Jack Ma, Jet Li, Wang Zhanhai: spreading Taiji to the world

[PeterCriss]

Jack Ma, Jet Li, Wang Zhanhai: spreading Taiji to the world
Staff Reporter 2013-06-22 12:29

Ma Yun and Jet Li. (Photo/CFP)

Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, kung fu movie superstar Jet Li, and Taiji master Wang Zhanhai make up the diverse founding team of Taiji Zen. The hopes to spread the practice of Taiji worldwide, China Entrepreneur Magazine reports.

Many Chinese boys dream of becoming a kung fu master. Ma, before he was even a teenager, wanted to learn kung fu. In 2008, he asked his assistant, Chen Wei, to find him the nation's best Taiji master.

Ma's assistant Chen dug up Wang Xian, the 19th-generation descendant of the Chen-style Taiji, who was 67 at that time. Chen-Style Taiji, originated from Chenjiagou, is the oldest form of the five traditional family styles. Chen-style is characterized by silk reeling, alternating fast and slow movements and bursts of power.

In April 2009, Ma invited Wang to his villa in Sanya to teach him Taiji for four days. After learning from Wang in three sessions, Ma decided to pursue his dream: that one day, people would remember Ma not solely as the founder of some of China's most successful internet businesses, but as a Taiji master, according to Ma's assistant Chen Wei.

After knowing Wang for half a year, Ma opened Taiji classes in Alibaba, joined by more than 400 people, to help his employees calm down and stay focused. In 2011, Ma invited five Taiji masters to give lessons and training every week in Alibaba.

As Wang Xian frequently traveled abroad to teach Taiji, Ma then invited his eldest son, Wang Zhanhai, to teach him individually. Wang Zhanhai, born in 1967, has won a variety of Taiji contests, and persuaded his father to jointly set up a Taiji studio in 2000, which has cultivated more than 200 national Taiji champions, the report said.

In April 2010, Ma persuaded Wang Zhanhai to become his partner to jointly promote Taiji culture. Wang Zhanhai then moved into Ma's house to teach him for nearly eight months, and during the period, he had taught quite a few of Ma's entrepreneur friends.

Ma sought out famous kung fu actor Jet Li about shooting a Taiji film. Li happens to share a similar vision to Ma, hoping that the martial arts can one day become its own industry. Li once taught kung fu in the US, but he knows that even with all of the effort in trying to spread its influence, the art cannot compare with the dominance of yoga and taekwondo.

The three agreed in 2011 to jointly set up a company, Taiji Zen, to promote Taiji, providing training to corporations and individuals.

Then have signed contracts with 78 sports colleges to cultivate Taiji instructors. Li said he plans to spend 10 to 15 years promoting Taiji Zen worldwide.