In 1980, after several years studying various martial arts, Gregory Ellis began studying traditional Yang Clan Tai Chi Chuan in Taipei, Taiwan under Master Deng Shr-Hai who had trained under Grandmaster Wang Dz-He.

After returning to the states, he continued to train with Ho Chin-Han and Tu Chong-Jing, both having studied extensively with Wang Dz-He as well. After becoming a teaching assistant, Gregory began teaching outside classes; recruiting some of the students who became advanced pupils of both Master Ho and Master Tu.

In 1985, after an introduction to Shuai Chiao by his kung fu uncle Tu Chong-Jing, he began to study this foundation art in earnest under Master Ku Shao-Bai. In addition to adding Shua Chiao to his training, Professor Ellis increased the hours he spent exploring classical tai chi pugilism and continued to teach.

After some time, he became the teaching assistant to Ku Shao-Bai as well. Because of his relations in the Chinese boxing community, Professor Ellis had many opportunities to meet Masters and teachers of stature and learned where and when he could.

He even returned to his roots in classical European martial arts which he’d learned, from the ages of eight to thirteen, under the tutelage of his grandfather Elmer Aurelios Ellis.

After over 28 years of practicing Yang Clan Tai Chi Chuan, he has recently returned to teaching new “outside” students.