In Memoriam
Master Ronald Anton Hoffmann
1948 - 2014
Founder: House of TaiJi
"I gave my life to TaiJi and TaiJi has given me my life!"
- Sifu (Master) Ron Hoffmann
American Martial Arts Competitor, Teacher & Zen Priest
Master Ron, Teaching in ChiyaYi, Taiwan
As a teacher of Tao, Zen and the Martial Arts, Ron Hoffman had no parallel and no equal. He was flamboyant, brash, aggressive and always willing to Mix It Up! Ron was Old School Chicago and began studying the art shortly after being beat up by some bullies in the alley behind his home. "Once they pushed my face into the cinders, I knew I had to get strong!" he said.
He studied Judo, Karate, Aikido, Shaolin and won a wall full of trophies during an uproarious and fun filled career as a rock and roll body guard and tournament champion. Ultimately he came to TaiChi as a student of Grand Master Waysun Liao.
"I felt Liao's energy as we shook hands, and I immediately asked to become his student!" Ron became Liao's Number One and represented the TaiChiTao Center on numerous visits to other schools for demonstrations and "skill comparisons." Later, Liao introduced Ron to Fah Su, Abbott of the Monastery of the 18 Lohans in Taiwan where he lived, studied, practiced and was named a Zen Priest -- gifted on his departure with the Abbott's personal robe...
I met Ron one evening at his home for a private lesson/audition. (I was checking his skills. I lasted about ten minutes and knew I had found the real thing.) The next twelve years were a blur of daily practice, travel to remote seminars with his teacher, weekend training as my conference room became home to the House of TaiJi, and the big trip to Taiwan to practice with the local association, visit the Monastery, see an herbal doctor and an acupuncturist and oh, and a Taoist Priest... It was magical.
Ron grew more contemplative as he matured, or maybe it was just the toll demanded by leukemia. Though he never actually broke any of the furniture, those of us who practiced with him regularly found ourselves dodging chairs, tables and artwork. His power was undeniable. He was perhaps the only individual to study classical TaiJi as taught by a Monk and classical Shaolin as a Monk in a Taiwanese monastery. Alway One of a Kind, Ron will be missed as we take House of TaiJi to the next generation...
by Shifu Jen
