In 1998 I met Madame Gao Fu and began studying Chen Taijiquan. Gao Fu single handedly changed the Tai Chi landscape of Seattle. With rare exception every teacher here studied with her, and in turn our students. Chen Tai Chi took root in our town, which has become one of the US hubs of great Chen.

Gao Fu was an amazingly generous and kind teacher but also very strict, especially with those of us who were teachers. We would barely step left, raise and lower our arms when she would say, "stop!" And correct us to the most minute detail. Everyone remembers how she put our hands on her own body to feel what was happening on the inside of the movements. It was a revolutionary teaching style - especially for a Chinese woman to have such hands on in this way.

She did many workshops and classes, but I primarily studied privately and semi privately with her. I had met Feng Zi Qiang, her teacher, in 1991 in China and had a tape of that trip and meeting as well a couple of photos of then, so we really hit it off. Gao Fu was a revelation to me, a small powerful woman. She showed me who I might become, both as student and teacher, through Chen Taijiquan.

There are years of wonderful memories of her and our training, but also with her socially. She had spunk and enjoyed having a good time. One of my favorites was of her carving her first pumpkin at my traditional pumpkin carving party, that year at my house on Whidbey Island, October 1998.

By the way, if you are ever at Seward Park, there is a bench we all bought in her honor. It looks right at Mt. Ranier, between 2 cottonwood trees.

I wrote this article in 2005 for Tai Chi Magazine for their tribute after her death: One Movement