Master Henry Wang
About Master Wang
Master Wang has devoted most of his adult life to understanding and conveying the underlying philosophy of Chinese martial arts. His journey began as a young man studying a variety of internal and external styles, including time spent as a military self-defense instructor in the Taiwanese army. After taking up tai chi in his early twenties, he became deeply passionate about the art.
His competitive drive and dedication led him to compete regularly in t’ai chi push hands tournaments in Taiwan. By age 25, he had won first place in several national championships and continued winning international competitions for several years.
The Problem with Winning
Despite his tournament success, Master Wang grew increasingly frustrated. A few years after reaching the peak of competitive achievement, he willingly stepped away from competition. Driven by a deeper quest to discover the meaning of the taiji classics and their promise of “4 ounces to move a thousand pounds”. Each victory proved he was missing something—brute strength shouldn’t be required if the classics were right.
The Turning Point
Meeting Grandmaster Huang of Malaysia changed everything. For the first time, Master Wang witnessed true internal power—soft, effortless, devastatingly effective. Under Huang’s guidance, he began the difficult process of abandoning his strength-based approach.
Search Center
After relocating to Canada, Master Wang had the time and space to develop his training method: Search Center. Unlike traditional push hands, Search Center reduces the emphasis on technique in the encounter between two people, prioritizing sensitivity and softness over pushing and forceful application.
The Complete Art
Master Wang’s current teaching emphasizes tai chi as a complete life practice. Beyond martial applications, he focuses on the art’s power to improve health, increase longevity, and rejuvenate the body. This synthesis represents tai chi’s original purpose—not just self-defense, but a method for living better and longer.
His methods offer a clear path from the mystical language of ancient texts to practical, demonstrable skills for serious practitioners—whether seeking martial ability, improved health, increased longevity, or bodily rejuvenation.For more detailed information about Master Wang’s methods and philosophy, see: Searching for Center: A Tai Chi Master’s Journey and Flowing the Tai Chi Way