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Master Lian-Sheng Xu, the fourth generation successor of Xingyi Baguazhang, born in 1946.  Since the age of 6, he learned Xingyi Baguazhang Wushu (martial arts) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (“TCM”), Acupuncture, Acupressure Therapy from the great, late Wushu Master Ding-cai Ren and the late TCM Doctor, Shi-tong Chen.

Master Xu served as an instructor for the China Military Academy and as a Wushu and Qigong instructor.  He taught in many sport centers in Shanghai, China.  Master Xu has been a guest professor and lecturer at many Chinese universities and taught the scientific theories that are foundational to Wushu, Qigong and their health values.  Moreover, he represented China as a Wushu Ambassador to teach Xingyi Baguazhang in Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.  Besides, he has been a Visiting Professor to the Physical Education Department of Dharma Realm University, California, and USA.  Moreover, Master Xu has been a lecturer on the benefit of practising  Xingyi Baguazhang and Qigong at the U.N. Acupuncture Centre, New York, the Universal Buddhist Temple , Vancouver B.C., Canada and University of Calgary, Alberta Canada. Currently Master Xu serves as the President of International Institute of Xingyi Baguazhang and Xingyi Baguazhang of Canada teaching Xingyi Baguazhang, Qigong and Meditation.

In the 1980’s, Master Xu was appointed Chief Coach of Xingyi Baguazhang and Chief Editor of Baguazhang Correspondence Institute of Xingyi Baguazhang and Chief Adjudicator of the National Xingyi Baguazhang Competition.  In the 1990’s, he was appointed and represented China at the First and Second International Conference of Baguazhang held at Beijing, China.  He was also invited as Martial Arts Judge and Guest Performer at some of the martial arts competitions held in North America.

Master Xu has contributed towards the propagation of Chinese Martial Arts and has made it a popular event. Among his major contributions are the establishment of the First Distance Correspondence Wushu Tuition Course and the setting up of wushu training centres in over 20 provinces throughout China.  He has taught over 30,000 students including those from various areas throughout China and other overseas students.  His contribution to the field has been large and the effect of his influence great, so much as that nothing of this sort has happened before, and many Chinese government officials and Wushu enthusiasts have welcomed and praised his contributions.  In fact, in 1986, Mr. Chai Xu, Leader of Chinese Government Sports Committee rewarded and praised Master Xu’s contribution by presenting him with a plaque engraved with the words “Propagate Wushu to the world to win glory for our socialist country”.

Master Xu has published many articles on Chinese Martial Arts in various local and overseas newspapers and magazines.  While in China, he edited and published the Baguazhang Distance Correspondence Tuition textbooks. Besides these, he has edited and published a series on Xingyi Baguazhang videos consisting of such titles as “36 Flying Palm”, “Bagua Staff”, “Bagua Sword”, “Wushu Qigong”a “Clapping Exercises” and others.

In recent years, Master Xu has published nearly 200 martial arts and qigong articles for Sing Tao Daily News, Alberta Edition, Cosmos Weekly, Chinese Color Page, Calgary Edition and other overseas newspapers and magazines.  Further, together with his overseas students and associates, he is making a concrete effort to propagate Xingyi Baguazhang in order that more people will benefit from its practice.

In his teachings, Master Xu emphasizes and pays special attention to training his students in authentic Wushu and Qigong techniques.  The purpose of learning Qigong is to preserve health and to increase one’s immunological function against diseases whereas the purpose of learning wushu is to build a strong physique, to develop techniques of self-defence, but not for fighting or attacking those who are weaken than oneself.  In order to lead the students to a correct and clear understanding of the key points in achieving a healthy body and mind and in developing self-defence, he emphasizes the salient characteristics of Xingyi Baguazhang, its application and process to longevity within Qigong practice.