Greetings to all visitors and traditional martial art practitioners, I hope that as you read this, you are doing well.  It was once said to me by my Gongfu/Qigong teacher, Zhang, 'Pui' Yang, that the mark of a good martial arts Teacher or Shi'fu is not his ability to destroy or shatter bricks or even men... but the ability to embody and plant the 'seed' of enlightenment or growth in those that are to become 'shaped' into better human beings.  To many of you that just read the above this may seem to be a bit too vague and philosophical, but as we all know it isn't exactly an easy path to health, longevity, or enlightenment.  The Arts I have been blessed to learn and now teach are composed of a myriad of stairwells, tunnels, and doors.  Some lead to the same place, others take you back to your beginnings years later, and some even open the door to personal development that will make you seem super human (in others' eyes at least).     What am I truly referring to?  Well the answer to this question is simple enough to say... it is that the truly strong foundation is not only physical but mental as well.  The best foundation is first built upon being a good human being and avoiding unnecessary stress and negativity.  There is a serious need to lessen the stress of everyday life that is so very prevalent today!  My teachers took time from their life to help me develop and healed me of my many childhood ailments.  One such Teacher, before she passed, taught me that it is the duty of a teacher of anything to find a Path to develop first themselves and then their students Physically, Mentally, and Spiritually with no regard to my own selfish desires.  It is for her, Sifu Vicki Jaroscak, that I now teach...

- Timothy R. Davis (Shentaoba Wei Shi)

The Zhang Mén Tao Lineage

Elder Zhang, 'Pui' Yang Shi'fu (1923 - 2007)

Elder Zhang, 'Pui' Yang (also known as Little Yang or Zhang, Fu Tuo) was born in Chengdu, located near Mt. Emei in Sichuan Province in 1923.  This was during the height of the civil turmoil in China.  From the age of 7, Zhang Shi'fu was taught his family system along side his brothers, sisters, and extended family.  In his day only the direct family members could learn the 'inner door' teachings of the Zhang Family Gate Way.  Elder Zhang, 'Pui' Yang and his brothers also studied the Heibei Style (Baoding Style) of Shuaijiao with their maternal uncle, Shi'fu Yang, Shi Wan.  Zhang Shi'fu practiced the internal arts for his entire life.  This strong gongfu foundation was pivotal in making Zhang Mén Tao into its modern day form, practiced by Zhang family members worldwide.  He and his brother never took more than 20 'inner door' disciples at a time.  Zhang Shi'fu only adopted 14 of his disciples into his direct family line.  Zhang Shi'fu was particularly fond of practicing Xingyiquan, calligraphy and studying the effects of American herbology being added to existing traditional Chinese medical formulations.

A Necessary Migration

Elder Zhang, 'Pui' Yang and his brother Liming, along with much of his family, was forced to migrate to Canada at the very start of the Chinese '10 years' Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).  The Cultural Revolution was a national travesty with many elite Chinese who had different political or other opinion to government imprisoned or killed along with their families.  Many teachers were imprisoned or killed by the Red Guard for dissidence.  Those Gongfu teachers, who did not get imprisoned or killed, could only practice martial arts with very small group of students.  Being an outspoken critic of the treatment of the poor, the government held that the Zhang family was an enemy of the People.  Elder Zhang, 'Pui' Yang left all of his family's historical holdings in Sichuan Province and escaped with his family by way of Guangdong Province with little more than the clothing on their backs.  It was a very difficult time for him and his family until they were able to join relatives in Canada.  Upon arriving in Canada, Zhang Shi'fu and Liming Shi'fu was forced to support thenselves and families by working for various relatives and friends.  During this time he held many jobs, some of which were: dock worker, chef, delivery person, fisherman, painter/construction worker, and store manager.  He also taught gongfu and performed free accupresure/accupuncture treaments on children and the elderly.  He often said that this was the time of his 'rebirth' and the best period of his life.  This is even more profound considering that Zhang Shi'fu and his family came from an 'aristocratic' Qing chinese family.  Eventually, he found work in the US, in Chicago's Chinatown area... finally arriving in 1973.  At this time, he went about getting his sons and daughters settled into their home and finding employment/business interests for his family.  He also began teaching students in the area and working to establish the Zhang Family Gate Way here in the West.  He often collaborated with Teachers of the traditional Chinese arts of BaGua Zhang and Xingyiquan, as well as expanding his knowledge of other Chinese fighting/healing systems as he and his family gave them places to stay when they arrived in the US.

Zhang, Liming Shi'fu (1920- )

Zhang, Liming was born in Chengdu, located near Mt. Emei in Sichuan Province in 1920.  As with all of those born into the Zhang family tradition, Zhang, Liming Shi'fu was taught his family system a few years before his brother, Zhang, 'Pui' Yang Shi'fu.  In his day only the direct family members could learn the 'inner door' teachings of the Zhang Family Gate Way but Zhang, Liming Shi'fu convinced his father and their maternal uncle, Shi'fu Yang, Shi Wan (1879?-1975) to teach his childhood friend Quan, Shen Yu.  Zhang, Liming was always known as 'good man Li' due to his penchant for putting his fellow man before himself.  Zhang, Liming had the distinction of learning the complete Heibei Style (Baoding Style) of Shuaijiao from his maternal uncle, Shi'fu Yang, Shi Wan.  Zhang Shi'fu also practiced the internal arts for his entire life.  Elder Zhang, 'Pui' Yang called his older brother his 'conscience' and it was Liming Shi'fu that taught Elder Zhang the inportance of sharing their family gongfu with non-family members.  His support of his brother helped make Zhang Mén Tao into its modern day form.  Zhang, Liming Shi'fu only adopted 2 of his disciples into his direct family line, though he broke from tradition by naming a female (his daughter) as one of them.  Zhang, Liming Shi'fu is fond of good food, teaching children, and generally never growing up! One can't find a better teacher, friend, or human being.

Timothy R. Davis (Shentaoba Wei Shi)

When my students ask me, when exactly I started my training in martial arts, I always answer that my older brother Ramon, taught me my first technique while taking me to see 70's martial art films when I was a kid!  I started my martial arts training at the age of 15 in Kenpo Karate under the tutelage of Raymond Pohl, who was a kind and gentle Champion in his own right.  He introduced me to the martial arts as a young man and for that I will be ever greatful.  At the age of 19, I started to study Wu Ch'uan Chi Tao Gongfu or should I say that I wasted time trying to study while making excuses for my horrible attendance & eventually quiting, citing my asthma and work schedule as the reason.  The truth was that I was lazy and scared of the other students due to being sickly, as well as barely 140 lbs with horrible internal health.  That was long ago and I won't say that it has been easy.  I have since had the honor to study many disciplines and arts.  with men & women much greater and talented than I.  Some of these arts are:

Wu Ch'uan Chi Tao Gungfu (Various) Chen Style Tai Ji Quan (Yang, Song Quan Shi'fu of Beijing) Yang Style Tai Ji Quan (Zhang, 'Pui' Yang and Zhang, Liming Shi'fu) Liang Style BaGua Zhang/Xingyiquan (Gao Fang Shi'fu of Beijing) Wudang Style Xingyiquan Yu Family method based upon his interpretation of the Zhang Family Gate Method (Yu, Ji Shi Shi'fu of San Francisco) Zhang Family Qigong/Neigong, Zhan Zhuang, Healing, and Meditation methods.  As well as Zhang Family Intercepting Fist and the Zhang Family Gate Way/Method (Zhang Mén Tao) as taught by Elder Zhang, 'Pui' Yang and Zhang, Liming Shi'fu

My path has taken me to many places, including China many times to stand and train as those before me had.  It has taught me to help people and to heal them as Teachers of the many arts have done before long before me.  It taught me to appreciate the lessons and achievements of all Teachers in all walks of life.  It taught me that unless I am helping others, I am nothing in the greater scheme of things.  It taught me to love humanity.  I hope that whatever you choose as your path... it proves to be as fulfilling and gratifying.  Take care.