Hu YiZhong (胡义忠)
(1923 - 2008)
Hu YiZhong (胡义忠), was born in 1923 in Mencun town. He was one of the youngest students of Wu Xiufeng, and belongs to the 7th generation of Baji inheritors. When he was 10 years-old, Wu HuiQing became his adoptive father. Since then, he joined in the troupe “Yi Sheng Gong”, where he learned martial arts and the traditional drama techniques with Wu HuiQing. Because of his great achievements in the traditional drama, he became a famous actor in the region of Cangzhou
Hu YiZhong learned from Wu HuiQing and then from Wu XiuFeng. These two masters liked Mr Hu very much, so they taught Hu YiZhong very deeply. Mr Hu was very upright and outspoken; he was always willing to fight for justice. When he was 21, he was working in a Japanese tinwork factory in HongQiao district in Tianjin. One day, he protested against the fact that some Japanese people were bullying some Chinese fellow workers, and thus he fought and defeated two Japanese warriors called GangQi (岗崎) and ShanDao (山岛). In 1958, after Wu HuiQing died, Mr. Hu went to HeiLongJiang province (north east of China), to work in HeGang coal mine. Mr Hu moved back to his home town in 1978 after retirement. During the period in North-east, he accepted a lot of students. After he got 70 years old, he went to south of China, such as Guangxi and Hunan, he continued to accept some students and to teach Baji in these regions.
Hu YiZhong learned from Wu HuiQing and then from Wu XiuFeng. These two masters liked Mr Hu very much, so they taught Hu YiZhong very deeply. Mr Hu was very upright and outspoken; he was always willing to fight for justice. When he was 21, he was working in a Japanese tinwork factory in HongQiao district in Tianjin. One day, he protested against the fact that some Japanese people were bullying some Chinese fellow workers, and thus he fought and defeated two Japanese warriors called GangQi (岗崎) and ShanDao (山岛). In 1958, after Wu HuiQing died, Mr. Hu went to HeiLongJiang province (north east of China), to work in HeGang coal mine. Mr Hu moved back to his home town in 1978 after retirement. During the period in North-east, he accepted a lot of students. After he got 70 years old, he went to south of China, such as Guangxi and Hunan, he continued to accept some students and to teach Baji in these regions.
 Hu YiZhong in his late years |
 Hu YiZhong, 83 years old, still practicing the 'scorpion crawl' |
Hu YiZhong died in December 2008 at the age of 85. In his hometown of MengCun, Hu YiZhong has supported some work with Master Wu Lianzi, such as some communications with the students of Wu Lianzhi, Baji workshops in MengCun and some training courses for Baji players and amateurs from China and abroad. Hu YiZhong is one of the editor for the book “traditional Chinese martial art official taolus——BajiQuan ». In the book “Wu family KaiMen Baji” written by Wu Lianzhi, which has been published in Japan, over one hundred of practicing photos of Mr Hu’s have been included into this book. Mr. Hu had contributed with great efforts to the development and promotion of Baji and his memory will stay in the heart of MengCun people for eternity.
