Barry Strugatz’s documentary about professor Cheng Man-Ching (1901-1975)

A highly influential t’ai chi and martial arts teacher featuring rare vintage footage. Professor Cheng Man-ch’ing is considered one of the last real “Master of Five Excellences” a true old school t’ai chi master.

Before coming to the United States in the 1960’s he was already an accomplished martial artist, calligrapher, painter, poet and Chinese medical doctor. Cheng’s calligraphy and paintings hang in the National Palace Museum in Taiwan. Cheng began studying the ancient practice of t’ai chi from Yang Cheng Fu after falling ill with tubercolosis. Fleeing Mainland China during the communist revolution, he he began teaching t’ai chi in Taiwan. In 1964, the 63-year-old Cheng moved to New York City with his wife and children and began teaching classes in the Chinatown area of lower Manhattan. A few years ago we had the good fortune to work with Katie Cheng one of Professor Chengs daughters who currently carries on her fathers legacy and teaches t’ai chi in Houston Texas.