The Synthesis of Internal Power and Tactical Logic
Tai Nei Chuan
A specialized Libano-Chinese internal martial art bridging the fluid mechanics of Tai Nui Kung Fu, the structural precision of Shorinji Tetsu Kempo, and the tactical geometry of the Lebanese Byzantine Hakam. Powered by the Tarika Hudu-iyya — The Way of Calmness.
World Seat: Lebanon · Founded by Sijo Michel Elias Hawi · 10th Dan
DiscoverThe Founder
Sijo Michel Elias Hawi
"Tai Nei Chuan is the culmination of a half-century journey that began in Lebanon in 1968. By bridging the 'Relaxed Iron' of the Shorinji Tetsu Kempo with the fluid 'No-Mind' response of the Way of Calmness, we have created a system that transcends mere combat."
Sijo Michel Elias Hawi is a pioneering Lebanese martial arts master and a 60-year veteran of the international martial arts community. His journey began in 1968 in Beirut, Lebanon, where he joined the International Black Belts Association (IBBA), an institution registered with the Lebanese Ministry of Youth and Sports (No. 65/D), where he now serves as President.
He earned his Sifu rank in Tai Nui Kung Fu under Master Jean El Khoury, formed a historic alliance in 1974 with Shihan Albert C. Church of Shorinji Tetsu Kempo Kamishin Ryu, and held leadership roles as founder of the Lebanese and Arab Wushu Federations and Secretary General of the European Wushu Federation (1994-2000). His technical core bridges the fluid mechanics of Tai Nui Kung Fu with the explosive precision of the Shaolin Iron Fist method, refined by the tactical geometry of the Hakam, the Lebanese Byzantine Sword and Buckler tradition.
Beyond physical mechanics, the Founder integrated a deep spiritual dimension into his art. The "Nei" (Internal) aspect of Tai Nei Chuan is rooted in Hesychasm, the mystical contemplative practice of the Eastern Christian Church Fathers. By applying principles of stillness and watchful attention (Nepsis) to movement, the style transcends traditional combat, becoming a form of internal prayer and non-violent harmony.
The Legacy
A Half-Century of Mastery
Over six decades of training, teaching, and evolving a martial arts system from Beirut to the global stage.
Certified Grand Masters across the USA, UK, Canada, Greece, Sweden, Armenia, Cyprus, and Lebanon carry the lineage forward.
Lebanon stands as the permanent World Seat and sole source of senior authority for Tai Nei Chuan, anchoring the global lineage.
The Foundational Timeline
IBBA founded in Lebanon. Michel Elias Hawi joins and begins training in Tai Nui Kung Fu in Beirut.
Received the title of Sifu 2nd Dan of Tai Nui Kung Fu under Master Jean El Khoury.
Historic alliance with Shihan Albert C. Church (USA), connecting IBBA to Shorinji Tetsu Kempo Kamishin Ryu and the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai.
Due to Lebanon's Civil War, IBBA establishes European Headquarters in Athens, Greece, spreading the Libano-Chinese influence westward.
Establishes the first Kung Fu school in Larnaca, Cyprus, as Regional Director for the Middle and Near East.
Co-founded the Lebanese Wushu Kung Fu Federation as Technical Director.
Appointed Secretary General of the European Wushu Federation, governing Wushu across 27 European countries (1994-2000).
Official birth of Tai Nei Chuan as a formally synthesized martial art, crystallizing over 50 years of evolution.
10th Dan lineage closure: formal recognition by Soke Ted Petit, present inheritor of the Shorinji Tetsu Kempo art.
Lebanon officially declared the permanent World Seat for Tai Nei Chuan.
The Tri-Pillar Synthesis
The Three Pillars
By combining three distinct traditions, Tai Nei Chuan creates a triangulated identity — a complete system that is both combative and mystical, both ancient and modern.
Tai Nui Kung Fu
The Physical PillarThe source of fluid power and traditional Chinese movement. Tai Nui Kung Fu provides the grounded hip rotation flow, agile footwork, and dynamic rooting that form the physical base. Its circular, continuous energy cultivates the body as a vessel of adaptive, flowing strength through Taoist Yoga integration for balance, self-defense forms, and energy cultivation.
Hakam & Iron Fist
The Tactical PillarThe fusion of Lebanese Byzantine Sword and Buckler geometry with the explosive structural precision of Shorinji Tetsu Kempo. The Hakam dictates movement and response: one hand acts as the Receptive Shield (Buckler) to neutralize and sense force via circular parries, while the other delivers Circular Flowing Strikes (Sword) with the hardened power of the Iron Fist method through angular efficiency and shortest-path precision.
Hesychasm
The Spiritual PillarThe mystical contemplative tradition of the Eastern Christian Church Fathers. Unlike Taoist or Buddhist internal arts, Tai Nei Chuan's Nei (internal) foundation uses the Prayer of the Heart and stillness as the source of internal power. Through Nepsis (watchful attention), the practitioner achieves Heart-Mind Stillness, transforming combat into a state of internal prayer and non-violent harmony.
Tarika Hudu-iyya
The Spiritual Core
The Way of Calmness (Tarika Hudu-iyya) serves as the pre-combative heart of the system. Rooted in Hesychast principles of stillness, it cultivates Heart-Mind Stillness to enhance vision, attention, response, anticipation, sensing, and No-Mind (Mushin/Nepsis) reactions, silencing fear or aggression for heightened opponent structure sensing.
In Tai Nei Chuan, Qi (life force) is not self-cultivated but a Divine Gift received through a Pure Heart via the Theology of Asking — "Ask, and it will be given" (Matthew 7:7). Zikkir, the constant remembrance and repetition of Christ's name, purifies the heart as a vessel, syncing movement, breath, and prayer into rhythmic flow states akin to a monk's prayer rope.
"The heart stills like a mountain lake, Nepsis watches without ripple. Iron bends but does not break, calm mirrors the Dao's empty gate."
The Unity of Three — Movement, Breath, and Zikkir — occupies the intellect with mechanics, freeing the heart for resonance without visualization. The breath bridges physical and spiritual acts, remaining soft and internal for energy stability, while the vessel of the Pure Heart is perpetually cleansed and filled with Divine Grace.
Wu Wei — Effortless Action
The Effortless Strike
The ultimate goal of Tai Nei Chuan is the Effortless Strike. This is not achieved through raw muscular force, but through a total unification of the mystical and the physical. When a practitioner operates in this state, the transition from neutral presence to decisive control happens without friction or visible struggle.
Power emerges from Relaxed Iron mechanics — arms stay soft for speed and sensitivity during defense, then channel full body weight into dense, iron-like impact upon contact. Rotational force via sliding angular steps and full-body centrifuge-like motion breaks the "arrow" of attacks through structural dissolution, not clash. A strike that feels light to the giver but heavy and devastating to the receiver.
Ancestral Lineage
The Lineage Masters
The Succession
Three Generations of Masters
Prof. Albert C. Church D.D.
1930 - 19807th Generation · Head Family by SuccessionFormed the pivotal 1974 international alliance that linked IBBA to the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai and Shorinji Tetsu Kempo, anchoring the lineage in authentic Japanese tradition.
Prof. Jean Ch. El Khoury PhD
1943 - 201612th Generation · Head Family by SuccessionAwarded 7th Dan in 1974 by a Japanese governing body, an extremely rare distinction outside Japan at that era. Trained Michel Elias Hawi in the fluid mechanics of Tai Nui Kung Fu from 1968.
Michel Elias Hawi
1957 - PresentD.WCPH - M.S.EE - M.S.P.M13th Generation · Head Family by SuccessionPresent Head Family and Founder of the Tai Nei Chuan Libano-Chinese Martial Art Method and Discipline. Synthesized Tai Nui Kung Fu, Shorinji Tetsu Kempo, and Hesychasm into a single internal martial art.
Global Lineage Tree
International Branches
The Tai Nei Chuan Global Lineage Tree represents the transition of the Libano-Chinese internal art from its founder to the international community. Each branch is led by recognized Grand Masters certified by the Lebanon World Seat.
United States
Soke John Stover, Sijo Joe Martin, Soke Darrell Collins, Soke Ted Petit, SiGung Victor Burns, SiFu Dwayne Howe
Greece & Balkans
Sigung Lambros Stamoulis, Sigung Dimitri Athanasiou, Sifu Georges Perialis, Sifu Apostolis Kapsalis, Shihan Nikos Pavlidis
Cyprus
Sifu Kyriakos Charalambos, Sifu Andreas Fotiou, Sifu George Nicolaou
United Kingdom
Sigung Raymond Smith
Canada
Sifu Hussein Damergi
Lebanon & Armenia
Sifu Elie Bitar, Sifu Miled Ghantous, Sifu Naoum Saadeh, Sifu Hagop Fesdikjian, Sifu Razmig Azezian
Global Transmission
From Lebanon to the World
Tai Nei Chuan is a complete system — both combative and mystical. It is carried forward by a global council of Grand Masters who preserve this unique Mediterranean-Asian bridge for future generations.
The Grand Master's Charge
As a recognized representative of the Lebanon World Seat, each Master commits to the following oaths:
The Preservation of Stillness
The Master shall never teach the physical mechanics of the art without first establishing the foundation of Tarika Hudu-iyya. Every student must understand that power is born of Heart-Mind Stillness and that the Way of Calmness is the only path to the Effortless Strike.
The Integrity of the Hakam
The Master is the guardian of the Byzantine Geometry. They must reject the "clash" of force against force, instead upholding the fluid relationship of the Shield and the Sword. They must ensure that Relaxed Iron never devolves into rigid tension.
The Honor of the World Seat
The Master acknowledges the Lebanon World Seat as the sole source of senior authority. They commit to maintaining the international standards of excellence and ethics established by the Founder, ensuring the lineage remains unbroken and pure.
"Our goal is the Effortless Strike — a victory of spirit and structure over raw aggression. With the establishment of the World Seat in Lebanon, we ensure this legacy continues to serve our global community of practitioners."
— Sijo Michel Elias Hawi, Founder of Tai Nei Chuan
Contact
Begin Your Path
Whether you seek to train, to learn, or simply to understand, we welcome your inquiry. The door to Tai Nei Chuan is open to all who approach with sincerity and respect.