Tai Chi people's favorite fighter: Willi Pep

I often see Willi Pep come up in forums both in MMA and Tai Chi. I first heard of Willi Pep from some NYC Tai Chi people around 2001, they seem to really like Willi because of his evasive Tai Chi like ability to "empty" and not be there, yet hit like a ton of bricks.

That's funny, one of my Taiji teachers is a HUGE fan of Willie Pep.

Did Willie do taiji?

I dont think he did Tai chi, it would be cool to know if he did later in life after retirement.