Although Master Zhang began martial arts training as a child, he began his study of Chen-style Taijiquan in 1963 as an adult. He had studied both the "Lao Jia" (Old frame) and "Xin Jia" (New frame) forms of Chen-Style Taijiquan. His teachers were: Li Reiyuan (Chen Fake's stepdaughter) in 1963; Rui Mongni (an early student of Chen Fake) in 1965; and Chen Zhaokui (Chen Fake's second son) from 1966 to 1970. Chen Zhaokui's training emphasized "qinna" (joint-locking and grappling) and "silk-reeling" techniques. In 1970, he settled in Beijing and studied with Feng Zhiqiang, one of Chen Fake's senior students. Feng Zhiqiang's training focused on internal power, push-hands, and sparring.

In the mid 1960's: Left to right: Rui Mongni (an early student of Chen Fake), Chen Zhaokuai (Chen Fake's second son), and Master Zhang Xuexin

In the early 1970's: Master Zhang Xuexin and Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang

Arrival in the United States:

Master Zhang came to the United States in 1990. He was the first Taiji instructor to teach and emphasize the importance of silk-reeling spiral training exercises in the United States.

In 1994: Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang and Master Zhang Xuexin