Erle Montaigue

Erle Montaigue (1949–2011) was a figure in the promotion of dim mak, a martial arts concept often referred to as the "touch of death." He published several books and instructional videos on the subject through Paladin Press in the late 1980s. Montaigue claimed to be the first Westerner to receive the rank of 'Master' in taijiquan, awarded in 1985. He asserted that dim mak was an element of the traditional Yang style of taijiquan, which he began studying in 1978. According to his accounts, he learned these techniques from a master named Chiang Yiu-chun, whose undocumented status made verification difficult. Montaigue also studied other "qi-disruptive" forms from Liang Shih-kan in 1995. His work on dim mak was featured in publications by Paladin Press, which also released other titles on the topic, some with forewords by Montaigue.

Erle Montaigue became known in the late 1980s for his extensive work on dim mak, a martial arts concept also called "touch of death." Through Paladin Press, he released numerous books and instructional videos that explored this technique. Montaigue positioned himself as a significant Western proponent of dim mak, contributing to its visibility in popular culture and martial arts circles. His publications often delved into the purported abilities of dim mak to incapacitate or cause delayed harm, aligning with traditional narratives found in Chinese martial arts fiction.

Montaigue's background included claims of achieving the rank of 'Master' in taijiquan in 1985, stating he was the first Westerner to do so, under Master Wang Xin-Wu. He traced his understanding of dim mak to the traditional Yang style of taijiquan, which he began studying in 1978. He attributed his knowledge to a master named Chiang Yiu-chun, whose status as an undocumented immigrant reportedly made his existence challenging to confirm. Later, in 1995, Montaigue also studied what he termed "qi-disruptive" forms from Liang Shih-kan, associated with Wudang Shan traditions.