Southern California Taichichuan Association Bios

Master Anguang Sun

Lonnly Ching

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Lonnly came to the USA for post-secondary education. He graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, then he received a Master of Science in Computer Science from the West Coast University and in 2002, Lonnly received an MBA from the University of Redlands. He is currently working for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California as a Manager of a software development group.

Lonnly’s love for martial art started when he was a teenager. He started studying Taekwondo for about a year, then he studied Wing Chun for three years. In 2004, Lonnly started studying taiji with Master Guo Jie from Shantung, China. In 2005, he started studying simultaneously with Master Yan Yuanhua from Shanghai, China in Wu Style taiji, push hand and qigong.

In the last two years, Lonnly has competed in several martial Arts Tournaments, including the San Diego Grand International, the Chinese Martial Arts Tournament at Berkeley, the Houston International Martial Arts Championship, the Disney’s Martial Arts Festival at Anaheim, and most recently in March 2008, the Hong Kong International Wushu Festival where he received 5 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medals.

Master Qichen Guo

Master Guo is a twelfth-generation direct-lineage disciple of Chen-style Taichichuan. He has practiced Taijiquan for more than 23 years, and studied with renowned Chen-style taijiquan grandmasters, including Chen Xiao-wang, Chen Zheng-Lei, Zhang Mao-zhen, and zhang Zhi-Jun. He has repeatedly won gold medals in national and international Wushu tournaments in china. Last two years, he won two gold medals in Chen-style Taichichuan in Orlando Florida’s “International Wushu-Kungfu Festival and Championships”, held on August 9, 2001; and in San Diego’s “United States of America Wushu-Kungfu Federation National Championships”, held on November 16, 2001. He also attendanced many tournaments as a judge in America.

Master Guo currently teaches Chen-style Taichichuan both for health and martial applications in America. Now, he offers Taichichuan and Qigong classes at Samra University of Oriental Medicine in Los Angeles. In Feb 20, 2003, he demonstrated and lectured at Cal State University LA, In January and February 2002, he was invited to demonstrate and lecture at Malee’s School of Taichi and Kung-Fu in Manchester, Connecticut, followed by another session at Capital District Tai Chi and Kung-Fu Association of New York in Albany, New York. In December of 2001, he demonstrated and lectured at the Institute of Chinese Martial Arts in San Diego, California; His teaching method emphasizes the fundamental principles and correct body mechanics for Taichichuan. He continues to search for scientific and logical explanations for Taichichuan’s principles and for ways to train more efficiently so that practitioners can shorten the time needed to attain a level of competence. Up to now, he has taught more than 220 students in America. His full understanding of the theory of Taichichuan, incorporation of theory and techniques, and methodology of teaching have been well received by many. Malee Khow, President of the USA National Taichichuan Federation, has written a letter of recommendation for him.

James J. Cao

Multiple Wushu / Tai Ji Champions in International tournaments(Events: Tai Ji Quan/ Tai Ji Sword / Broad sword / Gong Fu Fan / other Short weapon)

Multiple Repeat Champions in national tournaments ( Events: Tai Ji Quan / Tai Ji Sword & Short weapon )

Was born in 1951, grow up & educated in the city of Wuhan, China. Education: Central China Science & Technology Institute, master degree.

Start to learn Wushu and Tai Ji in China in 1959. The earliest champion: regional Youth Wushu competition in 1964.Head Instructor of LA Tai Chi Connections in Los Angeles, USA.

Pola Huang

Tai Ji: learned Tai Ji for several years under James Cao, a Certified National Wushu/Tai Ji Instructor & Judge

Education: Graduated from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan with a major in Chinese Literature.

Hobbies: Activities relating to physical and spiritual health, such as: Wushu, literature, music, singing, reading, etc.

Extracurricular Activities: Participations in community services and charity events.

Goal: To advocate the health benefits of Tai Ji to the mainstream society and encourage more people to focus on both their physical and spiritual wellbeing.

Michael & Shellee Rockwell

Michael Rockwell began training at the age of 11 years old in Karate but began his kung fu training with Grandmaster Jimmy H. Woo in 1978. He received his instructor’s degree in 1983 and continued to train under Master Jack Sera and received his Masters degree in 2001. Master Rockwell began training with Ray Zambrana inTai Qi Quan and Wing Chun in the early 80’s. Mr. Zambrana took Michael to Monterey Park where he started his training with Master Chen, Ho in Ba Gua Zhang. Master Ho drew diagrams in the dirt to illustrate the circle walking patterns and for 2-years, Michael learned to walk the circle and do only single and double palm change. In that time, many instructors came into Michael’s life. He learned Shaolin staff techniques from Master Vasantachart and was blessed with many push hands friends. Showing up early to work one day, he met Master Charles Lu in Arcadia teaching a class in the parking lot where Michael worked. So every morning Michael would train with Master Lu in Tan Tuy, Tai Qi Quan and Ba Duan Qi, Master Lu’s version of the Ba Duan Jin. Master Rockwell’s Ba Gua and healing arts training continued when he met with Master Jerry Alan Johnson. These sessions greatly increased his understanding of Nei Gong and internal body dynamics. On a chance meeting in 1990, Michael began training with one of Los Angeles’s finest instructors, Master Amy Tong. Master Tong’s instruction in Tai Qi, Tai Qi Jian, Qi Gong and Leung Yi Quan has had a great influence on Master Rockwell’s competitive career. In international competition from 1992 to 1997, Michael was a Gold medal winner in Ba Gua Zhang, open Tai Qi and weapons forms. Michael began training with Master Su, Zi fang in 1996 and has focused on Ba Gua Zhang and Tai Qi, Tai Qi Weapons and Hsing Yi 5-elements form and the Ba Shi Choi. Master Su’s precision and love of the arts has changed Shellee and Michael in ways that can never be explained in words.

His students have accumulated a total of over 44-gold, 17 silver, and 9-bronze medals in national competition from 2005 to 2007. Master Su, Zi Fang once told Michael that it is rare that a good student finds a great teacher. Also, that the same thing applies that it is rare that a great teacher finds a good student. Shellee and Michael both feel so very blessed to have the honor to call these very unique people their teachers in martial arts and in life.

Glenn Towery

After the Navy Glenn Towery spent some time in San Jose where he began his acting career. He did several plays there at San Jose State University as a member of their prestigious Black Theater Workshop. Glenn returned to Los Angeles in 1976 and began to seriously study acting where he performed several plays over the years at such places as the famed Inner City Cultural Center under the guidance of C. Bernard Jackson. Glenn was personally mentored by famed director actor Edmund Cambridge for nearly five years during which time he became Executive Vice President of the Cambridge Players. It was during this period of time that Glenn Towery began to direct for theater. His first project was "THE BUS TRIP" written by A.J. Malone which quickly became a Los Angeles favorite that was directed by many others in Los Angeles for years to come, but Glenn was the first. Glenn also was a director for Marla's Gibbs "Dark of the Moon" and was assistant director for the play 227 which became a smash television show in the 1980's.

In 1993 Glenn Towery attended film school when he enrolled at Columbia College Hollywood. During his schooling he was on the Deans list and the Presidents Academic excellence list every semester he was there. Finally Glenn graduated in 1997 earning a Bachelors of Art Degree in Cinema, and becoming the first African American Valedictorian in the schools 70 year history. Soon after Glenn became an award winning filmmaker for his project "Respect The Sacrifices of your Ancestors - Don't Use The N Word when the project was accepted into the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles and awarded at the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, in Oakland California both in the year 1997.

In the past few years Glenn has worked primarily as a director. Highlights of his projects include directing "Seasons Reasons" a star studded musical with a cast of 40 people for a special tribute to C. Bernard Jackson at the new Nate Holden Theater, which is state of the art , for Inner City Cultural Center. Glenn has also directed the NAACP Theater Awards Show, held annually here in Los Angeles, CA.

Late last year Glenn directed his Tai Chi workshop under the guidance of Sifu Anguan Sun in a show that was televised in China. The show was special and the classes segment was a big success. Anguan Sun, who is Glenn's Sifu is also the president and one of the original founders of the Southern California Taichichuan Association.

I began taking Tai Chi about two years ago for health purposes. I suffered with high blood pressure and hypertension. I was tired of taking so many medicines. Tai Chi has helped me to better control my hypertension and blood pressure by teaching me to relax and how to send Chi throughout my body. I love Tai Chi and plan to practice it for the rest of my life.

"I look forward to being a director for the Tai Chi program for the upcoming opening of the world Olympics in China 0n August 10, 2008. I think it is great that we will be coordinating our event to coincide with the opening of the Olympics in China. Tai Chi is is one of China's great exports. It is great for healing and helping people to maintain good health and because of that I am proud to be a part of an effort to expose Tai Chi to Americans and the rest of the world. All people can benefit from practicing Tai Chi it does not discriminate, it is an equal opportunity healer. The more you put into Tai Chi the more benefits you will receive. Lets help spread the word and make this upcoming event a success to remember."

Anthony Aparo