Grand Master Hu Wei-Yue

Master Hu Wei-Yue was born in Shanghai in 1925. He began he martial arts career as a young child, learning Ba Duan Jin (Eight Section Brocade) to aid recovery of an illness. His interest in martial arts continued as he began teaching himself Tai Chi from a book by Yang Cheng-Fu. Inspired, he began studying under Master Hua Chun-rong, a former chieftain of the imperial governor's guards before 1949. Master Hu then trained under Bai Bing-ru, who studied Yang style Tai Chi with Master Ye Da-mi and Yang Cheng-fu himself. Master Hu studied Sun style Xing-yi and Bagua with Sun Cun-zhou, Sun Lu-tang's son. With this intensive research, training and practice, Master Hu learned all three styles.

In 1985 he emigrated to the United States and began teaching classes at the Chinese Academy of Cleveland in 1990. In 1991, he joined the Eastern USA Martial Arts Association and was awarded a Master rank and placed in their Hall of Fame. Master Hu is also a member of the United States Kuo Shu Federation. He currently teaches in downtown Cleveland.

Sifu Will Duncan

William Duncan holds a 7th degree Black Belt in Shorin Ryu Karate under the tutelage of Joseph Panaccione. He is a Master Instructor under Hu Wei Yue in Yang Tai Chi Quan, Sun Xing-Yi, and Bagua. He currently teaches in North Carolina.

Sifu Rikk Mayr

The Director of The Neijia Academy, Sifu Rikk Mayr has studied martial arts, Taoism and Buddhism for 18 years. Sifu Rikk holds a 3rd degree Black Belt in Chinese Boxing and the title of High Instructor from Grandmaster Hu Wei-Yue. In 2007, he was ordained as a Buddhist Monk in the Nien-Fo Ch'an Order by Venerable Shih Ying-Fa of CloudWater Zendo. Along with Grandmaster Hu, he has participated in demonstrations for Mayor Michael White’s Community Relations Committee. Rikk has earned medals in regional, national, and international competitions and now judges for those organizations. He has held teaching positions at Lorain County Community College, The Ireland Cancer Center and EMH Health and Fitness Center. Currently, Rikk is a Tai Chi instructor at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. He is a member of the United States Kuo Shu Federation and the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association.