Simu Tzyann Hsu

Tzyann Hsu was born in Taiwan. She began her training in Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan at the age of 16. After coming to the United States, she furthered her study of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong, and earned a Teaching Certificate for Tai Chi Chuan from Sifu (Master) Chan Wai Kwan, chief instructor of the Tai Shan Martial Arts Institute in Tai Shan, China.

Over 15 Years of Experience Teaching Tai Chi

Brooklyn Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy, Chief Instructor
Simu's students have won gold, silver and bronze medals in Tai Chi Chuan and Tai Chi Weapons at the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Wong Fei Hung Kung Fu Tournament.
Yee's Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association – Brooklyn Branch, Chief Tai Chi Instructor
Park Slope Senior Citizens Center
New York Memory Center
Boro Park Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare
Pratt Institute
Maimonedes Medical Center
Prospect Hill Senior Services Center
United Senior Citizens Center of Sunset Park
Prospect Park Residences
Staten Island Botanic Garden

Honors, Awards, Press

Proclamation from New York State Assemblyman James F. Brennan for years of hard work and community service bringing Tai Chi to seniors, February 2008
Taught Tai Chi workshop for adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other mental illness as part of a study conducted at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. At the end of the study, participants who practiced Tai Chi showed measurable improvement in hyperactivity, self-control, mood disturbances and cognitive skills. Experts speculate that Tai Chi is helpful because it helps children to focus. In addition, unlike medication, Tai Chi has no adverse side effects. This new research was presented at the American Psychiatric Association's 2010 Annual Meeting and supports past research showing Tai Chi to benefit children with ADHD and anxiety.
ABC World News Tonight: featured teaching Tai Chi to seniors in a special report on spirituality, mind and body by Gigi Stone, February 2006
New York Times/Dealmaker magazine: performed at the launch party for Dealmaker magazine at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Manhattan's Time Warner Center, November 2006. The event was attended by journalists and business moguls, and was written up in the New York Times
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined Simu's class in celebrating World Tai Chi & Qigong Day in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, April 2008. The event was covered by local papers, including The Brooklyn Paper, Park Slope Courier and Brooklyn!! paper
Elderview Talkshow: featured discussing the benefits of Tai Chi for seniors, May 2009
In addition to her expertise in Tai Chi Chuan, Simu has trained in Bagua Zhang, Hsing-I Chuan and Hung Ga Kung Fu. Simu won five gold medals for Bagua Zhang, Hsing-I Chuan and Executive Weapons at the 2006 and 2007 Wong Fei Hung Kung Fu Tournaments.

Demonstrations, Seminars, Workshops

Alzheimer's Foundation of America
Asian Pacific Heritage Month: sponsored by National Grid
New York City Department of Health: East New York Health Fair
Long Island University and Brooklyn Grandparents' Coalition: Fall Resource Fair for Kincaregivers
New York Public Schools: M.S. 88
Berkeley Carroll School

Why Do We Call Her "Simu"?

The traditional title for a teacher of Chinese martial arts is "Sifu," which means "master" or "teacher." However, the literal translation is "teacher-father." "Simu" is generally translated as "teacher's wife," but the literal meaning is "teacher-mother."

As a Tai Chi master, Simu is entitled to use the title "Sifu," meaning "master" or "teacher." However, she prefers the title "Simu" meaning "teacher-mother" because her husband is Hung Ga Kung Fu Master, Sifu Peter Berman Yee. Together they form the head of a traditional martial arts family with one Sifu/Father and one Simu/Mother. So we call her "Simu" even though she is actually our Tai Chi Sifu.

You may also notice that Sifu Berman's Kung Fu students refer to Simu as "Simo." Why do they do this? Hung Ga Kung Fu is from Southern China, where they speak Cantonese, and "Si-mo" is the Cantonese pronunciation. However, Simu speaks Mandarin, so her Tai Chi students use the Mandarin pronunciation, which is "Si-mu."