Scholar Boxer: Chang Naizhou's Theory of Internal Martial Arts and the Evolution of Taijiquan

Marnix Wells graduated in from Oxford's classical Chinese program under Professor David Hawkes in 1967. In 1968, at the height of the Vietnam war and China’s 'Great Cultural Revolution,' he arrived in Hong Kong and began to practice taijiquan, Chinese calligraphy, and musical instruments. Since Beijing was then in turmoil, Wells traveled to Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. He learned internal marital arts from Zhang Yizhong in Tokyo and later from the legendary Wang Shujin in Taiwan. He became general manager of a shipping office an helped plan the 'Way of the Warrior' feature on the Hong brothers for the BBC. In 2001 Wells earned a PhD in ancient Chinese philosophy from SOAS, London University. He teaches internal martial arts and lectures widely on Chinese art, music, and philosophy. He has one daughter and lives in London.