Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Student of Kou Lien-ying of Guang Ping tai chi, UC Berkeley Judo team, Transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mehesh, Yang tai chi with Master Weiqi, and disciple of Wu tai chi madter Dr. Li Liqun.
Dr. Jonathan Shear 1940-2025
May 2025 I was saddened by the news of a former Professor of Philosophy, Dr. Jonathan Shear had passed away. He was more of just a professor from VCU, but also a teacher of Transcendental Meditation ™TM”, Guang Ping Tai Chi, Yang Tai Chi and eventually Wu Tai Chi. John was born in lived in Bethesda Maryland in the early part of his life. He went to Brandeis University and got his Bachelor’s in Mathematics. He eventually went to UC Berkely in the 1960’s and was part of the counter-culture movement that was involved in the Spiritual revolution. This is where he trained with Tai Chi master Kou Lien-Ying of Guang Ping tai chi. Jon was also a member of the UC Berkely Judo team. As a philosophy major, he became passionate about the teaching from India like Maharishi Mahesh’s TM program. Jon became close to this group and became an instructor. Eventually he went to Richmond Virginia in the 1980’s. I did not met him until early 1990’s at VCU when he taught a course on East and West philosophical traditions. I was later told by a graduate student from China that a Chinese wushu and Tai chi master was teaching at parks and recreation. There Jon and his wife Pat were students. Coach Weiqi first taught the 24 form and some Yang style sword. Coach Weiqi was very heavy on the basics for the first two years and taught not only the Yang style basics in the modern way of the 24 form, but also the “Original authentic” Tai chi of her teacher Fu Zhongwen. Coach Weiqi eventually taught us the Yang long form and competition in the USA and China. Jon was always happy to share the variations of the Guang Ping Tai Chi he learned from Kou Yien-ling. Our team was able to visit Fu Zhongwen in 1994 In 1996 on visit to Shanghai, Jon was able to meet Dr. Li Liqun who was training next to our hotel. They became great friends and brought Dr. Li to live and train in Richmond Virginia. A group formed in Richmond and Jon, Pat, Bruce, Robert, and a few other became lineage holders. Jon was active in the Chinese martial arts competitions and push hands scene.
Student of Kou Lien-ying of Guang Ping tai chi, UC Berkeley Judo team, Transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mehesh, Yang tai chi with Master Weiqi, and disciple of Wu tai chi madter Dr. Li Liqun.
Dr. Jonathan Shear 1940-2025
May 2025 I was saddened by the news of a former Professor of Philosophy, Dr. Jonathan Shear had passed away. He was more of just a professor from VCU, but also a teacher of Transcendental Meditation ™TM”, Guang Ping Tai Chi, Yang Tai Chi and eventually Wu Tai Chi. John was born in lived in Bethesda Maryland in the early part of his life. He went to Brandeis University and got his Bachelor’s in Mathematics. He eventually went to UC Berkely in the 1960’s and was part of the counter-culture movement that was involved in the Spiritual revolution. This is where he trained with Tai Chi master Kou Lien-Ying of Guang Ping tai chi. Jon was also a member of the UC Berkely Judo team. As a philosophy major, he became passionate about the teaching from India like Maharishi Mahesh’s TM program. Jon became close to this group and became an instructor. Eventually he went to Richmond Virginia in the 1980’s. I did not met him until early 1990’s at VCU when he taught a course on East and West philosophical traditions. I was later told by a graduate student from China that a Chinese wushu and Tai chi master was teaching at parks and recreation. There Jon and his wife Pat were students. Coach Weiqi first taught the 24 form and some Yang style sword. Coach Weiqi was very heavy on the basics for the first two years and taught not only the Yang style basics in the modern way of the 24 form, but also the “Original authentic” Tai chi of her teacher Fu Zhongwen. Coach Weiqi eventually taught us the Yang long form and competition in the USA and China. Jon was always happy to share the variations of the Guang Ping Tai Chi he learned from Kou Yien-ling. Our team was able to visit Fu Zhongwen in 1994 In 1996 on visit to Shanghai, Jon was able to meet Dr. Li Liqun who was training next to our hotel. They became great friends and brought Dr. Li to live and train in Richmond Virginia. A group formed in Richmond and Jon, Pat, Bruce, Robert, and a few other became lineage holders. Jon was active in the Chinese martial arts competitions and push hands scene.
