06/24/2026
RIP Master Zhao Zeren
My Kung Fu uncle Zhao Zeren had a heart attack while teaching push hands last night, and died in the hospital in Beijing. He was an amazing martial artist and teacher, and a very warm human being. I remember being concerned about meeting him the first time because of his reputation as a indomintable fighter. The story was that, when he was young, people would cross the street when they saw him coming the other way. So when he showed up here in Pittsburgh for a seminar, I thought I was going to go home as a pile of bruises. Instead, he had a warm smile and a huge bear hug. he seminar of course was phenomenal. He was a truly amazing man and he will be sorely missed; he was totally irreplaceable. I am very lucky to have met him. He taught me so much in the little time I got to spend with him. I wish I had had more chances.
Here are a photo of him when he was here for a seminar. I showed him a bit of capoeira too, which he found interesting and gave a little shot at playing the berimbau. I also included a couple of clips from a demonstration he did in Beijing.
