---
title: 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

<PageRef space="notes" slug="praying-mantis" text="Praying Mantis (螳螂拳) — the style overview" />

<PageRef space="notes" slug="baji" text="Baji (八極拳) — Su's first lineage" />

<PageRef space="notes" slug="li-shuwen" text="Li Shuwen (李書文) — the Baji master through whom the Wutan line descends" />

<PageRef space="notes" slug="diaspora" text="Diaspora — Where Chinese Martial Arts Went" />

<PageRef space="notes" slug="li-pi-quan" text="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](https://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](https://www.plumpub.com/kaimen/2019/su-yu-changs-passing-april-29-2019/)) — obituary and bibliography of published works.