Su Yu-Chang (蘇昱彰, 1940–2019) — Pachi Tanglang

Su Yu-Chang (蘇昱彰 / Sū Yùzhāng, 1940–2019) was the founder of the Pachi Tanglang International Martial Arts Institute — an organization that took an unusual combined-lineage curriculum (Baji + Pimen Praying Mantis) from Taiwan to Spain, Japan, New York, Venezuela, Malaysia, Switzerland, Norway, Colombia, Argentina, and the Netherlands. Su's curriculum integrated two distinct Republican-era northern traditions:

• 八極拳 Baji — from 劉雲樵 Liu Yunqiao (1909–1992), founder of the Wutan (武壇) school and the principal Baji disseminator outside the mainland.

• 秘門 Pimen Praying Mantis — from 張德奎 Chang Te-Kuei, who preserved one of the rarer lineage transmissions of the mantis art.

Su's significance is two-fold: he was the most internationally-mobile traditional northern teacher of the late 20th century, and he preserved alternative mantis lineage material that did not pass through the Wong Hon Fan / Chiu Chi Man branches — including a 秘門 (Pimen) version of 力劈拳 distinct from the Wei Xiaotang Eight Step version.

What he taught

The Pachi Tanglang curriculum integrated:

• The full Wutan Baji sequence — small frame, big frame, the Six Big Openings — as Liu Yunqiao taught it

• The Pimen Praying Mantis forms preserved through Chang Te-Kuei, including alternative versions of standard mantis sets (力劈, 崩步, etc.)

• The Pigua material that classically partners with Baji

• Weapons across the combined curriculum

The international network

Su's school structure was unusual for a traditional Chinese martial-arts organization: by the time of his death the Pachi Tanglang Institute had established active branches on three continents, with significant centers in:

• Spain (Madrid, where he based himself for many years)

• Japan, Venezuela, Malaysia, Switzerland, Norway, Colombia, Argentina, the Netherlands — formal branches

• New York — North American presence

Place in the lineages

Baji line: Mengcun Wu family → Li Shuwen → Liu Yunqiao (Wutan) → 蘇昱彰 Su Yu-Chang → international

Pimen Mantis line: Chang Te-Kuei → 蘇昱彰 Su Yu-Chang → international

See also

Praying Mantis (螳螂拳) — the style overview

Baji (八極拳) — Su's first lineage

Li Shuwen (李書文) — the Baji master through whom the Wutan line descends

Diaspora — Where Chinese Martial Arts Went

力劈拳 Li Pi Quan — Su's Pimen version is distinct from Wei Xiaotang's Eight Step version

Sources

[1] Su Yu-chang, English Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su_Yu-chang) — biography, lineage, and international institute.

[2] Su Yu-Chang's passing — April 29, 2019, Plum Publications tribute (plumpub.com/kaimen) — obituary and bibliography of published works.