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January 13, 2015 > Kung Fu magazine: 22 years young and still kicking

Kung Fu magazine: 22 years young and still kicking

By David R. Newman

If youÕre looking for an American success story, look no further than in our own backyard; Fremont, California. This is the home of Kung Fu Tai Chi magazine, founded in 1993 by Thomas and Gigi Oh. The magazine features interviews with top teachers, current events, weapon studies, historical essays, and articles about traditional and pop culture.

Originally called Wushu Kungfu, the magazine was the brainchild of Roger Hagood, who published under the name Pacific Rim Publishing. When he ran out of money and content, the Ohs stepped in to help, and began publishing under their own company, TC Media. Today, Kung Fu Tai Chi is published bimonthly and boasts an international circulation in about 40 countries.

At the time, Thomas Oh was busy with his own company, Tiger Claw, distributing martial arts equipment to local schools. And so, with no publishing or martial arts experience, but with great heart, Gigi Oh left her career in real estate to run the magazine. Initially this seemed like a perfect fit for a Taiwanese native who loved reading wuxia novels (adventures of martial artists in ancient China). Now she could meet the masters of martial arts in real life.

However, the first five years were rough. It was a big challenge. I did really bad for a couple issues. Observing and absorbing everything, Gigi was only getting three hours of sleep a night. But she was up to the challenge. I set a goal: I had to be better every single issue. Today, she credits her love of learning for keeping her going. I have gained so much knowledge. I feel more like a complete person.Ó

At her side for the past 15 years has been Associate Publisher Gene Ching. With a strong martial arts background and a deep love and respect for Asian history and culture, it seems only natural that his path led him here. One of the things about Kung Fu that makes it very special is that itÕs very embedded in Chinese culture, he explains. Its not just fighting techniques. It encompasses art, history, and all these other elements. Along with two designers (Patrick Lugo, Kevin Ho), this elite team of four keep the magazine running smoothly. Each issue also contains contributions from freelance writers.

In 2001 they launched their website, KungfuMagazine.com, which contains its own unique content. And in 2010, the use of social media began including a YouTube channel, where instructional videos that they produce themselves are posted. There is also a digital version of the magazine available through Zinio.

While they acknowledge the power of an online presence, Ching and Gigi say they still prefer print, and think their readers do as well. They take great pride in publishing a work that embraces new developments in martial arts while staying deeply rooted to the past. Because of this mission, and community connections, making it onto the cover of Kung Fu Tai Chi is a highly sought prize by many masters.

With so many newspapers and magazines disappearing these days, its remarkable that Kung Fu Tai Chi has thrived. They attribute their success to loyal readership and position in the heart of the martial arts community. Ching smiles, ÒCalifornia and the whole West Coast is a very fruitful area for martial arts, particularly the Bay Area, because so many Asian immigrants come into this area. There are so many schools. Right here, within a block of our building, there are three martial arts schools. In fact, sometimes we feel we get a little too Bay-Area-centric with this magazine. ThereÕs such a great population of very talented teachers and masters.Ó

Another reason for their success has been the unique relationship with their parent company, Tiger Claw. Thomas has grown the company from selling goods out of the back of his van to a nationwide leader in martial arts gear. TC Media also runs MartialArtsMart.com, a retail outlet for Tiger Claw. For a long time, Tiger Claw was the sole advertiser in the magazine. This helped to fund the operation when times were tough. It also gave Gigi and the staff the freedom to publish content without any outside agenda.

In addition, they have partnered with Tiger Claw to host an annual martial arts championship in San Jose. Now in its seventh year, the event draws participants from around the world. The Ohs have also established a non-profit (the Tiger Claw Foundation) and a consultancy group (Tiger Claw Management Consultants).

Gigi and Ching like to stress that there is something for everyone in their magazine. In fact, as they have come to realize, it is a way of life. And they are still learning. We often say, weÕre barely scratching the surface of this, even after twenty some odd years of publishing.


For more information, contact Kung Fu Tai Chi at (510) 656-5100 or visit online at www.KungFuMagazine.com and www.MartialArtsMart.com. Visit Tiger Claw at www.TigerClaw.com.