What should you do if someone challenges your Tai Chi school or wants to fight you to prove who’s the better martial artist?
You might laugh at this question.
Before the 1980s, there were few—if any—scientific studies on the health benefits of Tai Chi. At the time, people mostly recognized Tai Chi as a formidable martial art. It was common for martial arts schools or Wu Guan 武館 (martial halls) to compete with each other to determine which school or which master was more powerful. These stories are often depicted in Bruce Lee, Jet Li, or Donnie Yen’s movies. This kind of challenge is known as Ti Guan—literally, “kicking the hall” of another school.
Dr. John Painter opened the Kung Fu Tao Training Center in Arlington, Texas, in 1972—the first martial arts school in Texas open to everyone. Fortunately for him he opened just before the Kung Fu TV series starring the late David Carradine premiered, and then with the influx of kung fu movies, the center quickly grew and tripled in size within a couple of years.
As the Chinese saying goes, “Su Da Zhao Feng”—a tall tree catches more wind. The Kung Fu Dao Training Center naturally became a target for restless practitioners eager to prove themselves. Most of the time, Painter defused these situations with calm and rational conversation. But one day, a man in a karate uniform appeared, demanding a fight.
Dr. Painter asked all his students to leave the training room and closed the door. He then turned off the lights, plunging the room into total darkness. Knowing the space well, he avoided the man’s punches and kicks, which landed in the void. Eventually, the challenger grew exhausted. At that moment, John gently pushed him down. The man admitted defeat, saying, “You beat me.” But Painter replied, “No, you beat yourself,” and advised him never to play another man’s game. The man took the lesson to heart and became one of Painter’s students.
Inside Kung-Fu (IKF) magazine was founded by Curtis Wong in 1973. Fueled by growing interest in martial arts and kung fu across the U.S., its circulation expanded rapidly. Dr. Painter noticed that the magazine covered a wide range of martial arts styles but lacked representation of internal arts or neigong. In 1978, he submitted the magazine’s first article on Baguazhang (Eight Trigram Palm), and later contributed pieces on Xingyiquan and Taijiquan. These articles raised awareness of internal martial arts and helped promote his school as well. John soon established himself as an authority on internal arts and was featured multiple times on the magazine’s cover. He recalled, humorously, that the photographer always asked him to “look mean” to help sell copies. He was inducted into the IKF Hall of Fame multiple times.
In 1986, Dr. Painter launched Internal Arts Magazine (IAM), entirely dedicated to internal martial arts. His contributions are comparable to those of the late Master Jou, Tsung-Hwa, as both advanced Chinese internal arts in the U.S. They were great friends and shared a deep appreciation for the Yi Jing (Book of Changes) and Daoism, the philosophical foundations of internal practice. Master Jou’s Tai Chi Farm had a profound influence on the practice of Tai Chi, Qigong, Baguazhang, Xingyi, Emei, and related systems. A year ago, at the request of Master Jou’s daughter, Dr. Painter built a website to honor him. In addition to stories and teachings, the site also includes a page listing early instructors at Tai Chi Farm—what Painter considers a tribute to Chinese martial arts.
Back then, most students were mainly interested in aggressive fighting techniques. But Dr. Painter always began class with quiet sitting and Daoyin Qigong before teaching their chosen styles—Taijiquan, Xingyi, or Baguazhang. Each class ended with a reading from the Dao De Jing. Unlike most commercial schools of martial arts, the Kung Fu Tao Training Center housed a library of 3,000 books, which students were encouraged to read and discuss.
Chinese kung fu—especially internal martial arts—is far more than just physical movement. It is a path of self-cultivation, a true mind-body practice. The revered Professor Cheng Man-Ching used to teach Chinese calligraphy alongside Tai Chi. Similarly, John’s school also offered calligraphy lessons—great minds think alike.
In a recent interview, John reflected on how old masters like T.T. Liang, B.P. Chan, and William C.C. Chen all deeply valued Wu De (martial ethics).
Decades ago, female students often had different responses to martial training. John remembered some crying after punching or kicking, ashamed of possible hurting others—even in practice. With a background in psychology, John understood their emotional conflict. He encouraged them to imagine themselves as fearless tigresses protecting their cubs. The shift in perspective erased their guilt. One woman he intentionally trained became an instructor and role model, and soon, female students were confidently sparring and holding their own.
John has kept two file cabinets full of letters from students. Many thanked him for his teaching, noting how learning the art made them better people—more patient, more tolerant, more resilient.
Like the man who came to challenge him, many of us are truly fighting ourselves. And like that challenger, we often defeat ourselves. The learning and practice of Chinese internal martial arts help reveal who we really are—and guide us toward becoming who we want to be.
Note: This article is the third installment in the series “Life & Times of Dr. John Painter.” You can access the two earlier articles through the related links below.
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