Jesse Tsao, M.S., internationally known Tai Chi master, Qigong therapist, and alternative medicine and wellness consultant, is the founder of Tai Chi Healthways.  He is specialized in the areas of self-healing, preventive therapies, stress management and mind-body wellness.  Born and trained in China, he has been practicing Tai Chi for over 38 years, including 10 years of intensive study with world renowned grand master Li Deyin in Beijing, China.  He was the gold medallist in the Beijing Collegiate Wushu Competition in 1980.

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With over 24 years of teaching experience, Master Tsao has dedicated his life to promote the ancient Tai Chi and Qigong as alternative medicines to heal the modern world.  He provides services to several prominent healthcare firms; conducts workshops, group and private trainings; and produces a series of instructional DVD videos and manuals for all levels of practitioners.  He also makes frequent national and local television appearances.  Master Tsao coaches many athletes who have won U.S.  national Tai Chi competitions.  He also certifies Tai Chi instructors worldwide.  

Master Tsao is the  creator of Compact Tai Chi™.  An article titled "Compact Tai Chi is a Perfect Fit" in the San Diego Union-Tribune praised his special design as a perfect fit in corporate wellness program.  

Master Tsao was born in Penglai, in the Shandong Province of China.  He was exposed to the rich Taoist culture in his hometown.  Taoist healing and self-defense skills made a great impression on him.  He started training at 7 years old with Tao masters among the folk people of the country.  He learned Taoist breathing methods, stretching techniques, energy collecting and nourishing, as well as kung fu.  He later spent 10 years of intensive study with the world-renowned Professor Li Deyin (click for lineage) in Beijing, China.  Master Tsao has also gained knowledge from workshops with Grandmasters Chen Xiaowang, Chen Zhenglei, Zhu Tiancai, Abraham Liu, and Daniel Lee.  He has also taken advice from meetings with Wu Bin (Jet Li's coach), Li Ziming, Wu Tunan, Zang Hongxian, Chen Sitan, Su Zifang, and many more.  


Master Tsao practices Wudang Tai Chi Sword


The world-famous Penglai Temple in Master Tsao's hometown, Penglai - the "Fairyland on Earth,"  where the legendary Eight Immortals are believed to have achieved immortality through their practice of the Tao principle

with Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei, 2003


with Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang 2003


with Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai, 2006


with Master Chen Sitan, 2006

 

 

 

 


with Professor Li Deyin, 1979


with Wu Bin, Jet Li's coach
National Tai Chi Competition 2001


with Professor Daniel Lee (left) and Grandmaster Abraham Liu (middle)


with Kong Xiangdong, China National Tai Chi Champion

 

 

 

 


Master Tsao in the late 1970s in China


Master Tsao practices the spear in 1979

Professor Li Deyin is the most influential grandmaster on Jesse Tsao's Tai Chi and Wushu study.  Master Tsao has spent 10 years of intensive study with Professor Li Deyin in Beijing, China.  Professor Li is the primary author of the Standard Tai Chi Form 42, which became the first internationally standardized Tai Chi competition routine.  He is the Vice President of the Chinese Wushu Association, and he served as Chief Judge at the 11th Asian Games.  Below is the lineage for Professor Li Deyin:

Professor Li is the 3rd generation of famous masters from the Li family.  His grandfather, Li Yulin, was the first generation to study martial arts.  He learned Shaolin and "xing yi quan" from Li Cunyi and Hao Enguang; he learned Sun style Tai Chi and Bagua from Sun Lutang (the founder of Sun style Tai Chi); and he learned Yang style Tai Chi and Wudang sword from Li Jinglin (a disciple of Yang Jianhou).  He became the president of the Shanghai Shangde Wushu Institute, the main coach of the Shandong Wushu Institute, and the publisher of Harbin Taijiquan Press.  He gained the honorable title “Pioneer of Tai Chi” in Northeastern China.

Professor Li Deyin’s father Li Tianchi became a doctor. He integrated wushu, medical science, and tuina (massage) in order to better treat his patients. His name and medical treatments became famous all over Harbin and Heilongjiang.  Professor Li’s uncle Li Tianji studied wushu from his father, Li Yulin, as well as from his father’s masters, Sun Lutang and Li Jinglin. He graduated from the Shandong Wushu Institute, became a college professor, the executive of the Harbin Wushu Federation, and the first chief coach of the China Wushu Team.  Li Tianji has been memorialized as one of the “Ten Best Wushu Masters of China.

In 1956 Li Tianji created the first standardized Simplified Tai Chi Form 24 and Simplified Tai Chi Sword Form 32. Both routines opened the door of Tai Chi to novices and non-athletes, and both are now extremely popular all over the world.  For this, he earned the title “Father of Contemporary Tai Chi.”

Professor Li Deyin began Tai Chi and Wushu training with his grandfather Li Yulin and uncle Li Tianji when he was only eight years old.  Tai Chi and Wushu took him to all different regions and masters in China. He traveled to Shaolin Temple and Mount Wudang to study from advanced abbots; he sought out Master Li Jingwu to learn Chen style taijiquan, Master Xu Zhiyi to learn Wu style, Master Sun Jianyun to learn Sun style, and Master Hao Jiajun to learn Yang style and Push Hands.


Sun Lutang, founder of Sun style Tai Chi


Li Jinglin, disciple of Yang Jianhou


Li Yulin, Professor Li's grandfather


Li Tianji coaching his disciples


Li Tianji and his brother practicing


Li Tianji with Ma Yueliang, Wu Yinghua, and Wu Tunan


Li Tianji visits Shaolin and Wudang Mountain


Li Tianji designing Tai Chi Form 24,1956

    
Li Tianji and Professor Li practicing Wudang Sword


Professor Li practices his form


Jesse Tsao received private training from Professor Li in Beijing China, 1997


Private training by Professor Li at Tsao's San Diego home in 2001 


Professor Li's wish to Jesse Tsao to carry the Tai Chi tradition

Testimonials 

Kim Gillespie, Attorney at Law  I have been fortunate to study Tai Chi with Jesse. The results have been nothing short of phenomenal. Prior to studying Tai Chi, I suffered from chronic back pain so severe that I missed work several days a month. Since working with Jesse, my back problems have diminished significantly. My range of mobility and muscle strength has also increased dramatically. Furthermore, my ability to concentrate has increased and my stress levels have diminished remarkably. I get more work done in less time.

Patience T. Huntwork, Chief Staff Attorney of the Arizona Supreme Court  In a brief period of 6 weeks, Mr. Tsao effectively communicated the basic elements of Tai Chi to a group of the Court justice's and staff who previously had no exposure to a Tai Chi program.  His program was enthusiastically accepted by all participants, who came to value his sessions as a means of reducing stress, increasing wellness and mental focus and enhancing our overall professional and personal capabilities.  Mr. Tsao's unfailing courtesy, ability to accommodate the working environment of a busy office, and eminent qualifications as a recognized master of the Tai Chi art form, all contributed to an overwhelmingly positive experience for our office.  We look forward to maintaining our contacts with Mr. Tsao through occasional master classes as his travel schedule permits.                                

Ray Williamson, Chief Economist  I have been taking Tai Chi classes from Jesse Tsao over the last four years. I have found his classes and the techniques that he teaches helpful in encouraging relaxation and reducing stress as well as providing exercise. Although taught in groups, Jesse's Tai Chi classes offer sufficient one-on-one help and review to allow each student to master the intricate steps and movements. I recommend the class to anyone who wishes to improve his physical, mental or spiritual health.                  

James W. Heronime, Shodan, Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu Karate  The most amazing aspect of training in Jesse's Tai Chi [program] is how quickly he can teach even novices the basic form.  Normally, Tai Chi students study for months before they know a form well enough to practice on their own.  After Jesse's first three-week class, several of my fellow students and myself were able to remember the form well enough to continue practicing on our own.  I attribute this directly to Jesse's ability to break the form into logical pieces so that it's easy to learn and remember.  Jesse is an outstanding teacher, and I wholeheartedly recommend Jesse's Tai Chi to you.

David A. Wheatley, Attorney  The Tai Chi classes offered by Jesse Tsao are of remarkably high quality.  His training in China has prepared him well for handling a wide variety of students, from beginners to the more advanced.  He shows particular aptitude for dealing with older students who are just beginning Tai Chi.  He demonstrated enormous patience and communicates his enthusiasm to students without compromising the quality of instruction.  His teaching reflects the best standards in the field of Chinese martial arts.  He is to be commended for stressing the importance of basic principles and then demonstrating those principles in clear examples of movement.