The Wu-Tan Kuo Shu Development Center was founded by Grandmaster Liu Yun Qiao. Grandmaster Liu grew up in the Cang County of Hebei Province in northern China. At a very young age, Grandmaster Liu was in very poor health. His father asked for the service of a martial artist Chang Yao Ting to strengthen young Liu. Under Chang, grandmaster Liu eventually gained back his health and began to study TaiZu Chang Chuan(Song Emperor Long Fist) and MiZong-I Quan(Lost Track Boxing).
In 1916, grandmaster Liu began his studies under Li Shu Wen, a famous Baji Quan and Pigua Zhang master. Grandmaster Liu's father hired the services of this famed master and killer to teach grandmaster Liu martial arts. Li Shu Wen's training method was quite harsh, all grandmaster Liu did for a year was stance training. This gave grandmaster Liu a good foundation in the styles Li Shu Wen taught. Grandmaster Liu was the last of Li Shu Wen's disciples; this is why grandmaster Liu's Baji and Piqua was different from his older kung fu brothers. Li was in his 60's when he was training young Liu and was re-organizing the Baji and Pigua styles.
Around the early 30's,in Shantung Province, Grandmaster Liu began his training in Liu He Tang Lang Quan(Six Harmony Preying Mantis)under Ding Zi Cheng and Yin Fu Bagua Zhang under Gong Bao Tien.
He fought against the Japanese during the war in 1937, serving the military for eight years. After moving to Taiwan, Grandmaster Liu became commander of the airborn troops and held other positions in the defense military. Upon retiring grandmaster Liu established Wu-Tan Kuo Shu Development Center and became a consultant for many kung fu organizations. So far Grandmaster Liu has trained over 3000 disciples.
In Alaska today, there is a man from Wu-Tan who has carried the the treasure of his cultural heritage further north to the frontier of Alaska. Sifu Wong is currently teaching Northern Style kung fu in the city of Anchorage. He teaches tradtional Chinese culture in conjunction with the physical aspects of kung fu to guide his students along the proper path of the learning process.
Sifu Kurt Wong was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. His martial art background began in the Korean art of Tae Kwon Do. Later, he joined Wu-Tan in a desire to learn more of the Chinese Culture and the martial arts.
His main instructor was Sifu Su Yu Chang and was also taught by Grandmaster Liu and Sifu Adam Hsu, now in San Francisco, CA. His teachers instilled in him not only the aspiration to achieve skillful techniques, but also high moral standards. Sifu Wong learned Chi Hsing Tang Lang(7-star Preying Mantis), Pa Bu Tang Lang(8-Step Preying Mantis),Liu He Tang Lang(Six Harmony Mantis), Baji Quan(8-Infinite Fist), Pigua Zhang(Splitting and Deflecting Palm), Chen style Taiji Quan, Chang Chuan(Islamic Long Fist), Bagua Zhang(Eight Diagram Palm), and several weapons.
Sifu Wong currently teaches three Northern Styles of Kung fu - Seven Star Preying Mantis, Chen Taiji Quan,and Baji Quan/Pigua Zhang.