The Chinese Tai Chi
Healing Institute (Ireland)

Deng Hong Qin

Deng Hong Qin, Master Deng's grandfather, came from a poor family. His father had died quite young and his mother earned an income by weaving cloth. As a boy, Hong Qin used to take the cloth across the river to sell in town.

Later, he joined the army. As a soldier, he learned Wu Dang boxing. Rather than squandering his pay as many of his fellows did, he saved it for his mother, and spent his spare time studying by the light of an oil lamp. It was while he was reading one night that the General Li Yuanghong noticed the light. He was impressed by Deng Hong Qin's dedication, and sent him to Japan to study military command in ground fighting.

When he returned, he remained loyal to his commander, Li Yuanghong. During the Xinhai Revolution, when the General was surrounded by his enemies, Deng Hong Qin brought three hundred soldiers to rescue him, and brought him to safety on horseback.

After the Xinhai Revolution, Deng Hong Qin was made Military Police (MP) Commander General in the capital city by the former president, Li Yuanghong.

Deng Ke Yu

Deng Ke Yu, Master Deng's father, studied law in Beijing University. He also went to Oxford, Paris and Berlin to study European law.

From the age of twenty-one Deng Ke Yu started practicing Tai Chi. He studied at Yang Chen Fu's school for four years while in Beijing. Later, he followed Yang Chen Fu to Shanghai to continue his study of Tai Chi. While studying with Yang he became friends with Chan Man Ching who used to call Deng Ke Yu 'older brother'.

During World War II, Deng Ke Yu and Chen Man Ching visited the British Embassy in China. When the British soldiers enquired about Tai Chi, Deng Ke Yu suggested they try their British boxing against his 'junior friend' Chen Man Ching. When sparring with Chen Man Ching, the boxer found his superior size was ineffective against the grips (chin na), pushes and turning speed of the smaller man. He asked him to demonstrate again, but Chen Man Ching declined the offer.

Deng Ke Yu also used to do a lot of Tai Chi healing, using two hands to heal the body, giving energy from one hand and drawing out tension with the other. Rather than taking members of his family to hospital, he would usually heal their ailments and injuries himself.

Deng Ke Yu practiced Tai Chi into his nineties. He also continued his practice of Chinese calligraphy, which involves the same strong discipline and use of Qi.