Fabrice Hohn, expert

Fabrice Hohn

Who am I in my field?

Here, you’ll find more details and stories about my professional background.

Competition results in Tai Chi Chuan:

- 1998 Netherlands International Open: gold medal in Taolu (sequence, Tai Chi Chuan choreography) ahead of a Chinese master and bronze medal in weapons

- 1998 French Championship: gold medal in Taolu

- 1997 FTCCG French Cup: 2nd in weapons and 3rd in Taolu

- 1993 FTCCT French Cup: gold medal in Taolu

Photo taken during the French Championship 1998

From 1993 to 1999:

National judge for instructor certification exams within the FTCCT and FTCCG (former names of the FFAEMC, French Federation of Chinese Energy and Martial Arts).

Here is a summary of my professional activities since 1992:

Teaching Tai Chi Chuan (Taiji Quan) and Chi Kung (Qi Gong)… my primary professional activity since 1995 in various associations, socio-cultural centers, hospitals, nursing schools, the Pays-de-la-Loire Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs, a center for people with disabilities in Ancenis (ADAPEI), public and private elementary schools, neighborhood self-defense associations, a 4-star hotel, martial arts clubs in France (Paris, Castres, Nantes region), Rencontres Jasnières (tui shou, etc.). Coaching for senior executives (CEOs, directors, and managers at the Leclerc center, etc.), managers, osteopaths, people with Down syndrome, autism, blindness, fibromyalgia, etc.

Since 1985, practicing the short staff, nunchaku, and three-section staff.

1987, practice of Shorinji kempo (Kungfu de Shaolin traditionnel + techniques de projections du jujitsu traditionel) avec Michel Tesson.

Three years later, through the relaxation of yoga, I discovered undulating movements triggered by shivers. Tai Chi Chuan does indeed speak of coiled or spiraling energies (jin, chi). I then visited every Tai Chi Chuan instructor in my city. I decided to enroll in Georges Saby’s classes in 1990. Until 1998, I studied Yang Chengfu's modern Tai Chi Chuan there, , the tui shou (pushing hands), the chee sao (sticky hands), the stick, the saber, the basics of Pakua chang (the secret origins of Aikido) and some chi kung (qi gong) as well as some Japanese Shiatsu massage. Georges Saby took me on as a training partner in 1991. We trained in combat, chee sao, and tui shou every week.

Fabrice Hohn at the left and Georges Saby, 90"s.

It was also in 1991 that I began studying under the first officially recognized “master” of Western Tai Chi Chuan: Erle Montaigue.

Erle Montaigue, the first Westerner to receive a master's degree from Wang Xin-wu, 1985

4 Masters with Erle : Tai Chi, Bagua, Xingyi: 1985

Master Chang Yiu-chun (Yang Shaohou’s nephew and student), who taught the family secrets of ancient Taiji Quan to Erle : 1985

A dedication from Erle Montaigue while he was staying with me and my girlfriend at the time.

In this way, I was able to learn the ancient art of Tai Chi Chuan from its founder, Yang Lu-chan, nommé Hao chuan (relaxed boxing), the art of Dim-mak (vital points), the techniques of Yang Shao Hou (grandson of Yang Luchan), and the “qi disruptions” of Wudang boxing, etc. Most of what Erle Montaigue and his student, Stuart Le Marseny, passed on had, until then, been kept secret.

About three months before his death in 2011, Master Erle Montaigue told me that I was undoubtedly one of the best practitioners of Taijiquan in France.

A few days after his passing, I had a dream in which Erle was correcting my Taijiquan posture, instructing me to widen the lower back in the transverse plane...

Alongside Tai Chi Chuan, so as not to limit myself to a single perspective, I also practiced I chuan (Yi quan), one year of judo and a year or two of Jeet Kune do (art of Bruce Lee) + Kali (short stick), the Shoot wrestling (struggle) and, since 2023, Capoeira with Mestre Parafuso.

Master Su Dongchen

I have participated in several workshops led by Master Su Dong-chen (Taïchi chuan, Pakua chang et hsing i) which have inspired me greatly. I have also taken part in one or more workshops led by the masters Kenji Tokitsu (yiquan ou dachengquan, Taïkiken, whose secret origin is the Taïchi chuan), Philippe Granger (Aikido master and student of Su Dongchen), Jean-Michel Chomet, Serge Augier (a bearer of a Taoist lineage), Yann Kallenbach (master of Taïkiken), Jérôme Kadian (A pioneer of Systema in France) et Naxo de la Encina (multiple world champion in tui shou).

Fabrice Hohn and Naxo de la Encina

Furthermore, I was the first Westerner to practice and teach the spinal wave in Tai Chi Chuan starting in the late 1990s. For proof, see this documentary from 2002, starting at the 16-minute mark and especially from the 22-and-a-half-minute mark : Taï-chi chuan, Art vivant

The amplified spinal wave in the sagittal plane, known as the “Snake Style,” was taught by the Yang family only to the elite.

Credentials:

August 10, 1999: AMCI Instructor Certification – State and Federal Diploma in Internal Chinese Martial Arts issued by the FFwushu, a state-recognized and accredited organization, authorizing me to teach for compensation.

June 1999: First-Level State Sports Instructor Certificate (BEES 1st Level)

Building on the results of my research, these international achievements, and my recognition as an expert by Master G. Saby in 1998, I founded my own school. Its name evolved over the years: first “École des Trois Cercles,” then “École du Phénix,” “École du Taiji,” and finally “École Full Taïchi” (Complete Taiji).

Why “Full Tai Chi”? Because, to my knowledge, no master of any martial art fully adheres to the natural laws of Tai Chi or the yin-yang polarity in their practice.

Specifically, I have identified more than 135 biomechanical ways to generate body movements. Added to this are the 25 different manifestations of energy; that is a total of 10,125 bioenergetic expressions, if we count 3 speeds!!! This can be summarized and categorized into 10 levels.

I have also developed and structured about thirty combat strategies. I call this system:

“the Alchemical Science of Close Combat” or SACR.

Regarding tui shou (hand pushing), I coached my student Olivier Cazal for the French championship. He won a gold medal. I also gave some tips during a private lesson to Lionel Pommier. He won gold medals at the French Championships in 1999 and 2000, was the 2000 European Tui Shou Champion in the “fixed stance” category, and the 2000 European Tui Shou Runner-Up in the “moving stance” category. Since 2023, I have had the opportunity to test my skills against international champions in this discipline...

I have also been able to test my level in Chee sao (sticky hands, nian shou).

Chee sao is one of the primary exercises in Wing Chun (Wing Tsun), one of the martial arts practiced by Bruce Lee (see the films featuring Master Ip Man). Some practitioners of this martial art believe that my level in Chee sao is on par with that of certain masters.

As an aside, Bruce Lee practiced Tai Chi Chuan, particularly with his father... In my opinion, that’s where his explosive power came from.