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan. Another prominent directory, The Hall of Fame Among the Best Chinese Martial Artists, included him as well. The following year, he served as an executive committee member for the He Han Province Martial Arts Association, as a standing committee member for the Society of Business and Trade, as well as for the Council of the Jiao Zuo city. His last position in He Nan province was as the vice president for the Research Institute of Fine Art.
 
The second turning point in his life was 1994 when he moved to Houston, Texas. He views this as an opportunity for delivering Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan to the American people and for extending cultural exchange between the Chinese and American peoples. To achieve this goal, he established the first International Chen-style Tai Chi Development Center at 9730 Town Park Drive.   He teaches the skills of Tai Chi Chuan for fitness purposes.  However, there are many other benefits, including but not limited to, the ethics and discipline of martial arts for character development. He has taken students to many local, state, national, and international tournaments both in the United States and China.  Often he serves as one of the esteemed judges.  In July 2002, the team he took to the Dallas tournament won 118 metals, which was the most among all the participating teams.  In August of the same year, he represented USA for the first time, bringing a team to Jiao Zuo City for the second annual International Taichi competition.  Due to the outstanding performance of the USA team, the Mayor of Jiao Zuo City came to meet and congratulate Master Cheng.  Two years later, in 2004, he again led the USA team back to China to join the first year of International Tournament for Traditional Martial Arts and received a special invitation from the director of He Nan Sports Commission.  The year 2005 was an abundant year for both Master Cheng and the USA team.  They not only won 34 metals from International Taichi Tournament, they received 2nd place in group competition.  Master Cheng was also appointed as an honorary member of the Taichi Research Association of Jiao Zuo City.  When he went to visit the birthplace of Taichi, Chen Village, he was highly praised by the members from Chen Village Council.  The Chen Village Council acknowledged him as the 19th Generation Master of Chen Style Taichi and disciple of Grandmaster Chen Zhaokui.  They were very thankful for all of the help that he provided throughout the years.  After the tournament, he came back to US and hosted a large and successful event called Texas Taichi Week.  A year after, he coordinated another major successful tournament, the USA National Martial Arts Tournament, which he received accolades from many business and politicians.
 

As the only Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan descendent in North America, he has brought the Tai Chi art to many people, old and young, for fitness, defense, and character building. Four of his disciples have been inducted as the successors of Chen-style Tai Chi artists. To further touch people's lives with Tai Chi, he finished a book of the art of Tai Chi, including its philosophy, and step-by-step verbal explanation with photographs.  This book is being translated into English at this time.

 As a result of his enthusiasm and mastery of Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan, he has been chosen to demonstrate and present the philosophy of the martial arts and his teachings on the local NBC, CBS, and WB affiliates in Houston.  He has been published in many newspapers including the Houston Chronicle, US-China Post, International Daily, and World Daily.  Magazines like US Tai Chi, Martial Art, and Tai Chi in Britain have also carried articles about his work in China and the United States. 
 

For his accomplishments, his name was included in the 1998 yearbook of The Famous Asian Americans in the US. Houston Mayor Lee Brown named December 9 as the Day of Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan in the year of 2001. After his book was published in 2002, he was called upon to be the consultant for the U.S. National Martial Arts Association.  In 2002 he became a member of Board of Advisors for the U.S.A. Wushu-Kungfu Federation, and in 2003 he was inducted into their Hall of Fame of Outstanding Masters.  In February 2005, he was appointed advisor to the USA National Tai Chi Chuan Federation. On April 2, 2005, Master Cheng received a special certificate of recognition from Congressman Al Green in honor of his distinguished service to the Asian-American and Greater Houston Communities. The USA Chen Style Tai Chi Federation received a certificate of congressional recognition from Member of Congress Sheila Jackson Lee. Master Cheng also has been recognized as a Good Will Ambassador and Honorable Citizen by Bill White, mayor of the City of Houston. Master Cheng Jin Cai is frequently asked to give lectures about this unique Tai Chi Chuan style by local Houston groups as well as by cities like Dallas, Atlanta, and Chicago.  Articles and pictures about his devotion to Tai Chi Chuan had been posted in International Tai Chi Magazine in the February and June, 2005 issues.  Other magazines and newspapers such as American Kung-Fu, Southern Chinese Daily News, United Evening News, China Journal, International Daily News have carried articles about or by him.  Media from other countries like England’s Tai Chi Magazine, China’s newspaper China Daily, CCTV, HeNan TV, Jiao Zhou TV, Houston Chinese Radio, and radio station 99.1 all have reported about Master Cheng.  There are also articles on many internet sites like Sinanet, XinHuaNet, American Wall Street, and Famous American Network. 
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