About Ryan Craig
Ryan Craig is a dedicated practitioner and teacher; he has over 3 decades of experience in martial arts.
He is a disciple of Nabil Ranne who is a 12th generation Chen Taijiquan successor and the president of the Chen-Style Taijiquan Network. Nabil is a disciple of Chen Yu, the only child of Chen Zhaokui and grandson of Chen Fake. Ryan is of the 13th generation of the Chen family clan and has been accepted by the Chen family in Beijing as a disciple of his Shifu, Nabil Ranne.
Before committing to Chen Style Taijiquan, Ryan spent a decade studying a South East Asian style of martial arts where he received his Red sash (junior Master). Next, he discovered Chen Style Taijiquan to which he still practices and teaches today.
He studied for many years under the late Shifu Michael Rosario Graycar (student of Ren Gang Yi) where he received his previous teaching certification. Ryan has worked with high level teachers in the past such as Chen Xiaowang, Chen Xiaoxing, Chen Bing, Chen Ziqiang, Ren Guang Yi, and Greg Pinney.
Coaches
Caleb Arnold
Caleb Arnold has over a decade of martial arts training including studying aikido at Denver Aikikai, affiliated with Aikido World Headquarters through the California Aikido Association. In 2016 they began training seriously in the Chen lineage of Taiji under Ryan Craig. They continue to maintain a dedicated practice in the Chen Zhaokui/Chen Yu line. They currently teach a beginner level taiji class in West Philly on Thursday mornings at Everybody Moves.
Ted Brodkin
Ted Brodkin began studying Yang style Taijiquan in 2009, and switched to studying Chen style Taijiquan in 2011. He has studied and practiced Chen style continuously since then, primarily with the late Sifu Michael Rosario-Graycar from 2011- 2013, and then Ryan Craig from 2013 on. He has also attended multiple workshops given by high level Chen teachers, including Ren Guang Yi, Chen Xiaoxing, Chen Ziqiang, and Nabil Ranné. Ted is a physician in Philadelphia.
Ben Wright
Ben has been studying Taijiquan since 2015. He first studied the Chen Xiaowang lineage of Taijiquan for over four years under Aretha Knight and David Dixon. In 2020, Ben started training the Chen Zhaokui/Chen Yu lineage under Ryan. Over the years, he has attended workshops with many notable Chen style teachers such as Chen Xiaoxing, Chen Ziqiang, Chen Bing, Ren Guang Yi, and Nabil Ranne. He offers beginner's Saturday classes at Willow Grove Chen Taiji.
