The History of So-Pa Tai Chi Chuan

Compassion for the aggressor. Strength through stillness. Motion with meaning.”

So-Pa is more than a name; it is a principle. A code. A way of moving through the world.

Derived from Sanskrit, So-Pa means compassion for the aggressor. This isn’t softness—it is clarity. It’s knowing when to yield and when to stand firm. It’s the heart of the warrior who does not seek conflict, but who does not flee from truth.

The Lineage of the Way

The practice of Tai Chi Chuan stretches back through thousands of years of medicine, philosophy, martial refinement, and energetic cultivation. At its core, it is a martial art; a soft art, yes, but never empty. Every posture, every motion, has purpose.

So-Pa Tai Chi Chuan draws from the Wu Style lineage, combined with foundational teachings of Shaolin Mok Ga Kung Fu, as passed down through Steve’s teacher, Master Thomas.

This fusion of strength and subtlety laid the groundwork for a lifetime of study, not just in form but in principle. What began as movement became medicine. What began as technique became understanding.

Steve’s journey began not in a temple, but in life’s harder corners where survival meant resilience, and clarity had to be carved from chaos. Over the years, his path led him through rigorous training, countless hours of disciplined practice, and direct experiences that tested both body and spirit.

From inherited teachings to lived truths, the school was eventually entrusted to Steve by Master Thomas himself; a gesture not of ceremony, but of deep recognition.

It was then that So-Pa Tai Chi Chuan took its present form:

A space for sincere seekers.

A place of remembrance, refinement, and return.