07/23/2024
Coach Joe's full Bio
A uniquely qualified Master of Wushu and Taijiquan teaches in the heart of Virginia at Richmond Wushu. Jian Hua Zhou is known as ‘Coach Joe’ to his students who practice at the Randolph Community Center Gym or outside during good weather at The Carillon , located at Byrd Park in Richmond.
Coach Joe trains at the individual’s level whether it is the beginner with no previous martial arts training, intermediate, or advanced. Many accomplished Wushu practitioners drop in occasionally on Coach’s class to review or tighten up on a performance routine. His ability to train individuals based on their weak and strong points is demonstrated by the wide range of students, teenagers, college students, professionals, all dedicated to receiving the highest degree of martial arts training in the area. There are many schools, but the level of knowledge and wonderful teaching skills cannot compare.
Coach Joe began his training at the age of nine with Master Chang (Chang Chi Han), practicing traditional Changquan in the Shanghi parks early in the morning. Stretching, kicking, punching, weapon play, Northern and Shaolin forms were practiced keeping with Master Chang’s family tradition.
After school practice was held at the Martial Arts Society (Ching Wu). Known for its famous martial arts teachers from all over China, a rich variety of styles where taught. Taijiquan, Praying Mantis, Drunken Boxing, Lost Track, Mind and Will Boxing, Eight Diagram Palm, and Southern Fist. Masters teaching there were Wang Ziping, Sun Lu Tang, Yang Chen Fu, Wu Chien Chuan, Gu Lu Xiang, Fu Zhong Wen, and Fu Zhen Song.
The Ching Wu instructors were well known for their dedication to preserving the lineage they represented. Xingyiquian (Mind and Will Boxing), Drunken Boxing, and San Shou became Joe’s specialties.
Joe studied Xingyiquian extensively under Master Wong Tsou Wing, who had concentrated all of his studies on this one style to obtain the highest degree of skill. Joe teaches Xingyi techniques at Richmond Wushu today, explaining the body mechanics and how to deliver explosive power. The stepping patterns and short attacks are a great complement to the more expansive wushu movements.
Another influence on Joe’s training was Tsou Jin Kan, a master of Ziujiuquan (Drunken Boxing). The training demanded great flexibility to perform the acrobatic tornado falls, butterfly kicks, twist falls, kip ups, aerials and kicks and strikes from odd angles. Drunken Boxing, a style uses explosive attacks from deceptive unbalanced poise, is a Shaolin treasure. Only the most advanced student can perform this eye-catching form.
Hard core fighting was taught to Joe by Wang Pei Kwen. Body conditioning, Chi-na grappling, Shuai throwing, bone smashing, vocal training, consciousness needed to win, and the mind of the predator were Wang’s specialty.
Joe’s exceptional abilities were recognized. He was chosen to be on the Wushu Team at the physical education school in his district of Shanghai. Wushu is the national sport of china with thousands of competitors, rival districts and living masters. In weekly performances (martial art schools, government, public demonstrations), Joe performed standard kicks, advanced kicks, Long Fist, broadsword, spear, two man fighting, two man weapon fighting, nine section whip and PiQua (continuous changing fist style).
Joe’s list of competition awards grew at Shanghai Competitions.
• 1972 First Place - Spear
• 1973 First Place – Long Fist
• 1979 Champion of Long Fist
o Second Place Spear
o Third Place Broadsword
o All Around Champion of Shanghai
Joe traveled to the sacred mountains of China while performing at national competitions. His witness of many other forms of martial arts as performed by his competitors inspired him. He now had the knowledge of discipline required to compete and win.
In 1979 Joe was accepted into the Shanghai Physical Education College, the only college at the time in mainland China which certifies a Master of Wushu. It was a great honor for Joe because the school only accepted a few students a year, in a nation of a billion people.
Wushu Studies include
• Standard Wushu Forms
• International Wushu Forms
• Basic training and warm-up exercises
• Wushu History
• General physical conditioning
• Anatomy
• Psychology
• Biology
• Biochemistry
• Physics
• Sports Statistics
• Sport Chemistry
• Wushu Theory
• First Aide
• Sport Injury and Rehabilitation
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Tournament Organization
• Judging and Advanced Head Judge
• Yearly registration of certifications and licensees
College training was with the most famous martial arts masters in China. In addition, Joe studied with champions from other styles. Some of his most notable teachers were Madame Wong Ju Rong, Chen Chou Pei, and Cai Long Yu.
Madame Wong Ju Rong was Joe’s Advisor, she was the famous daughter of Cha Chuan Master Wang Ziping. Madame Wong grew up at the Ching Wu (the martial arts society previously mentioned) and was trained by some of the best sword masters in the country.
Her teachers were
• Ma Yu Liang
• Hu Hing Ha – daughter of Wu Chien Chuan
• Sun Jian Yun – daughter of Sun Lu Tang
She taught Joe
• Standard Taiji forms
• 24, 48, and 42 competition routine
• Traditional Yang Style
• How to Judge and correct Yang, Wu, Sun and Chen routines
• Fan Ze – arm swing fist
• Tong Bei – apes back style
• Baguachang – eight diagram palm
• Ditang – rolling shadow fist
Chen Chou Pei, a student of Chen Xiao Wong, 19th generation Chen Family, taught
• Traditional Chen Style first routine
• Yi Lu
• Pao Chui second routine – cannon fist
• Chen Styl Fa Jing – emitting power
• Chang Su Chin – silk pulling drill
• Tui Shou – push hands method
• 18th generation Chen Style
• Feng Zhiquiang
• Theories and Rules of Taiji
Cai Long Yu was Joe’s teacher and Mentor. He was a famous World War II ring fighter. During that time he stood up against foreign imperialist. The Russian, Japanese, and American boxers were defeated by a skinny 19 year old Chinese boy. He was China’s dragon long before Bruce Lee, his name actually meaning ‘Dragon’. Through his connections with existing Wushu masters, he brought a resurgence of Wushu pride back to the nation. He became the head of the Wushu Research Institute in Shanghai and a top actor in the famous Chinese Theater. He was the top official at all Wushu events National and International, and had a permanent license to judge and teach. He taught
• Long Fist – including rare styles
• Cha Quan
• Zha Style
• Pauquan
• Hongquan,
• Shaolin
• Hua Quan – spinning flower fist
Joe’s student teaching included
• Wushu Courses
• Taiji Theory and Training
Joe’s research topic was how Wushu affected the heart and its arteries and veins. His studies conclude that the cardiovascular workout from Wushu helped to develop a strong heart. His studies also showed significant improvements in heart functions of elderly people who practiced Taiji. Joe designed an exercise program based on pulse rates and pressure that would improve heart condition and restore veins and arteries ability to pump blood to the extremities. This study is found in his book, “Electrocardiograph Analysis of Outstanding Players of Long Boxing, Southern Fist and Taiji”.
Joe was well known in China for his high jumping ability, and so naturally he researched the mechanics of different jumps and kicks in Wushu. He designed exercises to increase the length and height of jumps which are featured in his book, “Mechanical Analysis of Wushu Jumps”.
Joe Graduated 1988, with a Masters Degree in Physical Education from Shanghai Physical Education University. He was one of two people to ever receive this degree under Cai Long Yu.
Joe’s other accomplishments are
• Permanent license to teach and referee in China from National Sports Administration
• Member of the Chinese Physical Science Society since 1989
• “Collection of the Culture of Chinese Rehabilitative Medicine” – Joe’s book, Nanjing press, 1991
• Head Coach – Shanghai Physical Education University
o 1990 – Shanghai City Tournament – First Place
o 1991, 1992 First Place Wushu Team of 6 boys and 6 girls all receiving top honors in Spear, Broadsword, Long boxing, and Taiji
• 1991 National Judge of Long Fist, Traditional events, Taiji, and weapons
In 1994 Joe arrived in Washington D.C. and worked in Chinatown. He was invited to Richmond, Virginia by Master He Wei Chi to assist the Taiji and Wushu team. Joe taught classes in
• 24 Yang style Taiji
• 42 Competition Taiji
• Compulsory Chen Taiji
• 42 Compulsory Sword
• Ditangquan
• Baguazhang
• Xingyiquan
• Mitsung Lohan Quan
• Compulsory Longfist
• Broadsword
• Staff
The benefits of his teaching helped the He Wei Chi Foundation Wushu team receive 6 gold, 8 silver, and 4 bronze medals in the Shanghai International Wushu Festival.
The same year saw numerous top placings and metals from the International Kuoshu tournament.
Coach Joe currently teaches as Head Coach for Richmond Wushu, which in 2000 was organized by a well known Taiji and Kung Fu instructor, Mike Shea.
Send a message to learn more
