Zangan
Tifa has good sense. She'll be a powerful fighter.
Zangan is a martial arts teacher who has 128 students all over the world.
He is a funny looking man who wears a dashing red cape and has a tendency to jump over people a lot.
He spoke of Tifa with nothing but good comments to say. He was her first teacher and probably made her the
great fighter that she came to be. As alreadt stated, Zangan was Tifa’s martial arts instructor and lived in the
town of Nibelheim. Zangan survived the fires of Nibelheim and helped the villagers who were wounded by Sephiroth.
Zangan later on saved Tifa from the Mako Reactor when her father was murdered and brought her to Midgar.
During Cloud's flashback in Kalm you can learn a music sequence to play on Tifa's piano ("Do Re Mi Ti La Do Re Mi So Fa Do Re Do."). If you return to Nibleheim on Disc 3 and play the tune you will get a short scene that explains how Tifa came to escape from Nibelheim and end up in Midgar. It takes the form of a letter from Tifa's martial arts instructor Zangan and the text is as follows:
THE LETTER
Tifa, what's happened to our town? Was it all an illusion, or just a dream? No, it was neither. I remember trying to get people out of the flames, but not having the strength... Burning with anger, I went to the reactor to kill Sephiroth. But he was nowhere to be found. Instead, I found you, collapsed inside. I felt saving you was far more important than going after Sephiroth. There were several others that were still alive inside, but I was only able to save you. As I was coming out of the reactor, Shinra troops were just arriving. I recall a scientist named Hojo was in charge. He ordered the troops to gather up everyone still alive for the experiment. I didn't know what type of experiment he was talking about, but I wasn't about to let them have my dearest student. Putting you on my back, I headed down the mountain to the village. I used the Cure spell on you many times and started to head for Midgar to look for a doctor for you. I don't like that city, but my Cure spells weren't helping. I decided to go to Midgar to find a doctor I could trust. I'm worried about you, but I can't settle down in one place for very long. Have you recovered fully? Are you well?I wonder how many years have passed since then? I just got into town again, but I can't believe it... The whole town is back to normal, except for the strange beings with black clothes all around. The town reeks of Shinra, but I won't go after them. You may think I'm running from them, but it's just that I don't want anything to do with Shinra anymore. Feels like time is running out. I'm sure you'll find this letter. And this gift for you. It should come in handy. I can't even jump anymore. But I hope you continue to sharpen your skills and remember what I taught you.
To my most precious student, From Zangan.
This is a key item of plot detail as it specifically ties the Sephiroth clone experiment to the former inhabitants of Nibelheim. It also explains how Tifa escaped from the ensuing mayhem in Nibelheim without being captured like Zack and Cloud were.