Shi Mei Lin

Shi Mei Lin is a teacher of Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan. She is the adopted daughter of Wu Yinghua and Ma Yueliang [cite book|last=Wu|first=Ying-Hua|title=Wu Style T'ai Chi Fast Form |publisher=Shanghai Book Co Ltd|date=1987, 1991|isbn=7-5349-0121-9/G122 ]

A Wushu and Tai Chi champion in the 1970s and 1980s, she toured with Chinese Wushu teams internationally, including the United States in 1974 when she was part of an elite Chinese Martial Arts Delegation that also included Jet Li (Li Lianjie). She is a graduate from the Beijing Sports and Cultural University in Chinese Martial Arts and was a member of the Shanghai Wushu Team. In later years she coached Wushu in Shanghai and later the Taiwanese Wushu Team in 1994. [cite book|last=Meng|first=Sian-tang|title=Chinese Martial Artists - Masters living outside China |publisher=Baihua Literature and Publishing House|date=2007, 1991|isbn=7-5349-0121-9/G122 ] . She is the current head Wushu Taolu coach of the New Zealand Kung Fu Wushu Federation. The NZKWF is New Zealand's representative for Chinese Martial Arts to the International Wushu Federation (IWUF).

Shi Mei Lin often represented Wu Style Tai Chi with Grand Master Ma Yue Liang and Grand Master Wu Ying Hua at martial arts demonstrations, competitions and conferences in China. She also co-authored the book "Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form" with Grand Master Ma and Grand Master Wu. [cite book|last=Wu|first=Ying-Hua|title=Wu Style T'ai Chi Fast Form |publisher=Shanghai Book Co Ltd|date=1987, 1991|isbn=ISBN 978-7530646533]

In 1983 Shi Mei Lin demonstrated the Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form at the All China Traditional Martial Arts competition in Nanchang where she received the Award of Excellence. [cite book|last=Wu|first=Ying-Hua|title=Wu Style T'ai Chi Fast Form |publisher=Shanghai Book Co Ltd|date=1987, 1991|isbn=7-5349-0121-9/G122 ] In 1986 she won the Chinese National Tai Chi sword competition as well as becoming the Wu Style Tai Chi Champion.

In 1988 Shi Mei Lin emigrated to the Netherlands and then later New Zealand where she now lives and teaches Wu Style Tai Chi and Wushu. She also has students in Europe and the United States. [cite book|last=Shi|first=Mei-lin|title=T’AI CHI The International Magazine of T’ai Chi Ch’uan 2003 No. 1|publisher=Wayfarer Publications|date=2003, |ISSN 0730-1049]

Wu style Tai Chi was created by a Manchurian named Wu Quanyou (1834 – 1902). Wu was a student of Yang Luchan, (founder of the Yang style), and Yang Banhou. Wu Quanyou’s son, Wu Jianquan (1870-1942), studied under the tutorship of his father. After 1912 he developed the teaching of Tai Chi Chuan at the Beijing Sport Research Society, gradually refining his father’s style. His two sons, Wu Gongyi and Wu Gongzao, were his first students.

Wu Jianquan’s eldest daughter Wu Yinghua (1907 – 1996), started studying Tai Chi Chuan with her father at a very young age. In 1935 Wu Yinghua was also appointed deputy director of the Jian Quan Association in Shanghai. She married her father’s student, Ma Yue Liang (1901 – 1998), and throughout her life she taught with her husband all over China. Both Wu Ying Hua and Ma Yue Liang were very highly regarded in martial arts circles.

References

*(February 2003). "Shi Mei Lin on Balance and a quiet heart T’AI CHI The International Magazine of T’ai Chi Ch’uan 2003 No. 1". Wayfarer Publications. ISSN 0730-1049.
*(1990). "Ma Yueh Liang, Wu Ying Hua, Shi Mei Lin in New Zealand. Television New Zealand Channel One News 1990".
* Wu Ying Hua, Ma Yueh Liang, Shi Mei Lin (1987). Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form. Henan Science Skills Ltd. Henan (only available in Chinese) ISBN 7-5349-0121-9/G122.
* Wu Ying Hua, Ma Yueh Liang, Shi Mei Lin (1991). Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form. Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong (only available in Chinese) . ISBN 962-2391060.
* Meng Sian Tang (2007). Chinese Martial Artists - Masters living outside China. Baihua Literature and Publishing House (only available in Chinese). ISBN 978-7530646533

External links

* [http://www.wutaichi.org.nz/ Shi Mei Lin's Wu style Tai Chi website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6h89sx6ftI Shi Mei Lin Short demo of Wu style Tai Chi Sword & Wushu Sword]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0q-Nn_gUI4 Shi Mei Lin Short demo of Wu style Fast Form & Slow form]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehiWgpxrwQM Wu Ying Hua, Ma Yueh Liang and Shi Mei Lin]
* [http://www.tai-chi.com/ed_notebook.php?id=120 T'ai Chi Magazine February 2003 No 1 Editor's notes]