Zhang Luping

Zhang Luping (; 1945-1998) was a Chinese martial artist and mathematician born in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. He was best known in China for his exceptional skill at tai chi's push hands, and for an incident in his hometown in which he accidentally broke a weightlifting champion’s forearm during an arm wrestling match. He was a student of Cai Hongxiang , Wang Ziping, MA. In 1998, Zhang defeated several local martial artists in Pittsburgh, PA and was invited to teach seminars at the Zhang Sanfeng Festival at the Tai Chi Farm owned by late master Jou Tsung Hwa. He held seminars all across the U.S. and judged many U.S. competitions, including the Houston 1990 United States National Chinese Martial Arts Competition. He was a Special Master for Taste of China and many similar martial arts events. He was twice pictured on the cover of Tai Chi International Magazine, as well as Inside Kung Fu magazine and the Pa Kua Zhang Newsletter. The Australian magazine Tai Chi Combat and Health called Master Zhang the "Real Thing" In Tai Chi for Dummies, author Therese Ikoian wrote, "The late tai chi Master Zhang Lu Ping knew the spiraling technique well. Manny Fuentes had the 'privilege of being thrown around by him'. No matter how well Manny thought that he'd prepared a pending movement, he said that he was moved as easily as if he were a leaf, not a 175-pound man! By the time Zhang manifested the spiraling force up into his arms and hands, it contained an irresistible momentum."

Zhang died of stomach cancer on April 5, 1998 in Amherst, Massachusetts. He received treatment there and in California for his cancer, which he felt was caused by his poor diet — mostly potatoes — during the Cultural Revolution. His son Huan Zhang teaches tai chi and other martial arts in the Boston area, has published numerous articles in martial arts publications in the US and China as well as a book on tai chi in China, and in the US has collaborated on textbooks and research on tai chi and health. In 2018 Huan Zhang wrote a biographical article titled "In Memory of my Father, Zhang Luping" for China’s leading martial arts magazine, Martial Spirit (武魂).