Our Teachers & Lineage

A living tradition.

From Chenjiagou to Kansas City and beyond, our teachers preserve Chen family Taijiquan through direct instruction, careful practice, and formal lineage.

The academy

Skill passed person to person.

This is not a staff directory. It is a portrait of the people responsible for teaching, supporting, and carrying the academy’s tradition forward.

Taijiquan lives through practice, correction, trust, and the willingness of each generation to carry the art forward.

The next generation

Direct-Line Successors

Through the traditional Bai Shi ceremony, these students formally entered the Chen-family Taijiquan lineage under Master Chen Huixian as 13th-generation direct-line successors.

Assistant Instructor · Direct-Line Successor

Chen Xi Long陈熙龙

Kansas City

  • 21st-generation Descendant of the Chen family
  • 13th-generation Direct-Line Successor of Chen-family Taijiquan
  • Disciple of Master Chen Huixian

Chen Xi Long 陈熙龙 has trained in traditional Chen-family Taijiquan from an early age under the guidance of his mother, Master Chen Huixian. As a 21st-generation descendant of the Chen family and a 13th-generation direct-line successor of Chen-family Taijiquan, he is committed to preserving and sharing his family's martial art and cultural heritage.

He regularly assists with classes, workshops, and demonstrations, helping students while continuing his own lifelong study of traditional Chen Taijiquan.

Assistant Instructor · Direct-Line Successor

Chen Xi Han陈熙菡

Kansas City

  • 21st-generation Descendant of the Chen family
  • 13th-generation Direct-Line Successor of Chen-family Taijiquan
  • Disciple of Master Chen Huixian

Chen Xi Han 陈熙菡 has been immersed in Chen-family Taijiquan since childhood under the instruction of her mother, Master Chen Huixian. As a 21st-generation descendant of the Chen family and a 13th-generation direct-line successor of Chen-family Taijiquan, she represents the next generation entrusted with preserving this centuries-old tradition.

She assists with youth and beginner classes, workshops, and demonstrations while continuing her own dedicated training in the art.

Direct-Line Successor

Brandon Stevens

Kansas City

  • Disciple of Master Chen Huixian
  • 13th-generation Direct-Line Successor of Chen-family Taijiquan
  • Over 15 years training Taijiquan and Chinese martial arts
  • Over 10 years training directly under Chen Huixian
  • Assistant Instructor

Brandon began his Taijiquan journey with the Guang Ping Yang style and the Yang Simplified 24 Posture forms. He switched to Chen-style Taijiquan when he met Chen Huixian in 2015. He has been a dedicated and tenacious student of hers ever since.

Brandon began by attending Chen Huixian’s weekly classes in Kansas City, and he quickly progressed to become not only a senior student, but also an assistant instructor and member of Chen Huixian’s demonstration team.

Direct-Line Successor

David Clyne

San Antonio, Texas

  • Disciple of Master Chen Huixian
  • 13th-generation Direct-Line Successor of Chen-family Taijiquan
  • Over 23 years training in Chen-family Taijiquan
  • Instructor at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas

David has trained in Chen-style Taijiquan within the Chen Zhenglei lineage for more than 23 years. He began his journey under the late Sal Delarosa, a disciple of Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei. As a 13th-generation inheritor under his shifu, Master Chen Huixian, David continues the Chen family tradition.

David is also a Certified Instructor with the Chen Zhenglei Taijiquan Federation. He has taught Taijiquan since 2011 at Northwest Vista College, Baptist Healthlink YMCA, and in private classes, and has served as Strength and Conditioning Coach at Northwest Vista College since 2017.

David earned a Master of Science in Health and Kinesiology from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2016, completing a year of independent study with Dr. Wan Xiang Yao on tai chi rehabilitation for geriatric populations and mirror therapy for stroke recovery.

Direct-Line Successor

Tomoyo Tillman

San Antonio, Texas

  • Disciple of Master Chen Huixian
  • 13th-generation Direct-Line Successor of Chen-family Taijiquan
  • Over 20 years training and teaching Chinese martial arts
  • Head Instructor, Alamo City Kung Fu Association
  • Full-time Tai Chi Instructor, Audie Murphy VA Hospital

Tomoyo is a 13th-generation inheritor of Chen family Taijiquan under her shifu, Master Chen Huixian. Her practice began under the late Sal Delarosa, a disciple of Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei, and she continues to deepen her study through ongoing workshops.

Tomoyo is the Head Instructor for Chen-style Taijiquan at the Alamo City Kung Fu Association in San Antonio, Texas. She is a Certified Instructor with the Chen Zhenglei Taijiquan Federation and has been training and teaching Chen-style Taijiquan for nearly 20 years.

Tomoyo serves as a full-time Tai Chi instructor for veterans at the Audie Murphy VA Hospital, where she leads therapeutic classes and group programs.

Senior Student & Assistant Instructor

Aaron Crim

Lawrence, Kansas

  • Senior Student of Master Chen Huixian
  • Training under Master Chen since 2009
  • Traditional forms and weapons curriculum
  • Long-standing member of the academy

Inspired by his brother's martial arts skills and looking for something beyond his yoga practice, Aaron began studying Wing Chun, Yang-style Taijiquan, and several other Chinese martial arts around 2003. A few years later, he watched a Chen-style Taijiquan master's demonstration on an old VHS tape and was immediately captivated by the beauty, power, and sophistication of the Chen family system. Unable to find a qualified Chen-style instructor, he continued training in other arts until the summer of 2009, when a friend introduced him to Master Chen Huixian's Taijiquan Academy.

Since beginning his training under Master Chen Huixian in 2009, Aaron has become one of the academy's longest-standing senior students. During his many years of dedicated study, he made the weekly journey from Lawrence to Kansas City, earning a reputation for his commitment, perseverance, and technical skill. In addition to Chen-style Laojia Yilu and Erlu, Aaron has trained extensively in the academy's traditional weapons curriculum, including the Straight Sword (Jian), Broadsword (Dao), Spear (Qiang), and Guan Dao.

Today, Aaron continues his personal practice while devoting much of his time to restoring and caring for his historic home, gardens, and property. Although he no longer attends weekly classes on a regular basis or teaches regularly, he remains an important member of the Chen Huixian Taijiquan family. He continues to participate in workshops, special events, and school activities whenever possible, and occasionally provides private instruction. His years of experience, dedication, and deep connection to the school continue to make him a valued representative of Master Chen Huixian's lineage.

Meet the teachers in practice

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