Master Ding Teah Chean
Founder of Master Ding Academy
Master Ding Teah Chean (John Ding) has accumulated vast
experience and understanding of internal and external Kung Fu
systems through a lifelong study of martial arts.
He began training at a young age under various Shaolin Kung Fu
Masters and reached a high level of skill before devoting himself
entirely to the internal martial system of Tai Chi Chuan. He is one
of the few people to have studied under all three formal disciples
of the late Great Grandmaster Yang Sau Chang: Chu King Hung (3rd
disciple), Chu Gin Soon (2nd disciple) and Ip Tai Tak (1st
disciple). Consequently, he is one of the few teachers in the west
who can demonstrate the higher aspects of the art and internal
energy (Chi).
On 1 January 1998, Master Ding's dedication to Yang Style Tai Chi
was rewarded when he was accepted as the first disciple of
Grandmaster Ip Tai Tak, making him a 6th Generation lineage holder
of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan through Grandmaster Ip Tai Tak.
He has worked hard to build his organisation, which now has schools
across Europe. He has made numerous TV and stage appearances and
produced videos, DVDs and books about Tai Chi. He is also the editor
and publisher of Tai Chi & Alternative Health, an internationally
distributed quarterly magazine in print since 1994.
Before he began to teach Tai Chi full time in 1996, he worked as a
senior manager in health and social services with a local authority
in the UK. This experience, combined with his charismatic
application of Tai Chi philosophy to everyday life, have given him
great insight into how to create an environment that allows people
to develop, heal and grow strong through Tai Chi practice.
Master Ding teaches full-time, runs residential Tai Chi retreats,
special courses, seminars and workshops and leads training tours to
China. He also gives private tuition and organises bespoke courses
for corporate clients.
