A Registered Charity

Peter Lambiris

Peter’s history in Tai Chi began in 1977, when he attended a month-long introductory class in the art Taoist Tai Chi. It proved to be the beginning of a 30-year relationship with the teachings of Master Moy, Lin-Shin.

Doug Nettleton

Douglas A. Nettleton was born in 1952 in Toronto. Douglas’ interest in martial arts began at the age of twelve when he was introduced to judo.  His judo training was interrupted by his studies and he graduated from University of Toronto in 1975 with a BSc in Computer Science. 

Subsequent to graduation, he held a variety of progressively senior data processing positions with several different companies.  Since 1987 he has been a self-employed computer consultant.

From 1985 to 2005, Ben was a Tai Chi and Lokhupbafa instructor in many of the Greater Toronto Area Taoist Tai Chi Locations. Ben became the treasurer of the Toronto Tai Chi Association and had been involved in the establishing and maintaining of many successful Tai Chi locations in Toronto. He was involved in training beginner instructors as well as higher level instructors.

In the nineties, Ben was appointed as treasurer of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada. He took the Taoist Tai Chi Centre in Orangeville, Ontario out of an over-$100,000 yearly deficit to profitability within two years. In 1995, Ben was leading instructor of the quarterly Tai Chi Workshop Week in the Orangeville centre for 4 years.

            When Master Moy established the Gei Pang Lok Hup Academy in the nineties, Ben was appointed Founding Director and later elected as President, a post he held for over 10 years.

Montreal, June 2nd, 1996.
Left to right: Ben’s parents Shui-Hing  and James Chung,
Master Moy Lin-Shin, Ben.

In late 2005, together with Dr. Jess Goodman, Doug Nettleton, Peter Lambiris and four other instructors, Ben established the Canadian Tai Chi Academy. The Academy is totally run by volunteers, having taught over 300 students in its first year in six locations in Ontario.

Ben received no financial compensation for his contributions to Tai Chi over the years, but he has made numerous donations to the organizations of which he was and is a member. 

Ben lives in Toronto, owning and operating a book binding company.

Master Moy Lin-Shin

Ben Chung

In the late seventies Ben’s brother Eugene, who practiced Taoist Tai Chi in Winnipeg, Canada, came to Toronto to visit his tai chi master, Moy Lin-Shin. Ben went with Eugene to observe the tai chi practice and was impressed with Mr. Moy, a skilful but humble Tai Chi Master. In 1982, Ben decided to learn this form of Tai Chi. Ben studied continuously and directly under Master Moy until Mr. Moy's death in 1998.

        During his first full-time employment in 1975, he was introduced to Tai Chi by one of his colleagues as a “shortcut” to the Black Belt grading in judo.  After a month of Tai Chi training and meeting Master Moy Lin-Shin, he lost interest in judo and concentrated on Tai Chi.

After a year and a half of fairly serious training, he not too wisely gave up Tai Chi practise to pursue his career, begin work on an MBA, get married and start a family.  Six years later in 1983, chronically sick and underweight, he returned to his Tai Chi training with Master Moy.  Initially, participating in 6 classes a week including Saturday morning and Sunday afternoons with Mr. Moy, his health and general level of energy quickly improved.  As he went from just over six feet and a very gaunt 138 pounds to a slightly better 155 pounds, Master Moy commented: “Another 20 pounds and you’ll be fine.”

From 1983 until Mr. Moy’s death in 1998, Doug studied continuously and directly under Master Moy.  The training included Tai Chi, Sword, Sabre, Lokhupbafa, Xing-I, meditation, sutra chanting and Taoist philosophy.

Since the only way to repay Master Moy for the gift of his regained health, was to instruct / help others, i.e. “pay it forward”, Doug taught Tai Chi and Lokhupbafa under Master Moy’s guidance and direction in several of the Greater Toronto Area Taoist Tai Chi Locations.  He also served in various administrative capacities including Founding Director and Treasurer of the Gei Pang Lok Hup Academy.

In late 2005, Ben Chung approached Doug, who was quietly practising with a small group of fellow Tai Chi enthusiasts and along with his wife Sherrill teaching a group of seniors in a retirement home in Mississauga, to see if he was interested in forming an Academy for like minded individuals to come together.  This led to the establishment of the Canadian Tai Chi Academy.  The Academy is totally run by volunteers, and taught more than 300 students in its first year in six locations in Ontario.

Doug has received no financial compensation for his contributions to Tai Chi and related arts over the years. 

Peter was Branch Leader and Intermediate Instructor in the Brampton and later Etobicoke branches of the Taoist Tai Chi Society.  He also became a Lokhupbafa instructor in the Toronto region. In the late 90’s he was elected co-president of the Toronto Branch of the Taoist Tai Chi Society and, among many other things, was responsible for organising workshops for instructors and regular members. He continued to be an active member in the Taoist Tai Chi Society until 1999.

In late 2005, Peter together with Dr. Jess Goodman, Doug Nettleton, Ben Chung and four other instructors established the Canadian Tai Chi Academy. As is the case with all our instructors and members, Peter receives no financial compensation for his activities with the Academy.

Moy Lin-Shin was a Taoist monk who studied Tai Chi, Qigong, Lok Hup, Hsin-I and Bagua in Hong Kong. After emigrating to Canada, he began teaching martial arts in a small studio.

When he found that his students needed to regain their health more than they needed learn how to fight, he changed his teaching to better serve that need. He modified the Yang Style Tai Chi 108-move set by emphasizing turning, stretching, rising and falling. In addition, he borrowed principles from BaGua, Hsing-I and I-chuan to modify the set and supplemental exercises.

Master Moy was always attentive to the needs of each student. He would change his methods to suit the students’ needs, paying close attention to students with health problems. The instructors at the Academy aim to follow his example, helping each student follow his or her best path to the common goal of health improvement.

Master Moy passed away in 1998. 

To see biographies for Ben, Doug and Peter, please scroll down the page.