Grandmaster John Chi Yuan Tsai

Grandmaster John Chi Yuan Tsai is considered one of the world's foremost teachers of Shaolin Kung Fu today. He began training at the age of seven under the guidance of the late Grandmaster Chang Chen. Along with Grandmaster Chen the young Master Tsai was accepted as a student by Grandmaster Su Chuen San, his great uncle, the most influential Shaolin stylist in Kaoshiung. It was there that Tsai studied the original forms of northern and southern Shaolin Kung Fu and Nei Chi Kung and focused on his Chi-Body development. Arriving in the United States, Grandmaster Tsai opened his first school in Chicago's Chinatown, initiating a life-long odyssey: teaching the art and philosophy of Kung Fu to both Chinese and American students. The results have been spectacular! Grandmaster Tsai's unique teaching style as well as his involvement in the community has captured the attention of leading publications such as Inside Kung Fu, the Chicago Sun Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the Official Karate Special magazine as well as the attention of top athletes, politicians, judges, lawyers, and radio commentators. Former White Sox pitcher Ross Baumgarten, former Chicago Mayor Mike Bilandic and radio personality Fred Winston and Mega Memory Expert Kevin Trudau are all among the extensive list of students that have studied with Tsai.

His teachings have yielded students holding National, World and Olympic Gold medal championship titles. Olympic Gold Medallist Arlene Limas and National champions Kaimin Tsai and Waysun Tsai, Tsai's two sons, who later became Masters, are among the top students he has trained.

Tsai's teachings and philosophies have produced a long list of successful Masters including Steve Abbate, Kevin Grissum, Mike Locanti, Rocky Lombardo, Fred Miller, John Springer, Charlie Webb, Glenn Wilson and Tim Wright. Tsai's legacy and teachings have been carried on through his hundreds of Black Sash students that continue to spread the Shaolin spirit across the country. Grandmaster Tsai has also worked with numerous civic groups to establish rape prevention, individual self-defense, and health and fitness programs. He has worked as a sheriff with the Cook County Sheriff's Department in Illinois and 16 additional Illinois law enforcement agencies to train officers on self-defense techniques that would aid officers in arrests when needed.

Grandmaster Tsai now resides and operates a school in Shandong China. The Tsai family system headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois and is owned and operated by his Youngest son Sifu Waysun Johnny Tsai.