About Us

Wu An Martial Arts is a YMAA branch school teaching kids and adults in three traditional Chinese martial arts styles:

Instructors

Jonathan Chang and Michelle Lin have been teaching martial arts for over two decades. They completed the 10-year and 5-year full time training programs at the YMAA Retreat Center and are disciples of Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming.

Jonathan D. Chang

Michelle H. Lin

Origins

Wu An is named after the school of our White Crane grandmaster, Cheng, Gin-Gsao. The original Wu An school was where our shifu, Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming began his training while growing up in Taiwan. With blessings from Grandmaster Cheng’s family and Dr. Yang, we named our school in their honor.

“武安” 是我先父親啟至請示神明武安尊王命名的.
順祝褔你能將武安武術精神大在全世界發揚光大.

“Wu An” was a name chosen by my father after he asked for guidance from the folk deity Wu An. Following this tradition, I hope that you will carry on in the martial spirit of Wu An and spread the practice throughout the world.

– Stuart Tseng (Grandmaster Cheng’s son)

Mission

Wu An (武安) translates to “martial peace.” We incorporated the character for peace (安) in our logo to emphasize its importance as one of the ultimate goals for our students – striving for inner and outer peace through martial arts training. Dr. Yang has always underscored the martial moralities in his teachings and we aim to pass these values to the next generation of students.

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming

Dr. Yang is regarded as one of the most respected and influential teachers in the martial arts and qigong communities. He began his training while growing up in Taiwan, studying White Crane, Long Fist, and Taijiquan.

In 1982, Dr. Yang established Yang’s Martial Arts Association (YMAA). The organization now has over 40 schools in 15 countries and is overseen by a Board of Directors. Dr. Yang remains involved as the Technical Supervisor.

To further share his knowledge, Dr. Yang founded the YMAA Publication Center in 1984 and has authored numerous articles, books, and videos. With a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Yang is known for using his scientific background to explain martial arts and qigong theories. He has been a pioneer in introducing many Eastern theories and practices previously unknown to the West. Dr. Yang’s works have been translated into more than a dozen languages.

In 2005, Dr. Yang established the YMAA Retreat Center to run multi-year full-time training programs and summer seminars. As of 2022, Dr. Yang has relocated from the original site in Miranda, CA to McKinleyville, CA.

YMAA Lineage

White Crane Kung Fu

Cheng, Gin-Gsao 曾金灶
b. Nov 15, 1911 – d. May 5, 1976

Long Fist Kung Fu

Li, Mao-Ching 李茂清
b. July 5, 1927

Yang-style Taijiquan

Kao, Tao 高濤
b. July 7, 1932

YMAA International

established 1982

Yang’s Martial Arts Association (YMAA) is an international community with over 40 schools in 15 countries and dozens of quality instructors. YMAA and non-YMAA members alike stay connected through seminars and training camps.

YMAA Publication Center

established 1984

The YMAA Publication Center is one of the world’s prominent martial arts publication companies. While Dr. Yang occasionally produces books and videos, he sold the company to the publisher in 2005.

"Jon & Michelle have pushed the standards of the art to a higher level. Their passion for maintaining the standards of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts is reflected through their instruction and attitude."

Lily Gee-Leger

"I truly appreciate your commitment to preserving the traditional Chinese martial arts. It expresses itself clearly in your teaching style which is well-paced and rooted in compassionate patience, as well as, in your content which is deep and broad."

Dr. Robert J. Woodbine Urban Qi FIT