He studied under Daoist Peng Fuyuan for Daoist internal cultivation; Dai Wenjun for Xinyi Liuhe of Shanxi. He also studied under many other masters. Through dozens of years of studies and training, he wrote "Wuji Accupuncture", "Five Animal Frolic Qigong", etc. He established the first qigong school in Beijing in 1956.

Grandmaster Hu Yaozhen was a student of both Chinese medicine and martial art from early childhood. He also involved himself in Buddhism and Daoist internal training. He was known as "One finger conques China" and "Iron palm Hu". Japanese martial artists call him "the immortal of the fist".

In 1953 he established the "Capital Martial Arts Association" with grandmaster Chen Fake.