Cheng Tinghua was fond of martial arts and in his youth he gained skill at wielding a nearly 4 foot long broadsword and a large heavy staff.

When Cheng was still fairly young, he left his hometown and went to Beijing to apprentice with a gentleman who made eyeglasses.

[1] Intent on improving his martial arts skill, Cheng also began to study Chinese wrestling (shuaijiao) when he arrived in Beijing.

As soon as the opponent came in contact with the wrestler, he would be thrown, wthout any grappling, struggling, or tussling as seen in Western wrestling.

This wrestling also combined punching, kicking, joint locking and point striking with its throwing techniques.

Cheng Tinghua was an avid wrestler and studied both of the popular wrestling styles when he was a young man in Beijing.

The first name listed on this stele is Yin Fu, followed by Ma Wei-Chi, Shih Chi-Tung, and then Cheng Tinghua.

It turns out that a group of German soldiers were forcefully recruiting locals for a work detail near Beijing's Chung Wen gate, were Cheng's shop was located.

[1] Cheng Yulung (eldest son, 1875–1928), Cheng Youxin (2nd son), Cheng Yougong, Feng Junyi, Gao Kexing, Gao Yisheng (1866–1951), Geng Jishan, Guo Tongde, Han Qiying, Hon Mu Xi, Kan Lingfeng, Li Cunyi, Li Hanzhang, Li Wenbiao, Liu Bin, Liu Zhenzong, Qin Cheng, Sun Lutang (1861–1932), Liu Dekuan, Yang Mingshan, Zhang Changfa, Zhang Yongde, Zhang Yukui, Zhou Yu Xiang, Zhang Zhaodong (1859–1940).