About Us

Tosa Tai Chi was founded in 2007 by Michael Mullooly, Gus Gomez and Kathy Heath, three experienced martial artists, who shared a vision of creating a friendly tai chi experience that would harmonize the body, mind, and spirit. 

With the blessing and encouragement of Mrs. Gir Lang Yin, Tosa Tai Chi continues the teaching of the internal disciplines brought to Milwaukee by her husband, the late Master Yin.

For many years, Mrs Yin practiced tai chi and chi gong at at Tosa Tai Chi. 

After 45 years in America upholding the legacy of her husband and devoutly practicing Catholicism at St Jude Church, Mrs Yin passed away in 2020 in Taiwan, the homeland of her birth. She was 90 years old. 

Master Yin was born in China in 1903. He was a general in the Nationalist Army during the Chinese civil war of the 1940s. When Mao Tse-tung defeated the Nationalist Army of Chiang Kai Shek in 1949, Master Yin fled to Taiwan. He ultimately settled in Wauwatosa, WI with his Taiwanese bride, Gir Lang Yin, in 1978.

He was passionate about the Chinese martial arts. As a young man he learned Shaolin kung fu, mastering dozens of open-hand, weapon, and two-man fighting forms. As an adult he advanced to higher more subtle forms, such as tai chi chuan and chi gong. In later life he mastered the arts of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. In his spare time he practiced calligraphy and wrote a few texts on the martial arts.

For the last ten years of his life he shared his lifelong passion and expertise with American students. He urged them to practice tai chi for three reasons. First for health -- "Body strong!" Second for art -- "Beautiful!" Third for self defense -- "Can use!"  He often compared playing tai chi to eating ice cream on a warm summer day -- "Enjoy!"

He remained fit and agile well into his eighties. He passed away in 1988, at the age of eighty-five. His mass of Christian burial was held at St. Jude the Apostle Church, the present home of Tosa Tai Chi.

His final maxim: "I want all my students to be good ladies and gentlemen."

Michael has been a talented martial artist for nearly thirty years. His practice of Shaolin kung fu began in 1993 and culminated in winning one silver and four bronze medals in national competitions in Chicago. His practice of tai chi chuan and chi gong began in 1999. He learned the Chinese martial arts from the senior students of Master Yin.

Michael graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2003 with a masters degree in the Languages and Cultures of Asia. He teaches popular courses in Buddhist Studies and Religious Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Waukesha. He has traveled to, and led tours of, Asia numerous times.

Tosa Tai Chi serves the parish of St. Jude the Apostle as well as the public at large. Whoever is interested in a slow, gentle, low-impact, time-tested, proven, fun way to health and fitness is welcome to join us.

Some of the many benefits include improved coordination, flexibility, balance, strength. Boosts to the immune system, mental health, and general well being are not unknown. Reductions in blood pressure and stress levels are common.  Friendly socializing, meditative calmness, harmony of one's inner chi (vital energy) with the cosmic chi result in perhaps the greatest benefit of tai chi practice: happiness.