Warren D. Conner  The T'ai Chi Ch'uan Study Center of the Washington, DC Metro Area  with offices at:  750 Miller Avenue  Great Falls, Virginia 22066-2914  U.S.A. Telephone: 703-759-9141 Fax: (703) 759-9145 or e-mail

Warren D. Conner has pursued his study of T'ai Chi Ch'uan since 1973
in the United States, mainland China, and Taiwan. 

T'ai Chi Courses 
A Partial List of Courses Taught Since 1975 

T'ai Chi Workshops
A Partial List of Workshops Taught Since 1975 

Current Class Locations 

Arlington, Virginia, Saint Peter's Episcopal Church 
Great Falls, Virginia, Haddad Studio of Classical Ballet 
Chevy Chase, Maryland, The Chevy Chase Athletic Club (currently taught by Rita Solorzano)  
McLean, Virginia, Free T'ai Chi beginners practice every Saturday morning

Lineage of Instruction

Yang Lu-chan
    Yang Chien-hou
        Yang Cheng-fu
             Cheng Man-ch'ing
                 Robert W. Smith
                      Warren D. Conner

I studied T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Pa-kua Ch'uan and Hsing-i Ch'uan with Robert W. Smith from 1973 until Mr. Smith's retirement in 1988.

Mr. Smith began T'ai Chi Ch'uan in Taiwan in 1959 and was the first Western student accepted by Prof. Cheng Man-ch'ing. He was chosen by Cheng to coauthor the book "T'ai Chi Ch'uan, the Supreme Ultimate" which was published in 1966 especially for Western students. An early pioneer of Asian martial arts in America, Mr. Smith has written numerous other books, including the first books in English on Pa-kua and Hsing-i.

Cheng Man-ch'ing was a student of Yang Cheng-fu. Cheng was known as the Master of Five Excellences: Medicine; Painting; Calligraphy; Poetry; and T'ai Chi. His book "T'ai Chi Ch'uan, A Simplified Method of Calisthenics for Health and Self Defense" was the first book written in English about T'ai Chi Ch'uan. He served as the president of the Chinese Medical Association and his paintings are preserved in the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

Yang Cheng-fu was the son of Yang Chien-hou whose father, the famous Yang Lu-chan, founded the Yang family style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. The Yang family taught in the Imperial Palace in Beijing among other places and thus, they brought forth T'ai Chi Ch'uan to China and hence, to the world. Yang style is the prevalent style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan practiced today in China and around the world.

As a result of Mr. Smith's many friends in the martial arts community around the world, it has been my good fortune to study with a number of excellent teachers.

I have studied T'ai Chi Ch'uan with Lo Pang Jeng (Benjamin Lo), a senior student of Cheng Man-ch'ing, beginning in 1975 during Mr. Lo's regular visits to Mr. Smith and I accompanied Mr. Lo during his visit to mainland China in 1992 (and there I took T'ai Chi Ch'uan classes in Yang long form with Yang Zhen-duo, the son of Yang Cheng-fu.)

Study with Liu Hsi-heng, a senior student of Cheng Man-ch'ing, has occurred during his visits to the United States and during my visits to Taiwan.

While the above are the teachers to whom I owe the greatest debt, I have also received instruction from a number of other wonderful teachers who visited Mr. Smith's school. A partial list includes: Maggie Newman; Ed Young; Tam Gibbs; Herman Kauz; William C. C. Chen; (all senior students of Cheng Man-ch'ing), as well as Wang Yen-nien and Rose Li. While my time with these teachers has been brief, my memory of their teaching and their art is strong.

A very great debt is owed to all the above teachers, especially Mr. Smith.

"The well is deep; my rope is short."

I began teaching T'ai Chi Ch'uan in 1975 with Mr. Smith's permission and assistance.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan flows like a great river; it is a never-ending study and truly a joyous journey.

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Copyright © 2000 Warren D. Conner, all rights reserved.
Any duplication of this material in whole or part without prior written permission is prohibited.
Please send questions or comments to Warren@TaiChiCenter.com.

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