GRANDMOTHER

Remembering my
51

JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL YANG FAMILY TAI CHI CHUAN ASSOCIATION | SUMMER 2023
志
杂
会
协
拳
极
太
氏
杨
际
国
 CONTENT
/ SUMMER 2023 / JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL YANG FAMILY TAI CHI CHUAN ASSOCIATION

3
YANG FAMILY
TAI CHI PRESIDENT’S LETTER

6 REMEMBERING MY GRANDMOTHER

8 MATRIARCH AND SYMBOL OF FAMILY STRENGTH

9 SHINAI - MS. HU RUIDI

10 TALKING WITH MASTER YANG ABOUT PRESS

14 20 YEAR CELEBRATION OF YANG FAMILY TAI CHI IN MEXICO

16 TAI CHI AND THE KNEE:

WHAT EVERY TAI CHI PRACTITIONER NEEDS TO KNOW

20 CHINESE TERMS OF TAI CHI THEORY– CHAPTER 5:

THE 10 PRINCIPLES, PART 1

22 TRANSFORMATION

24 “ALL MY ENERGY. ALL MY HEART. ALL MY MIND”

30 STEALING BOXING

39 SEMINARS

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 YANG JUN, President
Transcribed by Edward Moore

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

F
irst, I’d like to say hello to the association members. After three years of the
pandemic we are finally back to normal, and also at the beginning of this year
even China has returned to normal. I was able to travel to China at the be-
ginning of this year. The great thing is that I was able to spend time with my
grandmother and unfortunately, she passed away at the beginning of June. In my life
there have been two people who are important to me. One is my grandfather and the
2nd is my grandmother. Both of them nurtured me while growing up and especially in
leading me into tai chi chuan. This direc- and that bad was bad. She just talked in
tion. Guiding me into the life of tai chi ch- a very strict way. But whenever she talked
uan and also as well, he succeeded in pass- to me, she always encouraged me and she
ing the family art to the next generation. always showed me love as a mother would.
So, that’s why the two of them have affect- So, her loss actually makes me feel that the
ed my life deeply. My grandmother is the inside of my heart is emptied out. This
one who was more like a mother to me. kind of feeling to me. These three years in
Since I was three months old, she nurtured which my grandfather and grandmother
me and in my daily life I was also taken have passed away…these are the closest
care of by my grandmother. In our family people to me. It kind of makes me feel
my grandmother was actually a very strict that I lost a strong support on my back.
person. She would say that good was good I feel alone now. I have to move ahead by

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President’s Letter

myself. So, those are my feelings. On the other hand, I also under-
stand that both my grandparents have lived a long life and they
had joy in their lives. They had longevity and were healthy until
the end. Both of them never had any specific illness, they naturally
and peacefully passed away. In China we have a saying that this is
a fortune; through their morals and self-nurturing they can pass
away in this way: peacefully. On the other hand, I also understand
that this is nature and nobody can change it. Still, it will take some
time for me to accept this kind of truth. On the other hand, I also
feel thankful for my grandparents. Their nurturing and their ed-
ucation of me made me able to spread tai chi chuan around the
world. To spread tai chi, this for me is a kind of returning to them

“
for their contributions and their dedication to me. All I can do is to
This time was also my 20 year work more to spread Yang Family Tai Chi. This is a way for me to
anniversary of traveling into pay them respect and return something to them for the education
Mexico. Through 20 years of and nurturing that they gave me. Sometimes when I am by myself,
development there, Yang I really miss them and it feels like the inside of my heart is a little
bit empty. There is no one for me to rely on. That is my feeling. I am
Family Tai Chi has a good
thankful that I was able to travel to China to see her and be next to
foundation in Mexico. her as she passed away.
This year also marks the
On the other hand, since the pandemic has ended this year, I

“
20th time I have traveled
have returned to my regular schedule of traveling. I have been
to Paris. through Asia, Europe, and North America to teach seminars. At
the end of the year I will be in South America too. So this is the
good part, especially since when China opened I can further de-
velop teaching in this region. Since I have left China 20 years ago
there is a lot of need for developing tai chi chuan there. It’s good
because right now everything seems open and free for travel-
ing. I just went to Mexico City and taught a seminar there. This
time was also my 20 year anniversary of traveling into Mexico.
Through 20 years of development there, Yang Family Tai Chi has
a good foundation in Mexico. This year also marks the 20th time I
have traveled to Paris. Thinking back since I was in my 30’s, over
20 years Yang Family Tai Chi has not only planted many seeds in
countries all over but they have also grown up in many different
regions. This makes me feel appreciation for the years of develop-
ment with many people’s support to create the Yang Family Tai Chi
that we have today.

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 President’s Letter

I would also like to share some information with the association

members. Since the last symposium in 2019 that we hosted in
Selvino Italy, we are also planning to have another symposium
soon if we can find a good location to host one. I’d like to ask the
association members to help to give us a Symposium location that
is a good facility at a low cost where we can host the next sympo-
sium. We would appreciate help from our association members
regarding our future planning. Please contact Pam Boyde with
this information.

This year we are also remembering Grandfather’s birthday.

We will continue to do a 49 demonstration on that day,
August 6th, 2023. November 7th will also mark the third year
since my Grandfather passed away. In China when people pass
away, the third year is the time for us to get together and have a
ceremony and memorial for the people who we care about. In this
particular memorial event, we are planning to do it online and
offline together, so please, if you have any kind of program, please
contact the association because we may include it as part of the
memorial program. Please also save the day and join us for this
event on November 7th (Beijing time).

I hope everyone enjoys the summer! 

“ This year we are also

remembering Grandfather’s
birthday.
We will continue to do a
49 demonstration on that day,
August 6th, 2023.

“
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 Remembering my
GRANDMOTHER
BY MASTER YANG JUN
Published originally in Chinese
Translated by Pam Boyde and Joshua Neuhaus

T
oday, at the foot of the verdant and
lush Tianlong Mountain, we mourn
and bid farewell to my grandmother,
Ms Hu Ruidi. Grandmother passed
away peacefully and without illness in the early
hours of June 7, 2023 at her home in Taiyuan
at the age of 96.
My grandmother was born in the late 1920’s
and although it was a time of great turmoil,
she remained virtuous and kind-hearted from
childhood and was beautiful and wise. Since
being with my grandfather, she has been very
diligent in taking care of her family, helping
her husband, teaching their sons, and raising
her grandsons. On the 108th step of Huaiyin
Middle School in Wutai County, a thin figure
with a tightly wrapped child on her back was
struggling to climb up the stairs. This was the
image my grandmother described to me as
she carried me to and from work. This scene
is etched in my memory like a dynamic sculp-
ture along with my grandmother’s sweaty face
in the cold wind. Grandmother always gave me
what she thought was best. My grandmother
visited Seattle twice in her lifetime and brought
me two old-fashioned dough-kneading bowls.
She thought these bowls were so useful that she
travelled all the way across the Pacific Ocean to
bring two heavy ceramic bowls to Seattle for
me. These two modest bowls are more pre-
cious than gold in my heart and exemplify my
grandmother’s sincere and simple love for me.
When my grandfather travelled to teach tai chi,
the organizers often invited my grandmother
to accompany him. Instead, my grandmother
gave that precious opportunity to me, granting

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me the chance to get more training and grow
and develop faster…
To me, my grandparents are the people I have
to thank for educating and raising me during
my childhood, they were the beacons that
guided me to become an upright person of
sincerity and integrity.
With tai chi the Yang family has grown and
thanks to tai chi it has flourished. Successive
generations of great women and wives of the
Yang family have worked tirelessly and it is
only thanks to their help that the Yang family’s
great undertaking was able to establish itself
and gain its good name.
To this day the story of how my great-grand-
mother, Mrs. Hou Xueqing, the wife of the
great master Yang Chengfu, helped her hus-
ALL CONTENT AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2023
band build his career going as far as to change
her own name without hesitation, is still ring-
ing in my ears. And bits and pieces of the past
of my grandmother, who kept house by help-
ing her husband, educating her children and
raising her grandchildren, are still as vivid in
my mind as if they hadn’t ended yet. Looking
back, when I was disciplined by my grandfa-
ther for being naughty, it was my grandmother
who took me into her arms when I was bawl-
ing or sobbing stubbornly. Who among the
disciples and descendants of Zongshi did not
receive the sincere motherly love of grand-
mother at one point or another?
Now that our grandparents are gone, all we
can do to repay our grandparents is to “unite,
help each other and grow”! Grandmother’s
memory lives forever! 
| #51 SUMMER 2023 | www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com 7

The Yang Family in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. International Forum on Taijiquan. July 17-21, 2006.
MATRIARCH
AND SYMBOL OF FAMILY
STRENGTH
Hu Ruidi, Wife of Master Yang Zhenduo and Grandmother of Master Yang Jun
W
e all join the larger Yang
Tai Chi Chuan Family
in grieving the death of
Madame Hu Ruidi, the
dearly beloved wife of
Master Yang Zhenduo.
She traveled with her husband and their
family to many places as they participated
in numerous events, at a truly global scale.
As the supportive wife of Grandmaster
Yang Zhenduo, she appears a strong and
elegant woman, confidently and firmly
beside him. She fulfilled her role for many
years, a semi-public figure whose presence
affirmed the solidity of the Yang Family.
She is found frequently in my own folio
of memorabilia from numerous organized
travels in China and elsewhere, with
various groups of tai chi chuan students
and friends. In these photos she is smiling,
interacting with everyone around her, and
participating fully in our activities. She
is present, too, for the most solemn of
occasions, such as ceremonies for receiving
disciples. She is seen beautifully dressed
and delighted to participate in birthday
parties and grand celebrations. Her warmth
was large, and her enjoyment inspired us to
have a good time, too.
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Photo Credit Pat Rice
 
BY PAT RICE
Advisory Board Member
In the occasional moments I had for and great-grandchildren. In particular, I
personal interaction with her, she was appreciate her attention to the singular
gracious and lively. Our conversations child who as a man would become the next
were brief, due to language limitations, lineage holder of the Yang Family Tai Chi
but she easily spoke the language of a Chuan tradition. Her guidance and wisdom
friendly face, a genuine smile, and a light would help shape Master Yang Jun’s
touch on my arm. Those gestures created character for understanding others and for
for us an agreeable moment for mutual leadership. She did well.
acknowledgement, a treasured photograph.
A few of us were invited to their Taiyuan We are grateful for her life and immense
house for a home-made dinner, for which contribution to the tradition of the Yang
she had spent days preparing ‘Eight Family. 
Treasures Rice Pudding,’ a famous and
complicated traditional dessert served to
honored guests. She knew how to make us
feel comfortable and extra special at the
same time.
I sympathized fully with her deep sorrow
at the passing of her beloved husband, and
I understand the difference that loss has
made to her recent years. But my most
memorable images of her are the times
when she was happily engaging in shared
activities. She had many ways of express-
ing her love both for her household family
and for her extended tai chi family.
I, also a grandmother, think of her in that im-
portant role, too—the grandmother devoted Yang Zhenduo, his wife Hu Ruidi, Pat Rice (Winchester Virginia USA) in Kunming China.
to raising children and grandchildren Grand Opening of Yang Family Headquarters, July 23, 2005.
SHINAI - MS. HU RUIDI
BY CLAUDIO MINGARINI
Academy Instructor
I
first met Ms. Hu Ruidi in Taiyuan
China in 1997 and I remember a
sweet, elegant lady with a loving
gaze. A smiling person full of energy
and spirit, in perfect harmony with
Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo.
I then saw her many times in the many orga-
nized trips to China where until a few years
ago she was always present even if, due to
language difficulties, I had very few oppor-
tunities to speak directly to her. I was very
moved when I last saw Shinai Hu Ruidi at
the meeting with disciples for Grandmaster
Yang Zhenduo’s memorial and I will never
forget her tears, deep sadness and the im-
measurable pain she showed remembering
her husband.
However, I would like to share a memory
of a funny episode that took place in 2000,
in Terni, near Rome, of which we have been
joking with Master Yang Jun for years.
The first time I heard specifically about
her, it was from Grandmaster Yang Zhen-
duo when, together with Master Yang Jun,
they were invited to dinner to my house for
the first time. My parents were also invited.
With them he established a relationship of
sympathy and empathic confidence right
from the start. When talking they found out
that he and my father were the same age as
well as Ms. Hu Ruidi and my mother.
After a truly splendid evening, when we
were saying goodbye, my mother who
had been almost always busy organizing
the dinner and mainly concentrated on the
stories of Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo, she
greeted Master Yang Jun who was 32 years
old at the time, slapping him lovingly but
forcefully with real affection and sympathy
on the same cheek several times, saying to
Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo, ‘what a beau-
tiful child, your nephew!’ I had a moment
of profound embarrassment and blocking
my mother’s hand I said to her ‘mum he
isn’t a child; he is 32 years old and he’s one
of the most important kung fu masters in
the world’. She, as if everything was nor-
mal, replied ‘but he looks like a young
boy!’ Master Yang Jun stood still, smiling
and amused. Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo
burst out laughing, finding it very comical
and said that I didn’t have to worry and that
he really appreciated my mother’s spirit
because she reminded him of his wife Ms.
Hu Ruidi. He said ‘she too is a spontaneous
woman, with great spirit and heart, who has
the courage to say what she feels and thinks
and she is not afraid of anything’.
The essential image described of her by
him, who really knew her, remained in my
heart and in a moment of deep sadness and
many tears, it also seems nice to share it
with a smile. 
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 Talking About
PRESS
ENERGY MASTER YANG JUN INTERVIEWED
BY EDWARD MOORE
Edward Moore: Hello Master Yang,
thank you for meeting with me today
to talk about press energy (挤劲 jǐ jìn). I
think of all of the translations that we use
for the techniques, “press” might be the
most misleading one. In English “press”
and “push” are almost the same. There
is not much difference. We can “push” a
button and also “press” a button equally.
It means the same thing. I am wondering
if there is some better word that we could
use to help describe this technique?
Master Yang Jun: Yes. This is also a ques-
tion that bothers me a little bit. English
is not my first language. I don’t want to
pretend that I understand it that well. But
based on what I understand, in Chinese
the word “push” is closer to “an,” this
technical word, press, which we use to
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translate the technique “jǐ” is not really
the same idea as the push. Ji is more like
a squeeze. But this word squeeze also has
an issue. In English you grab something
and squeeze into it. Here it is more like
we are squeezing in the outward direc-
tion. Like when it is too crowded and
people are squeezing outward towards
each other. This helps to give a clearer
idea for the technical side of the energy
point. For instance, if we say “àn”, which
we currently translate into English as
“push”, you understand that the energy
point is on the palm. The whole palm is
the energy point for pushing on some-
thing. You can push forward; you can
push down. You can push up. So, those
are many different directions that you
can push in. The pushing down can be
used as deflecting. For example, when we

do “turn body, chop with fist” there is a
push technique where you are pushing
and deflecting. You can also have a
direct push to deliver energy to your
opponent and push them over. There
are many ways of using the push tech-
nique. It doesn’t mean that a push is
just used to push over your opponent,
you can use push for purposes such as
deflecting, yielding, and neutralizing.
It is not only for a single application.
When we talk about the press, if we un-
derstand it from the English word, you
might try to use a finger to press a but-
ton, but it’s actually not like this. If we
understand it as if we are in a crowded
place and we are squeezing outward
against others to get more space, then
we easily understand that we use the
outside of our body against something
to squeeze and make more space. This
will give you more of an idea of the
energy point that you can use to deliver
the energy. That is how we give this
kind of idea. So, again, with the press
you are pressing the opponent naturally
away. Using it to deliver energy to push
them away. And also, when you press to
the side, using the side to press, this is
also a kind of deflection. Press is proba-
bly more properly described in English
as “squeeze”. Maybe it’s not quite cor-
rect, but it gives you the idea that you
use the outside to squeeze out against
something.  the other will fill into it. They are always
Edward: If the press energy is expand-
ing outwards and creating an expand-
ing technique that makes space, like
squeezing outwards, this seems very
much like ward-off (peng) energy. Why
do we call it press energy instead of
ward-off energy? Is there a significant
difference between the two techniques?
Master Yang: This is an English lan-
guage way of translation, that we say we
have 8 energies and 5 steps. In Chinese
we sometimes say 8 techniques, and
they sometimes use the term “8 meth-
ods” (八法 bā fǎ). In Chinese, they don’t
really use the word “energy” for this.
Even when they use the word “energy”
they are still talking about two parts.
Like “péng jìn” means ward-off tech-
nique with the energy – “jǐ jìn”, which
is ji technique with the energy. So here,
why do we distinguish those two to be a
little bit clear. It’s because tai chi chuan
is looking for the balance of the yin/
yang. Looking for the energy to be hard
and soft being balanced. The balance of
the energy is not being too soft and not
being too hard. We also often use the
words “limp” and “stiff ”. So, in Chinese
we use the words “xiè” and “jiāng” (泄,
僵).
So, those mean that you are extremely
soft or extremely hard. Then you be-
come limp and stiff. This is the idea.
You want to be balanced and not go to
extremes. That is the energy type that
we want. How do we train this kind
of energy type? It asks you to be more
springy and to be more complementa-
ry. Balance is one point. To be able to be
complementary is the other point. This
is hard to explain. Complementary is
like being able to join it. If one is more,
the other will be reduced. If one is less,
staying together. This is more like being
complementary to each other. Tai chi
energy has balance and it is also com-
plementary. Those kinds of points, how
do you demonstrate them? The method
is asking that you cannot focus on the
force, how much you are using. Instead
of focusing on how much of the force
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TALKING ABOUT PRESS ENERGY
you use, they ask you to pay attention
to the method of relaxation. Through
the inside extended. A little bit like
charging air into a football, basketball,
or tire. You charge it and it can equally
spread the pressure to the whole body.
Also use the whole thing, like a ball, to
absorb something from the outside that
gives pressure. This kind of situation,
we often use the Chinese word “péng”,
like you have extended a tent or yurt.
When we use this kind of energy, we use
the word “péng”. By the way, the peng
in tai chi chuan is a special character
(掤). Not just the meaning of peng that I
just mentioned (as with the tent). They
make it have a technical side. This word
is not easily found in a book. It is a very
special word. In an old dictionary you
can find it, otherwise we cannot find it
in a new dictionary.
So, that is the idea. Because of this kind
of energy – how are we going to make
it fit yin and yang to be balanced and
at the same time for yin and yang to
be complementary. Then you use the
internal expansion that we call “péng’.
This is exactly the method we use for re-
laxation, but it also fits with the method
of the peng. That’s why we sometimes
call it peng “technique” and sometimes
peng “energy” in English. But, when
we talk about peng energy, we first talk
about the energy type. How you use
it and what kind of method, like in-
ternal extended. To achieve this goal,
like yin/yang complementary and hard
and soft to be balanced: this is a meth-
od. This is what we call the method or
technique of peng. But peng has more
functions from the technical point of
view. You can use it to reach out to your
opponent. To contact your opponent.
They summarize every fighting skill in
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 TALKING ABOUT PRESS ENERGY
Chinese martial arts into 4 positions:
1. Your beginning point,
2. Your outreach method,
3. How you contact or join with your
opponent, and
4. How you make a transition so that
you can have the ability to go to
where you wish.
Those are 4 positions. In Chinese we
call them: qǐ, jiē, chéng, zhuǎn. (起,
接,承,转). These are the 4 processes for
every situation. Where you are is your
beginning point. How you reach to
your opponent, this is the method you
“ But simply, in a real
situation you may not
really use the double
arms to do a press.
use. How you make contact, and how
you make a transition. These are the
processes for how you deal with your
opponent. So, peng is not only an en-
ergy type, a training method, it also
Often you have the has a function as a method for how you
reach your opponent. That’s why when
“
situation where you only
we talk about “peng energy” it is par-
use one arm to do it.   
tially based on peng energy, but there
is also peng technique. The way that
you reach your opponent. All the other
techniques are the same. They are first
based on peng energy. Then they are
involved with their own technique.
For example, press energy you use the
outside as your contact point to reach
your opponent, to deflect your oppo-
nent, to transfer your opponent into
the position you wish to be. That’s why
peng, lü, ji, an, whatever the energy we
are talking about: first is energy type,
second is about the technique: how it is
used, applied, as a contact to reach your
opponent, how to make contact and
how to make a transition. Those can be
distinguished differently as peng, lü, ji,
an, cai, lie, zhou, kao (The 8 energies).   the height. So, you will be adopting all
Edward: In the hand form, we show the
two arms joined together for the press
technique in “grasping the bird’s tail”.
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In class, you teach that the right arm is
using the press energy and the left hand
is using the push to add to the press en-
ergy. Why do we usually have this push
added to the press in the hand form?
Master Yang: You don’t have to, actu-
ally. It’s just that the two energies are
stronger than one. As you can see when
you are doing press, if you combine
two arms together, they create a kind
of arch, and that arch is more support-
ive. A stronger press will result. It will
not easily collapse. If you have only one
arm there is less of this kind of support.
I think from the physics point of view
this flat surface will not be as strong as
a whole sealed surface, like an egg. It
is able to equalize the energy into the
whole body. So, the arch is actually a
kind of rounded arm shape that makes
it easier to deliver energy and is also
more supportive. But simply, in a real
situation you may not really use the
double arms to do a press. Often you
have the situation where you only use
one arm to do it.   
Edward: In terms of the waist technique
that we use with press, we usually seem
to show it in the hand form with ver-
tical waist circle since we are basically
moving forward and we are not turn-
ing. This makes me wonder if press is
also compatible with horizontal and
figure 8 waist turning?
Master Yang: Yes. The hand form has
limitations as a practice because it is a
sequence. When you are actually ap-
plying it you have to fit with your op-
ponent’s position, your position, the
angle, the timing, and the speed… even
of those, and the goal is that the energy
is able to be delivered into your oppo-
nent’s center. If your position is higher,
then you certainly need to use an angle
to make it face your opponent’s center
so that you can easily deliver energy to
their center. There will be an adjustment
to be able to apply it efficiently. The se-
quence is the sequence. They are limited
because they are not modified and you
don’t have the ability to change. You are
imitating a perfect position, a perfect
situation, perfect speed and with good
coordination. You have to deliver the
energy into an imagined point which is
also a perfect point. That is a situation
that they give to you in the sequence.
But in a real situation, you can barely
find that perfect situation. Nobody can
apply the application to be exactly the
same as the hand form. The hand form,
the sequence practice, is just learning
the technique through the sequence…
the movements and what you are doing
to understand the technique. The goal
is not about how to do this movement.
The goal is through this movement how
you are learning the technique, the co-
ordination, and also the way to apply it.
Edward: Often when beginners try to
use the press energy, they tend to use
force. How do you recommend that
they follow the tai chi principles while
using press energy?
Master Yang: This is a question about
the coordination. The coordination is
quite clear from the point of view of
the Tai Chi Classics. Generally speak-
ing, the energy delivery involves two
kinds of coordination and the goal is to
achieve energy unification. One coordi-
nation is related to upper, middle, and
lower body. The second coordination is
inner and outer. To deliver energy and
be unified in this position– or we can
say unifying the soft into the hard – is
all about coordination. To apply the co-
ordination, we need to understand how
we coordinate physically. The Tai Chi
Classics say that the energy comes from
the root, which is located in your feet.
It is developed by your leg, controlled
by your waist, then demonstrated into
your hands. Then how you coordinate
each position is the important part.
How do you push the ground? Where
on the foot? How to do that? How do
you use the leg to deliver the motion?
To build up the energy? Those are re-
lated to coordination. How do you keep
the lower body settled, the upper body
to be light, and the middle body agile?
If you want to build up momentum,
you need the upper body to be light
and agile so that it will not be affected
by your opponent. If your upper body
keeps being disturbed by your oppo-
nent, then your lower body can’t focus
the leg development for building up the
energy. Next, you also need to under-
stand how to use the waist to control
the energy delivery and the delivery
position. Those are the foundations that
you need to learn: the waist method,
how to control it. The waist has two
functions. One function is leading the
movement, leading your limbs to go.
The second function is to control your
energy delivery and also the position-
ing: where it ends. Those are waist
functions. Then finally we come back
to the torso area. You also need to have
a soft springy feeling. When you have
this feeling, you can feel that your spine
can make momentum, make action.
So that’s why we often say that energy
is delivered from your spine. Finally,
they transfer to the energy point where
you try to deliver it. Like with press it’s
often the outside of the arm. You have
to understand each part of the method,
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then you are able to make a good
coordination. With your internal
breathing, your mind focusing, you can
deliver energy in a unified way. Saying
it is easy, but to achieve this goal you
need a lot of fundamental training.
You cannot just get it from hand form
practice. You need to practice soft and
you also need to practice hard. You
even need to adopt different tools to
help you to build up the energy, coordi-
nation, and your personal foundation.
Then you can have a good result on
energy delivery. Simply by doing the
hand form you can make the move-
ments correct, but maybe you don’t
have energy to be able to deliver it.
Edward: We usually use the forearm for
the press technique in the hand form
and push hands. Is it also possible to
use other parts of the body such as the
hands, the shoulder, or the hip to do the
press technique?
Master Yang: Generally, the location is
around the forearm. Sometimes even
in the upper arm we still can consider
this as a press, but if you are too close to
the body, the body will be leaning into
it and then it becomes changed into a
different technique. The techniques are
also related to which part of the body
you use as the energy delivery point, or
delivery position. If it’s getting too far,
if you use the outside of your foreleg as
a kind of push, you cannot call that a
press. It’s going to be more like a kick
or twisting technique. You will use a
different term because if we call them
all press, we don’t know which part we
are talking about.
Edward: Sounds good. Great! Thank
you for your time, Master Yang. I really
appreciate it. 
| #51 SUMMER 2023 | www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com 13
 20 YEAR
Celebration of Yang Family
INMEXICO
Tai Chi

J
une 15, the celebration of the 20th
anniversary of Master Yang Jun’s
first visit to Mexico was held
in Mexico City. The event was
attended by students from all over
the country, Colombia, the United States,
France and Panama, as well as personalities
such as Mr. Lan Xiaozeng representing
Ambassador Zhang Run of the Chinese
Embassy in Mexico, Professor Rodrigo
Sánchez representing the Wushu
Association of the Mexico City and teacher
Martine Salane from the Yang Family
Tai Chi center in Michigan.
DANIEL CORONA
Center Director, Certified Instructor
20 years ago Daniel Corona, encouraged
by his father, José Ramón Corona, became
interested in tai chi chuan. José Ramón had
seen it in China in 1977 during the first
Mexican tourist trip to China and from
there he decided to practice it and make it
part of his daily routine.
So Daniel undertook the task of looking
for the descendants of the Yang family and
to his surprise when he found that Master
Yang Jun was in the city of Seattle USA,
just 4 hours by plane from Mexico City.

14 www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com | #51 SUMMER 2023 | ALL CONTENT AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2023
 20 YEAR CELEBRATION OF YANG FAMILY TAI CHI IN MEXICO.
This is how the authentic Tai Chi Chuan
of the Yang Family began in our country.
In June 2003 Master Yang Jun set foot on
Aztec soil and started the tai chi chuan
group today known as the “Yang Family of
Mexico” located in the facilities of Shaolin
Temple Mexico A.C.
Since then many adventures have hap-
pened, we had the opportunity to train with
Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo, we attended
Yang Family schools in China, we held
international seminars in Mexico City and
Cancun, we participated in international
tournaments organized by Master Yang, we
were volunteers in symposiums, and host-
ed many of other events that have forged a
great friendship and created thousands of
students of the Yang style in our country.
Today we can say that we really are a fam-
ily, the Mexican Yang family.
Master Yang Jun and special guests arrived
by boats called “Trajineras” (Aztec style
boats ) to the lake of Xochimilco where the
ceremony of the 20-year celebration was
held, it started with a tai chi exhibition for
Master Yang Jun and special guests, the
exhibition featured children from 10 years
old to seniors in their 80’s. Yang family
members from all over the world partici-
pated. At the end of the exhibition, Master
Yang Jun delivered 16 new Yang family
ranking certificates of different levels from
beginner to intermediate levels.
At the end of the ceremony, Master Daniel
Corona gave a plaque (plate) to Master
Yang Jun in gratitude for his 20 years of
effort and dedication to spread the practice
of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan.
At the time of cutting the cake, the
fireworks began that illuminated Lake
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Xochimilco, an iconic ancestral place in
Mexico City, ending the celebration and
beginning of the international seminar.
At the end of his visit to Mexico, Master
Yang Jun thanked Daniel Corona and the
Yang Family team in Mexico for their years
of fidelity, commitment and dedication to
the Yang Family International Tai Chi
Association and announced new projects
such as visiting the recently created Yang
Family Tai Chi school in Chengdu China,
the official rankings that will be held from
now on every year in Mexico, and took
the opportunity to wish good luck to the
colleagues who will participate in the
World Championship of Chinese Martial
Arts in Emmei Shan this August, where in
addition to Kung Fu they will represent the
Yang style again. 
| #51 SUMMER 2023 | www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com 15
 Tai Chi
what every tai chi practitioner
and
the
KNEE
needs to know
BY HOLLY SWEENEY-HILLMAN
IYFTCCA Senior Instructor

16 www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com | #51 SUMMER 2023 | ALL CONTENT AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2023

I
f there was a Guinness World Book
of Records specifically for your
body, your knee would hold several
records. Your knee joint capsule is
one of the largest joint capsules in
the body and holds the record for having
the LARGEST synovial membrane in the
body. Your knee joint also has within it
the THICKEST cartilage found anywhere
in the body. Your fibula, the smaller of the
two bones in your lower leg which joins
the tibia to form the tibiofibular joint of
your knee, withstands the HIGHEST ten-
sile forces of any part of your skeleton
AND the two bones that form the main
joint of your knee are the LONGEST
and STRONGEST of any bones in your
body! 1
What does all this mean to you and your
knees? To understand your knees, you
must understand that your knees are in
the position of middle management be-
tween your hips and your feet, designed to
let tremendous forces pass through from
your upper body to your feet and from
your feet to your upper body. Your knees
are not the decision makers in the distri-
bution of these loads, that’s up to your feet
and your hips, but your knees will bear
destructive burdens if your hips and feet
are not well positioned for the tasks your
TAI CHI AND THE KNEE: WHAT EVERY TAI CHI PRACTITIONER NEEDS TO KNOW
Figure 1
Knee model color keyed
body must do as it moves around in the
constant yin/yang exchange of gravity and
ground reaction forces. Understanding
that your knees are in a middle manage-
ment position is essential to applying the
tai chi requirements of practice in a use-
ful and intelligent way. Knowing the basic
anatomy and biomechanics of your knees
is the first step in your journey to improve
your tai chi practice.
The knee is a complex joint with com-
plex movements which depend on precise
synchronized movements between three
articulations (Figure 1): the tibiofemoral
joint (the meeting place of the thigh bone
and largest bone of the lower leg, tinted in
blue), the patellofemoral joint (the junc-
tion of the kneecap and the thigh bone,
tinted in pink) and the superior tibiofibu-
lar joint (the confluence of the upper part
of the smaller bone of the lower leg with
the thigh bone, tinted in green). 2
The tibiofemoral joint, commonly thought
of as our actual knee joint, is the meeting
place of the two longest and strongest
bones in the body, the femur (tinted pur-
ple) and the tibia (tinted green). (Figure
2) This joint is complex, functioning both
as a hinge and a pivot joint. The top of
the tibia creates a platform on which the
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Figure 2
Femur tibia tinted model
femur can rest, rather like a column that
supports a roof. To allow bending and un-
bending of the knee, the surface of the tib-
ial platform is shaped to receive the distal
end contours of the femur, which has two
rounded prominences, termed “condyles”.
The condyles of the femur match up per-
fectly with the surface of the tibial plat-
form when the knee is straight. To align
this perfect fit as the knee is straightened,
the tibia must rotate outwardly, and the fe-
mur must rotate inwardly. This movement
is termed “the screw-home mechanism of
the knee”. To bend the knee, the process
is reversed: the tibia must rotate inward-
ly as the femur rotates outwardly to keep
the joint surfaces properly aligned as the
knee bends. Without proper alignment of
these surfaces, the ligaments of the knee
are put under considerable stress in bend-
ing. When the knee is straightened, and
the surfaces of the femur and tibia are
“screwed” into a perfect fit, there is an in-
herent stability in the knee which requires
very little muscle effort to maintain. That
is why beginning tai chi students will in-
tuitively “stand up” as they move from one
posture to another. Until they have better
skill in applying the principles of tai chi
practice and a better level of conditioning,
they will have more stability with the knee
| #51 SUMMER 2023 | www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com 17
 joint extended than when the knee is bent
because of the biomechanics of “form
closure” found in the screw home mech-
anism. 3 In Part III of this article, we will
go into the dynamics of the “screw-home
mechanism” more deeply to ensure that
our tai chi practice does not interfere with
this crucial function of our knees.
The second joint considered part of the
knee joint assembly is the patellofemoral
joint (Figure 3), the patella is commonly
known as “the kneecap” and it is the most
prominent visual marker on the knee. It is
easy to mistake the patellofemoral joint as
the main knee joint because it is such an
obvious visual landmark. It is important
to realize this joint is quite secondary to
the total function of the knee even though
it is more visible than the tibiofemoral
joint. This joint essentially works like a
pulley system that gives the muscles in
the front of our thighs (the quadriceps)
Figure 3 greater mechanical advantage. When we
Patellofemoral joint tinted
straighten our knee joint the patella is
pulled up into a groove on the thigh bone,
when we bend our knee, the patella is
pulled down toward the tibia in the lower
leg. With any pulley system, friction can
be a problem. Our body solves this issue
with cartilage and structures named bur-
sas. Bursa are fluid filled pouches of slip-
pery connective tissue that reduce fric-
tion between structures that are moving
over one another. There are more than 20
bursae in and around the knee, reducing
friction between bone, muscle, tendon
and ligaments. The bursa underneath the
kneecap (the infrapatellar bursa) is one of
the largest in the body. The cartilage that
covers the underside surface of the knee-
cap (patella) is the thickest cartilage of
any joint in your body, again, showing the
kneecap is built to withstand high friction
forces. 4 The patellofemoral joint is fre-
quently the first messenger that there is
trouble with the knee joint, it will send us
pain signals when we bend and straighten
our knees. As we will investigate more in
Part III, we want to respect the messages
Figure 4 we receive from our kneecaps, regarding
Tibiofibular joint tinted their pain signals as critically useful infor-
mation we must utilize to improve our tai
chi practice.
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The third and final articulation in your
knee joint is the small but mighty tibio-
fibular joint. (Figure 4, tinted green) The
tibiofibular joint is designed to absorb and
control tensile rather than compressive
loads applied to the lower leg and foot.
The middle part of the fibula has more
ability to withstand tensile forces than any
other part of your skeleton! If ever there
was a talented joint, it is this humble and
frequently unrecognized joint. It must re-
spond to the movements of the tibia and
foot to develop stabilizing tension from
the knee down to the foot. It glides in
multiple directions and rotates outwardly
to stabilize the tibia when we are weight
bearing in a bent knee posture, such as
a bow stance. 5 As we will see in Part III,
understanding the function of the fibula
and the tibiofibular joint are essential to
our understanding of the requirements of
tai chi footwork.
The ligament structure of the knee is
abundant and intricate. Each individual
ligament has a job to guide the perimeters
of knee movement. If we use our knees
according to their design and do not ex-
perience excessive forces to the knee (like
a blow or a fall), our ligaments function
within the limits of their design and ex-
perience no damage. We will not focus
on ligament structure in this article but
turn our attention to the muscles that
move and stabilize our knee as those are
the structures we utilize and consciously
operate in our tai chi practice.
The muscles that control our knee are
divided into two main categories: exten-
sors, the ones that straighten the knee;
and flexors, the ones that bend the knee.
It is important to review muscle contrac-
tions to understand how these muscles
work together in operating the knee: con-
centric, the muscle shortens; eccentric,
the muscle lengthens; and isometric, the
muscle stays the same length. Thus, the
muscles that straighten the knee are also
used as the knee is bending to slow down
the flexion so the knee does not bend in a
violent and uncontrolled way.
The extensors (straighteners) of the knee
are the quadriceps femoris muscles.
Fondly known as “the quads”. There are

four of them, they all attach into the
patellar tendon which attaches onto the
tibia, meaning their action affects the
knee joint. Only one of them acts on the
hip joint as well, the rectus femoris. It
does not significantly contribute to knee
straightening unless the hip joint is also
extended. If you imagine a football player
preparing for kick-off, the thigh is brought
back with the knee strongly bent, in that
position, rectus femoris will contribute to
the extension of the knee when the player
kicks the ball.6 Figure 5 shows the lines of
action when the quadriceps straighten the
knee (orange, vastus lateralis; red, rectus
femoris; yellow, vastus medialis longus
and vastus medialis oblique). In Part III,
we will examine the relationship between
traditional requirements of tai chi foot-
work in the utilization of rectus femoris to
extend the knee.
Flexion, or bending, of the knee joint
occurs during support, when the body
lowers toward the ground. However,
this movement is also controlled by the
extensors (“quads”) so that buckling does
not occur. The flexor muscles are also
very active when the leg is off the ground,
slowing down a rapidly straightening leg.
Imagine walking, after the foot leaves the
ground and the leg swings from the hip as
it straightens. Flexion, or bending, of the
knee joint is controlled by the hamstring
muscles. The action of the hamstrings can
be quite complex because they affect two
joints: the knee and the hip. They work
with the ligaments within the knee joint
to prevent the lower leg from moving too
far forward as the knee bends. As flex-
ors, they generate their maximum power
when the knee is bent about 90°. 7
There is little written in anatomy texts
about the separate functions of the ham-
string muscles that create rotations of the
lower leg. The lateral hamstring muscles
(biceps femoris, long and short) create
outward rotation of the fibula when the
knee is bent. (Figure 7 and 8, purple lines)
The medial hamstrings (semitendinosus
and semimembranosus) create inward
rotation of the tibia when the knee is
bent. (Figure 7 and 8, green lines) Thus,
the hamstring muscles are designed to
work separately from one another.8 This
TAI CHI AND THE KNEE: WHAT EVERY TAI CHI PRACTITIONER NEEDS TO KNOW
Figure 5
Action of quadriceps
Figure 6
Action of right side
bowstance hamstrings
differential movement between the inner
and outer hamstrings is of critical impor-
tance in understanding how to fulfill the
requirements of tai chi footwork. We will
explore this fascinating aspect of the ham-
strings in more detail in Part III.
Figure 6 shows the basic action of the
hamstring muscles in the bent knee posi-
tion of the bow stance.
Figure 7 shows the rotational actions pos-
sible for the lateral and medial hamstring
muscles when the knee is bent.
Now, you have a basic understanding of
the anatomy and biomechanics of the
knee. In Part II of this article, you will
learn what happens within the knee joint
when things go wrong and how things go
wrong. Part III of this article will explain
how the traditional requirements of tai
chi footwork and body mechanics will
support the healthy functioning of your Figure 7
Rotational actions
knees. of hamstrings
1. Hamill, Knutzen, Derrick. Biomechanical Basis of Human
Movement, 4th ed., Wolters Kluwer; Philadelphia, PA;
2015. Pgs. 193-207
2. Ibid. pg. 194
3. Nordin, Frankel. Basic Biomechanics of the Musculoskel-
etal System, 2nd ed., Lea and Febiger, Malvern, PA, 1989.
Pgs. 119-122
4. Hamill, Knutzen, Derrick. Biomechanical Basis of Human
Movement, 4th ed., Wolters Kluwer; Philadelphia, PA;
2015. Pg. 198
5. Ibid. Pgs. 199-200
6. Ibid. Pg 201
7. Ibid. Pg. 204
8. Myers, Thomas. Anatomy Trains, 2nd ed. Elsevier,
New York, 2009
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 CHINESE TERMS OF
TAI CHI THEORY
– CHAPTER 5: THE 10 PRINCIPLES, PART 1 –
R
egarding the study of tai chi,
the previous four chapters
have covered Chinese terms
of 知体 (zhītǐ: knowing the
body). Zhītǐ 知体 is all about
修身 (xīushēn: body cultivation) and
is studied across 5 main areas: hands (
手 shǒu), eyes (眼 yǎn), body (身 shēn),
methods (法 fǎ) and stance/stepping
(步 bù). The next chapters will cover the
10 principles summarized by Yang Cheng-
fu (十大要领 shí dà yàolǐng).
Goals
We say the 10 principles were summa-
rized by Yang Chengfu because their con-
tents were no new invention, rather they
brought together the most fundamental as-
pects of the classics of tai chi theory. The
goals of these principles are rooting (重心
稳固 zhōngxīn wěngù) and unifying en-
ergy (劲力整聚jìnlì zhěngjù). Both goals
align with different aspects of philosophy.
Rooting is related to the 5 elements and
energy is related to yin & yang. For this
reason, it can be said that the goal of the
10 principles is balance (平衡 pínghéng).
That goes for both central balance and
energy balance.
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BY: JOSHUA NEUHAUS
It is worth pointing out here that in tai
chi there are two entirely different words
covered by the English concept of
balance. 稳固 Wěngù means balanced in
the physical sense of steady and stable. 平
衡 Pínghéng is the balance between differ-
ent aspects of a thing. In terms of energy,
we would for example consider the bal-
ance of hard and soft, representing yin and
yang. In terms of rooting, we would con-
sider the balance between the 5 directions:
forward, back, left, right, and center.
The goal of rooting (重心稳固 zhōngxīn
wěngù) is also translated as stabilizing the
center or center balance. Externally speak-
ing we know for example that a lower
and larger stance is more stable, but when
it becomes too big then our agility is af-
fected. Internally this goal concerns itself
with the question of how to keep qi sinking
down. In theory there are three areas that
affect whether or not our qi can sink: 意
yì (the mind), 身 shēn (the body), and 劲
jìn (energy). The 10 principles give some
guidance in regards to each of these.
Categorization
The 10 principles align with three broader
categories. Some principles even fit two
of these at once. The categories are 身形
shēnxíng (body shape), 练习方法 liànxí
fāngfǎ (practicing methods), and 神和意
shén hé yì (spirit and intent/mind).
1. 身形 shēnxíng (body shape):
虚领顶劲 xūlíngdǐngjìn (empty, lively,
pushing up, and energetic),
沉肩坠肘 chén jiān zhuì zhóu (sink the
shoulder drop the elbows),
含胸拔背 hán xiōng bá beì (pull in the chest
and round the back),
松腰松垮 sōng yāo sōng kuà (relax waist
and hip).
2. 练习方法 liànxí fāngfǎ
(practicing methods):
分虚实 fēn xūshí (separate empty and full),
上下相随 shàngxià xiāngsuí (upper and
lower follow each other),
内外相合 nèiwaì xiānghé (unite inside and
out),
相连不断 xiānglián búduàn (connected
without interruption),
用意不用力 yòng yì bú yòng lì (use intent
rather than force).
3. 神和意 shén hé yì (spirit and intent):
虚领顶劲 xūlíngdǐngjìn (empty, lively,
pushing, up and energetic),
内外相合 nèiwaì xiānghé (unite inside and
out),
动中求静 dòngzhōng qiú jìng (seek stillness
within movement),
用意不用力 yòng yì bú yòng lì (use intent
rather than force).
The 10 principles
In learning the 10 principles, understanding
their background & content, theme and goal
is the general approach. Master Yang often
simplifies this by pointing to keywords that
we should focus on for each principle.
虚领顶劲 xūlíngdǐngjìn
The famous first principle is 虚xū 领líng 顶
dǐng 劲 jìn. The translations for this princi-
ple are manyfold and my current take is that
no single translation can really do it justice.
Both 虚xū (empty as in empty and full) and
劲 jìn (energy as in tai chi energy) are terms
we have already come across. Whether or
not to look for other meanings is a topic of
debate, but beyond the scope of this article.
领Líng (suspended) and 顶dǐng (pushing
up) on the other hand, while less familiar,
are often pointed to as the keywords that
actually tell us how to perform this princi-
ple. They are two sides of the same coin. To
perform this principle correctly you need to
find balance between both. 顶Dǐng means to
push up, imagine pushing up something that
is on top of your head. This helps to make
the neck straight and raise the spirit. 领Líng
is complementary and is translated as being
suspended or being pulled up. This suspen-
sion is what divides up and down. It can be
considered the root of the physical ability to
drop and sink, be that regarding shoulders or
hips. Likewise, it allows our qi to sink down
and find flowing breathing. 
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 TRANSFORMA
TRANSFORMA TION
T R A N S F O R M A T TION
I O N

I
received the invitation to write an
article and it took me by surprise.
All the articles in the association
BY VIVIANA ULIARTE journal with such interesting topics,
Yáng Yǎ Lì
so much teaching, so many writers with a
Escuela Mendocina de Tai Chi
high training in tai chi and in different re-
lated areas. Really, the content of the jour-
nal is excellent and I was afraid I would
not be up to the task.
After reflecting on what I should write
and, above all, how I should contribute
to a publication with such rich content, I
came to the conclusion that the best I had
was the experience of transformation,
both personal transformation and also
the transformation that I saw in the stu-
dents of the school.
When I started practicing tai chi, I was in-
trigued by the emphasis on classical texts
about transformation, about inner alche-
my.
In the literalness of the early understand-
ings, I expected to see physical changes,
I expected short-term fluidity results. My
first transformational lesson: patience,
process, nothing is automatic or fast.
In the following years with a calmer spir-
it, the second lesson: just go on practic-
ing every day, only perseverance brought
about the expected changes, and even
then they were still superficial.
When I began teaching, my attitude was

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to stop looking at myself in order to look at others,
who had my same initial anxieties, who did not un-
derstand that it was necessary to work hard to un-
derstand something that, externally, seems so simple
and that anyone is able to practice quickly. The third
lesson: my experience was not unique, it was common
for people with an idiosyncrasy typical of our culture:
everything fast, everything now, everything instanta-
neous. Having to explain it, to integrate it much more
deeply, this was my fourth lesson.
Thus, I could go on enumerating transformations that
occurred to me over the years, both in my practice
and in teaching. But, I find it more interesting to share
the experiences of the school’s students, who can at-
test to this gradual transformation.
A young boy, Gaston. A 28-year-old actor who after
three years of practice, says he has deepened his un-
derstanding of his physicality, his mind, and especial-
ly his emotions, which he now puts into his different
performances.
Vicky, 88 years old, says that for the first time she can
feel her hands warm, even in the middle of winter.
Relaxation, connection, balance. She performs an
impeccable golden rooster stands on one leg!
Loly, despite two spinal surgeries, practices daily to
feel flexible, to be active and to move fluidly in her
everyday life. Self-sufficiency was her primary goal.
Shall I continue?
Mónica was able to go through family situations
without showing anger, making empathy the guiding
principle of her relationships. And she attributes this
to the principles that govern the practice, Buddhism,
Taoism, Confucianism...
Silvia, with a very sick relative, has stopped suffering
what she could not change and accepted. As we do in
tai chi, what I cannot change I accept.
Rigidity transformed into flexibility, judgment
transformed into compassionate gaze, anxiety into
patience.
“
In the first classes, I explain that
tai chi is a path of self-knowledge,
Some are physical
and that this process is absolutely
personal. No teacher, no matter changes; others are
how excellent he or she is, can do mental and emotional.
it for the student. To know oneself,
All improved the quality of
the first step is to stop saying “I am
like this” to decide to change what
life of the practitioners.
hurts me or what hurts those who All had their alchemy.
live with me. So many people ben- All became masters of
efit from the practice directly and
their own transformation,
indirectly.
guided by the teachings of
Some are physical changes; oth- the great masters of the
“
ers are mental and emotional. All
improved the quality of life of the Yang family.
practitioners. All had their alche-
my. All became masters of their
own transformation, guided by the teachings of the
great masters of the Yang family.
It only remains to express my gratitude to my masters
for the path, for my transformations and for the bless-
ing of being able to faithfully transmit all the teach-
ings I have received that do so much good.
To continue studying, practicing, seeing, knowing,
realizing, transforming!!!! 
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 All my energy.
All my heart.
All my mind.
An Interview with Claudio Mingarini, Director: Yang
Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center, Rome.
with Edward Moore
Edward: Thank you for meeting with
me today. How have things been with
you lately?
Claudio: It has been a special period of
time as you can imagine, that we shared
with the rest of the world. It has also been
interesting because we have to change
our lives. Anyway, in 2020 and in 2021
we started teaching online and this was
also a new experience and a great
experience. We were able to be in
touch with all of the students and
give support and to have classes.
We were at the same time very
happy because we were able
to continue to pay the rent
for the school although the
24 www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com | #51 SUMMER 2023 | ALL CONTENT AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2023
school was closed. For us it was particu-
larly complicated because it was not clear,
the position that our government was
going to take because for instance, be-
tween 2020-2021 we had to spend a lot of
money to renew the school and to adapt
it to the new laws against Covid. After
one year of work, we opened one month
and then they asked us and everyone to
close again for a few months. So, in this
way it was another problem because we
were just spending money and the in-
come coming back was not very much. I
know, because I was in touch with many
other instructors from Europe, South
America and so on that there were many
places where it was really hard for many
of us who are living and teaching tai chi
chuan. So, it has been an intensive period
of time that I am glad that we came out of
somehow and although in Italy about 40%
of martial arts schools really closed, they
had to give up and do something else. So
that we could survive, for sure our center
was very powerful and now is still alive,
and we are gradually getting up; stand-
ing up again because now we can see this
year that things look like they are going
back to normal. But still about 40% of the
people are slow in coming back. A few of
them just gave up. Other people are still
not clear what the situation is, but things
are changing and so we are going back
to a normal situation that is normal but
not normal – but getting closer to a more
balanced situation. So, we started again
with all of our activities. Seminars, weekly
classes, and other things. I’m glad we can
work again with people coming back and
also with new people. So, this is very much
connected to my world, this situation.
There are many other things happening in
life, but this period of time now is getting
better. It has been, let’s say, very hard, but
a good training of life. Great experience
from many points of view.
Edward: Right, that makes sense! For my
second question, after the events of the
past two years, can you talk about any-
thing that has helped you to keep your
school going?
Claudio: Something that has made it eas-
ier to continue? First of all, there was a
strong legacy and connection with many
students. There are people who have fol-
lowed the school for many years, 20-30
years. Most of them, but not all, are also tai
chi chuan teachers and we really love what
we are doing and want it to go on and we
wanted to keep in touch. Despite every-
thing we were also somehow helping each
other and another good thing that helped,
and now I am talking about The Rome
Tai Chi Chuan Center, the main place
where I am teaching, my main base. It’s
really a very well-known place. We have
been in that geographical area for 37-38
years, and that has helped a lot. Nearby
the school, less than one kilometer and
within a ten-minute walk we have one of
the most beautiful green parks of Roma,
which is Villa Ada, which was before the
2nd World War the garden of the King of
Italy. So, they had residencies there. We
say that it is an incredible garden, but they
were hunting there, making safari with
other people, with special guests that they
used to have there. So, Villa Ada is really
a fantastic, wonderful place. So, big. Now
there are three embassies inside and the
remaining space is still such a big area. So
it was helpful for us to give classes there in
the open air when it was possible (because
there was a period when we could not
even do that). To have Villa Ada so close
to the school really was great because peo-
ple could easily go there in the summer
time and even the winter. The winter time
is not a joke, although it is not as cold here
as many other places, but you know, when
it is only 3 or 4 degrees Celsius in the win-
ter, there must be something that moves
you to go there. Not only for the teachers
but also for the students to keep on going
there and meeting. It was beautiful that we
could keep on meeting there and working
for what was possible. For instance, tui-
shou, we left it apart for a couple of years,
except for a few people. Also, the feeling
of being somehow united together – it
was a great help because we were giving
places to each other. If one school was not
available for some reason, there was nor-
mally someone who was willing to offer
his center to do that kind of seminar or
that kind of meeting. So, it was very beau-
ALL CONTENT AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2023
tiful from this point of view, the feeling
that we had and we shared through tai
chi chuan training, teaching, and work,
and a real family feeling between many of
us. So, I was glad, you know? There were
a few combinations of things that helped
us. The feeling, the geography, the work
done before, the position of the school,
and the movement we had around us.
There is a beautiful group now growing in
different areas. I’m not talking only about
Rome because we are operating in other
centers also. I can see that almost every-
where is starting to grow again. Many in-
structors had a difficult time and many of
them had to change work to survive and
some of them could not find the energy
to work out and we are trying to help this
now through monthly meetings with the
Italian instructors. We are restarting, this
is the energy. The idea and feeling to re-
start all together. Not everyone is in the
group. Some are still watching and wait-
ing to know what to do and also seeing
how we are working in different ways. So-
cially, through the meetings that we have,
through new proposals and so there is
a new springtime after a very hard win-
ter which was more than two years long.
Mainly because of Covid.
Edward: Since you are one of the senior
instructors in the Yang Family Tai Chi
Association, how have your views of tai
chi chuan changed over the years? Has
your focus changed over time?
Claudio: I started practicing tai chi
chuan in my previous kung fu school
around 1980-1984, but we were doing 6
styles, which was very much engaging,
demanding. It was a kind of natural love
| #51 SUMMER 2023 | www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com 25
 of tai chi chuan because I liked what we
called “neijia”, the inner school, in tai chi
chuan and in tai chi there was something
that I felt was special. Not because it was
moving slowly because it was not the only
one where we moved slowly, but because
it was very interesting from the philo-
sophical point of view, because I started
to study yin/yang theory and the Yijing
and I have not finished studying them yet.
“
What I was looking for in tai chi chuan, it
I liked what we called is somehow after over 30 years… almost
“neijia”, the inner school, in 40 years. Time flies! And I still think that I
am on the way. In the beginning there was
tai chi chuan and in tai chi
philosophy and imagination. Many things
there was something that were unknown and many other things
I felt was special. Not be- were dreams. To be in touch with and to
cause it was moving slowly receive the teachings from a real master
connected with a real family… Since that
because it was not the happened not only the dream came true,
only one where we moved but it’s more beautiful than before at the
slowly, but because it was moment. So, I would say that there is a
growing emphasis on keeping on studying
very interesting from and practicing and whatever is flourish-
the philosophical point
“
ing… for instance as you know very well,
of view in the practice of tuishou we first stand in
a fixed step until we know it, and then we
can move freely and we can do so many
beautiful creative things. I often say that it
can be an enlightening game, tuishou be-
cause it always requests us to be mentally
present and aware of everything. Aware
of everything that is going on, and we can
not only go there in our mind because we
need to go with the feeling because there
is no time to think sometimes. To do that
kind of training with the right feeling
without competing, but searching… It’s a
kind of jam session as they say in music
26 www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com | #51 SUMMER 2023 | ALL CONTENT AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2023
and it can really be an incredible experi-
ence in the way we can train it and also
teach it. I’m not interested in competition.
I don’t want to criticize competition, not
at all, but I’m not interested. I’m looking
for something else. The practice of tai
chi chuan and the variations, even from
performing the basic forms is an endless
experience. We can always improve and
the sensation is changing. I don’t know…
I don’t want to use too many words but
new horizons open. It’s so deep, what we
do, that the more I do it, I don’t feel very
much experience normally, but if I look
backward I can see that there are many
things that I learned but I keep on looking
ahead and I still have the feeling of a be-
ginner because when new horizons open
we are always beginners, which I love very
much. So, I was starting to be in love with
tai chi chuan in 1984 – since the begin-
ning. Now I can say I am very much in
love with tai chi chuan: it’s philosophy and
whatever is surrounding it. Also, I had to
give up many other kung fu styles which I
was studying and teaching, which I loved,
but I had to choose. It was never easy to
say, “ok, no more time for this.” Each side
has a mystery, but what I can say is that
in the essence of tai chi chuan I find the
essence of kung fu and I am dedicated to
kung fu in my life. I can find everything
I am looking for and also I can say that
through the practice of tai chi chuan I
have a new point of view, an experience,
a new way of using energy, and whatever I
was doing when I was 20 and 30 years old
teaching for instance Shaolin and other
styles, I think (I don’t remember every-
thing because there are too many things,
but I remember what is interesting to me
and what I keep on training) the way I
move now, performing those forms for in-
stance, I feel much better and more com-
fortable in the use of energy and the use
of my body than what I could feel when I
was 30. I think I can do those things in a
better way thanks to what I could under-
stand through the practice and the study
of tai chi chuan. So, I could find every-
thing that I was searching for in the mar-
tial arts world in tai chi chuan. Of course,
if I want to do a tiger form I cannot find it
in tai chi chuan, but that’s another thing.
I’m talking about the inner part of kung fu
and the way of kung fu.
Edward: Did I hear correctly that you
were studying 6 styles previously?
Claudio: Yes. We were studying 6 styles
together with Giuseppe because we grew
up together from that point of view. Gi-
useppe started actually 3 years before
me. We were studying 6 styles. One was
baguazhang and our master was quite
advanced in bauguazhang, for his way of
moving and in many other ways, proba-
bly because the master was very much
specialized in bagua. And then it was, I
don’t know where it was coming from…
we used to call it Classic Traditional Sha-
olin, it was very beautiful, the forms that
we were doing. And then praying mantis
style, and I knew one of the masters in
Hong Kong, we went to visit him in his
center and he came to Italy more than
once.
And wing chun, which I kept on studying
for 18 years because I was interested in that
point of view, and also many things that
were closer to the tai chi way of fighting.
And also hung gar, the most important
first Shaolin style coming from the Sha-
olin tradition. Giuseppe is still studying
hung gar. We were studying from a very
important line. There were three – let’s say
– chief schools. In our line of tai chi chuan
there is only one, Yang Chengfu, there is
only one who can be the leader. In hung
gar there were 3 since the beginning. We
were following one of these three lines.
I really appreciated very much that we
were training like crazy, you know? Gi-
useppe was one of us. Every morning in
Genoa. Three hours every morning from
Monday to Sunday and 5-6 hours in the
afternoons. Teaching every day includ-
ing Saturday. And we were training like
crazy – also to remember. There were so
many different forms! That is one thing,
but I am very grateful about this because
it really opened my mind. I mean, there
were opposite theories. For instance: wing
chun was going straight, you know. The
shortest way to strike. Choy Li Fut Sha-
olin was wide range movements with dif-
ferent theories. To see all of these different
points of view makes you search for some
place that includes everything. Do you
understand what I am trying to say? Dif-
ferent philosophies, different strategies,
different theories, different styles. There is
something common, a common heart in
the ethics, in the way of training. In the
way of expressing energy, which is being
divided into inner and outer schools, but
at the very advanced level, they get very
much close. They are not so far away any-
more. And it really opened my mind to
see kung fu work because we were not
only studying, practicing, and then also
teaching 6 nights, but also following and
we enjoyed it very much. We were teach-
ing, Giuseppe more than me, and in the
school there were 10 levels, so different
programs, and not everyone could teach
people who had 6, 7, 8, or 9 years of ex-
perience. We were teaching more than
60 forms from 60-300 movements, and
also many other things. It was crazy but
interesting from an experience point of
view. And then we were doing muay thai
in Bangkok and it was not a joke, because
you meet people who are 17 years old
and they look like they don’t feel any pain
when you strike. I was not competing, I
was training, but I could realize what was
in front of me. And were also trying dif-
ferent ways of traditional fighting, tradi-
tional kung fu, kickboxing, muay thai, so
there was a real kind of research in the
kung fu world and I am really grateful for
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Master Paolo Cangelosi from what I could
receive from him, although in the end, we
split up for different reasons. It was dis-
connected. But, this is another story. But
very very beautiful. It was an incredible
experience because we created the stron-
gest kung fu school in the history of Italy.
In Genoa, Milano, and Roma. Not only in
one place. And Giuseppe was part of their
story. Normally, when I was in Milano
he was in Roma but we also had time to
meet. Because the instructors were trav-
eling because our master wanted all the
students to know all of the instructors.
The main instructors. So we had houses
in Milano, Genoa, and Roma paid by the
association and the instructors were liv-
ing inside the houses in Genoa, Milano,
and Roma. I was teaching more than 1000
people a month and Giuseppe the same.
So, an incredible, beautiful experience We
all had a good basis, generally speaking,
in kung fu.
Edward: So, would you say that your
primary focus is now Yang Family Tai
Chi?
Claudio: Yang Family Tai Chi became
naturally, my more important target and
focus. Since the beginning when I met
in 1996 Master Yang Zhenduo and Mas-
ter Yang Jun I was shocked. It was more
than what I felt, and it was more than
what I dreamt. Because it was difficult to
see martial arts in tai chi chuan, at least
visibly. And at that time Master Yang
Zhenduo, I could really feel… not only
me but also Giuseppe came with me and
other advanced students from Roma, to
see in one person real humbleness, phi-
losophy, and such a big heart welcoming
people and so skilled in performing tai
chi chuan. Just incredible. We were real-
ly shocked. And since then, it was a great
shock for me into the direction of tai chi
chuan because I was still doing many
things and I had to choose step by step
because there was no time, no energy, and
no money to follow other teachers and
do everything. So, I had to choose, and I
gladly chose Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan
because I loved it. I had been looking for
| #51 SUMMER 2023 | www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com 27
 them since a long time before. In 1994 I
was in Hong Kong for a documentary
movie about kung fu and I was looking
for the Yang Family because I knew that at
one time Yang Chengfu was living there,
but it did not exist. There were three main
marital arts associations in a federation
in Hong Kong but not one of them could
tell me anything about the Yang Family
and I knew ten years after in 2004 when
Master Yang Jun had to go to Hong Kong,
Shiye called, he was here in my house be-
cause we had just had a seminar and we
were going to do the director’s seminar
and during those days he received a call
and it said come to Hong Kong. He didn’t
know before. He had to leave that day. He
said, I have to go to the airport. Fortu-
nately, it was in between the two seminars
he was going to have here. In the end it
was an incredible meeting, I think for the
first time, of the whole Yang Family rep-
resentatives. And when he came back he
said, hey I finally saw my uncles because
we write once a year and they send their
best wishes for the Chinese New Year, but
my grandfather knew them, I didn’t. And
then he said there are 4 daughters. Only
one is teaching but she is teaching pri-
vately and she does not belong to any as-
sociation or organization. She just teaches
privately to whomever she wants to. That’s
why I couldn’t find them at all in Hong
Kong. And by chance I found when I was
in London studying tai chi chuan with
John Ding, the editor of Tai Chi magazine,
the Great Britain Tai Chi magazine, and
he follows the Yang Shouzhong line, the
first son of Yang Chengfu and I was study-
ing with him at the time and in the same
28 www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com | #51 SUMMER 2023 | ALL CONTENT AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2023
year from his tai chi magazine I could
see the advertisement that Mei Mei put
there, it was the only one she put, it was
March 1996. The only advertisement that
she put in an English tai chi magazine was
that one, so it was a great chance for me.
There was an image of Yang Chengfu do-
ing single whip and then Yang Zhenduo a
little bit smaller, and Yang Jun a little bit
smaller. The three of them doing the same
position. In 24 hours I called and I made
a reservation for me and Giuseppe and
another 2 people, and after 3 months we
were in Stockholm. The following year we
were in China with Giuseppe following
their seminars. 1997, 1998, I succeeded in
inviting the two of them here to Italy for
the first time. It was an incredible, difficult
experience to get the visa.
Edward: It’s great to hear about his
history.
Claudio: It was really what I was look-
ing for and I gave it all my energy. All my
heart. All my mind. All my time. Because
for me it was very important. I could
not believe I could meet them and also
the way they were doing things. Teach-
ing and sharing together. Telling stories.
Yang Zhenduo was incredible. It was a
kind of appointment of life for me. I was
looking for them, but I also knew that I
was just one of the thousands of students
they could meet around the world in their
teachings.
Edward: Since we have tai chi all over
the world, it seems like sometimes dif-
ferent cultures have different effects on
the way that tai chi is understood or
practiced and I wonder if you feel that
there are any unique qualities for Italy,
or for Rome that may give the tai chi
there a certain different quality from
other parts of the worlds?
Claudio: You know, through my experi-
ence, because I have been traveling quite
a lot for a long time. I started following
Master Yang Jun in his seminars all over
Europe and the US, China, and South
America depending on where he was
going, so it was a great chance for me
to meet many, many people. After that,
many other instructors and centers are
growing, so we met with the chance to
train together and they started inviting
me to different places. Romania, Bulgaria,
Germany. With Frank at the beginning I
was inviting him to do seminars together
in Italy and he was doing the same, so I
was going to Germany and Croatia, Mal-
ta. I’m going to Brazil again for a couple
of weeks at the end of July. So, the pan-
orama is quite wide and I don’t see very
much difference depending on the inter-
ests of the people. Sometimes the person
is more involved with the martial side
of the medical side, the benefits. What I
think could make some difference… with
the school of Roma was the timing when
we met Master Yang Zhenduo and Master
Yang Jun because we were coming from
a previous experience with Master Paolo
Cangelosi as I said and we had more than
1200 people all over Italy. In Rome at that
time at what is now the Yang Chengfu
Center there were more than 330 people
in 360 square meters. When we split up
we lost about 170 people in 2 months. So
when I met Masters Yang Zhenduo and
Yang Jun, for me it was already 12 years I
was practicing tai chi chuan and probably
26 years practicing martial arts because
for the first ten years I practiced Japanese
martial arts. From 72-82. They found a
group of advanced people. More than
half of them were teachers and they could
learn in a faster way than a beginner and
they were very much involved and inter-
ested in everything about the philosophy,
the medicine, and the martial side. So
when Masters Yang Zhenduo and Yang
Jun came here in 1998 they saw a group
of people who were already advanced in
their way. Of course we were beginners
in Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan, but when
I invited them here, it was already two
years since I met them before. So, it was
already two years I was trying to teach
what I could at that time of the traditional
Yang Family Long Form. So, they found a
good basis because we were coming from
the other school. That could make the
difference I think. It was not only mine
and Giuseppe’s love for tai chi chuan, as
we were traveling everywhere but there
was a great big group also. For instance,
I asked Master Yang Zhenduo immedi-
ately in 1998, I said, hey, why don’t you
also teach tuishou? He said to me the
first official answer (we were in the care
of an interpreter) he said was that we still
needed to deepen the base and it was ab-
solutely true. And we said, yes Master, of
course. For the rest of our lives we will try
to improve, but here there are people with
more than 20 years of experience and they
are asking for this. They have chosen you
as their master and teacher, but if it does
not come through you they will go to look
for it somewhere else. You know, it was
not a joke to answer like this. And Master
Yang Zhenduo and Master Yang Jun start-
ed talking to each other and after a few
minutes Master Yang Zhenuo said, “OK”.
And Master Yang Jun said, “OK. Tomor-
row morning you can have a tuishou class
with me.” And that was my first tuishou
class I had with him. Ah no, it was the
second! The first one, that’s another story.
It was not actually a tuishou class. I was
asking as usual, “hey, why don’t you teach
applications? because we are so enthusias-
tic.” So they talked with Mei Mei and offi-
cially asked, and they organized a tuishou
class during the seminar and Master Yang
Jun started doing a tuishou class in the
middle of the seminar, like as a gift. That
was really the first time in 1996, and the
bad thing was that he called me to go out.
He wanted me like his sparring partner
and I didn’t know what to do. The 4 ener-
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gy vertical circle, I never saw it before and
I had to learn the 4 energy vertical cir-
cle, Edward, in front of 63 people and he
didn’t say any words because Mei Mei was
translating in a very essential way. I didn’t
understand what he was telling me in real
time. He was teaching me the 4 vertical
energies in front of everyone and I would
have liked to disappear at that moment! I
wanted to be outside to see it because that
was my very first tuishou.
Edward: I know the feeling!
Claudio: I know that you know because
you grew up with him and you can real-
ly understand, I think. So, going back to
your question. Is there anything special,
no. Maybe I think that there was already a
great group and we were already training
hard with kung fu, right? For me, when
we found the Yang Family, I was so en-
thusiastic when I came back from Sweden
that I involved so many people. It was a
great boom in Italy. Growing and very
successful because of a combination of
many things. But, I could find many great
qualities and good feelings. For instance,
in the work Frank was doing in Germany
and the way they are working in Romania
and Hungary. Very serious and all of these
people are very much interested in martial
arts and are very serious. South America
also, all of these people have been work-
ing in a great way. Also in North America
but I’m just mentioning where I have been
traveling and keeping in touch. I was in
Budapest two weeks ago and when I came
back, I went to Romania. It’s incredible to
see how beautiful it is to share the teach-
ings that we have received. To share them
and to see how happy people are to join
us in the same direction we are going. I
think it depends on the persons and the
group they created around them. For us
the group was already there with many se-
rious people, skilled people with a serious
intention to really learn Yang Family Tai
Chi Chuan and all that is around it. 
| #51 SUMMER 2023 | www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com 29
 In the previous episode, Yang Luchan had been
caught spying on the Chen family as they practiced
at night. Yang Luchan had gained entrance to the
exclusive Chen Family house by impersonating a
mute beggar, and then by serving the family faith-
fully. After a dramatic chase, he is caught and held
in a circle of spears as Master Chen demands to
hear his story. They are enraged because he seems
to be a spy from a rival school.
Yang Luchan wiped his tears and raised his head:
“Senior Brother, I am not someone who has no
name or surname, why would I do that? I was
wandering everywhere, and I was visiting famous
teachers, one in the east and one in the west. I
traveled to the Jiangbei and Henan areas, where
there are famous martial artists. I would visit
them. I love martial arts, but I do not have an
imposing physique, so I was looking for a master
to teach me.” He sighed: “Unfortunately, I wasted
4 or 5 years of hard work seeking teachers in many
places. Later I found out that some of these famous
martial artists were either famous in name only,
were falsely advertised, or they were simply bully-
ing the weak. Some were close to bandits. Some of
the masters consider their skills as a business asset
and refuse to pass them on. During this period,
I suffered many losses, was deceived, humiliated,
suffered blows, and so on…”
As Yang Luchan spoke, Master Chen’s face changed.
The words seemed to soften Master Chen’s anger
towards him slightly. Fang Zishou and the others
couldn’t help but turn their heads to wait for Mas-
ter Chen’s response. 
Seeing Master Chen’s reaction, Yang Luchan real-
ized that there might be some hope for him.  Still
bowing low, his face became slightly less pale and
his breathing relaxed. 
Master Chen spoke up in a clear voice, saying, “tell
me. In the past four or five years, who have you
learned from, what have you learned, and why did
you come back here again?”
With a glimmer of hope in his heart, Yang Luchan
went on to tell Master Chen of his journeys, and the
many teachers that he had met before returning to
Chen Village. 

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STEALING
BOXING

BY GONG BAIYU

- CHAPTER 19 –Moore
Translated by Ken Ning,
emended by Edward

Impatiently Striving for a High

Degree of Skill, Straying to the
Dark Side
Stealing Boxing (偷拳, TōuQuán) was written by Gong Baiyu (1899-1966).
*Gong Baiyu 1899-1966 was a famed martial arts novelist from Shandong Province. Stealing Boxing contains
a fictionalized account of the lives of Chen Changxing and Yang Luchan in the Chinese martial arts novel tradition.
Translated by Ken Ning and adapted into English by Edward Moore.

ALL CONTENT AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2023 | #51 SUMMER 2023 | www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com 31
 STEALING BOXING

Y
ang Luchan had come to Chen
Village many years before in an
attempt to be accepted as a stu-
dent, but it was difficult to gain
access to the Chen Village teachers. With-
out personal connections, he didn’t have a
chance. When he was finally rejected, he left
in a fit of anger. His only dream had been
denied. As he walked away from the village,
scorned, he made a plan in his mind. He
would seek out the best martial-arts teachers
in the land and devote himself to his train-
ing. When his skill was at its highest level he
would return and finally vent his anger on
Chen Qingping. This made him feel a little
better. With his plan before him his opti-
mism returned and he stopped into a mer-
area and no bandits dared to prey on the peo-
ple of Huang’an County again.
Another man told Yang Luchan about a
Master in Dongguan, Fengyang Prefecture,
Jiangnan. His name was Master Zeng and
he was famous for his ditang saber skills, an
old form of traditional kung fu. This master
had traveled around the “rivers and lakes” of
the martial world, proving his art and skills.
Eventually his son and apprentices took over
so that Master Zeng could return home and
enjoy the blessings of his success. His ditang
saber practice had been handed down for
three generations, and although he did not
have a large number of disciples, many of
them had become famous in their own right.

“
Yang Luchan was told that this ditang saber
chant’s shop near a high point
There were legends art was unique to the region and that no
on the road and asked if there
other family taught it. Yang Luchan was also
and stories of many were any famous martial arts
interested to hear of another teacher named
masters nearby.
different masters Lu Wu, who was known as “the Innate Wuji
in the region and it There were legends and sto- Palm” in the Heilongtan area.
wasn’t difficult to ries of many different masters
After hearing the locals talk about these
in the region and it wasn’t dif-
convince the locals to ficult to convince the locals
highly skilled teachers Yang Luchan’s spir-
share the stories that it was lifted again. He was annoyed that he
to share the stories that they
had wasted so much time in Chen Village
they had heard about had heard about legendary
when he could be studying valuable skills

“
martial artists. Yang Luchan
legendary martial elsewhere. Just from the stop at one mer-
listened with interest as a
artists. chant’s store, he had already learned of 3
man told him of Master Xu
famous teachers. This comforted his heart,
Kaitai, who was legendary for
and renewed his faith in his mission. He
his skill with the long pole in
began to make a plan to visit each teacher.
Huang’an County. Xu Kaitai practiced a hard
From where he was starting in Chen Village,
style of kung fu, and it was said that he could
it would make sense to first travel to Master
break a stone tablet with one strike of his
Xu. The men in the merchant’s shop had spo-
palm. His skill in wielding the long staff pole
ken excitedly of this master. Yang Luchan felt
had made him invincible across the north
inspired by the story of Master Xu and his
and the south. The man told Yang Luchan
disciples righteously vanquishing the hated

“
that Master Xu had taught for more than 30
years and had between 40 and 50 apprentic-
es. At that time there was a scourge of bandits
that were harassing and robbing the citizens
of Huang’an and everyone was terrified. Yang
Luchan heard that Master Xu and a dozen of
his apprentices confronted the hated bandits
and defeated 200 of them. After this incident,
Master Xu’s skill was celebrated all over the
bandits, and he looked forward to greeting
the master and observing his skills.
Yang Luchan traveled from Chen Village to
Huang An searching for the legendary Mas-
ter Xu. He was tired from the journey, but
he started out across the town right away
to find the master that he was looking for-
ward to meeting. He stopped into a shop

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IMPATIENTLY STRIVING FOR A HIGH DEGREE OF SKILL, STRAYING TO THE DARK SIDE

and asked the man where to find the mar-
tial artist, Master Xu, but the man only gave
him a blank look. Yang Luchan thought the
man might be a little slow, so he walked fur-
ther and asked at another business, but the
second man seemed more confused than the
first. How could this be? The men at the mer-
chant’s shop in Chen Village had told him
that Master Xu was famous far and wide for
his skill with the long pole. Had he somehow
come to the wrong place? Yang Luchan was
not the type to give up easily, so he contin-
ued to speak to the locals in the hope that
someone could tell him something. Finally
he was told that there was a martial artist
named Xu, but he was not well known. He
taught in a small village in the countryside.
Yang Luchan felt his hopes reduce by half. He
reinvigorated his search with the legends that
he had heard, and traveled such a long dis-
tance to this place only to be met with this
depressing scene. How could the stories be
so misleading? He hesitated for a long time
in front of the gate, reasoning with himself.
He thought, “Well, Master Xu isn’t necessar-
ily a quack. People can’t always be so easily
judged. There have been doctors and genius-
es since ancient times, and there must be
some actual experts who sell medicine…”.
These thoughts gave Yang Luchan some re-
newed hope to continue. He walked up the
road to the huts to present a card so that he
might be able to visit the master.
Unfortunately, meeting with Master Xu
did not help Yang Luchan feel better. As he

had traveled for days from Chen Village and
spent nearly the whole day asking around,
only to find that this supposedly legendary
master was not even well known in his own
area. Disappointed, but feeling that he might
as well continue after coming so far, he ven-
tured outside of Huang An to find the village
that he had been told about.
As he walked up the dusty road that led to
the small village, Yang Luchan saw three des-
olate thatch huts appear before him. There
were wooden signs hanging at the gate across
the road, and he stopped to look at them.
They advertised secret magical powders for
healing and tiger bone paste.
looked around the shop full of
magical potions and charms
he thought more about Master
Liu Ligong’s works of warning.
It seemed that Master Xu was
exactly the type of teacher that
he was warned about. This was
the kind of teacher who sold
boxing in the street. An im-
poster who deals in medicated
plasters and special potions.
Martial arts world tricksters
who cut their own thighs on
the spot to demonstrate their
dubious medicines.
But, as Yang Luchan spoke
with him, he noticed that Mas-
“
As he walked up the
dusty road that led to
the small village, Yang
Luchan saw three
desolate thatch huts
appear before him. There
were wooden signs
hanging at the gate
across the road, and he
stopped to look at them.
They advertised secret
magical powders for
healing and tiger bone

Upon seeing these signs, Yang Luchan’s heart
sank. He remembered his old friend Liu Li-
gong, a shipping guard, warning him against
the kind of martial arts teachers who ped-
dled medicinal cures, fortune telling items,
and magical tricks. These kinds of teachers
were known to be businessmen and not au-
thentic martial artists. He stood there in the
road, scrutinizing the peeling wooden signs
and wondering what to do.
After his crushing disappointment of being
rejected at Chen Village, Yang Luchan had
made a new plan to save his mission. He had
“
ter Xu was very polite, and this paste.
impressed him. He did not
show the arrogance of many of
the other martial arts teachers
that he had met. Master Xu listened to Yang
Luchan explain his mission and was touched
by his self-awareness and clear desire to
learn true martial arts. Master Xu praised the
young man for his ambition and vision, and
said that with such willpower and direction
that he was sure to find glory in the martial
arts. Master Xu agreed to teach Yang Luchan
on the spot, and promised to teach him for

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 STEALING BOXING
at least three years. Five years at the most.
In this time, he would impart his true skills
to Yang Luchan. He wanted neither profit
nor fame, and would be perfectly satisfied
to have Yang Luchan’s respect. Master Xu
proclaimed, “my good friend, if I take even
half a penny from you, then I’m not a human
being!”.
Yang Luchan listened to this speech, still un-
sure what to do. He hoped for the best, but
he was young, inexperienced, and impulsive.
Xu’s bold speech of generosity made him feel
like he couldn’t make any excuses to back
out after being accepted as his student. Not
knowing what else to do, Yang Luchan took
out the silver coins that he had saved to pay
a true master.
‘Long Pole’ Xu’s eyes grew larger
“
when he saw the silver and he
Yang Luchan did not dispensed with his humble at-
titude. He boldly accepted the
feel very inspired to
silver and said, “Well, I will save
become a disciple these coins for you and they will
of Master Xu, but he be used for your meal expenses”.
began to learn his
Yang Luchan did not feel very
art anyway, thinking, inspired to become a disciple
“Well, I did hear of Master Xu, but he began to
learn his art anyway, thinking,
people talking in
“Well, I did hear people talking
“
the store about how in the store about how miracu-
miraculous he is. lous he is. Even if he is not the
best, he must have some unique
skills that I can learn.”
But, after following the training of Master
Xu for almost two months, the true form
of the famous martial artist was revealed to
Yang Luchan. ‘Long Pole’ Xu possessed nei-
ther specialized martial arts skills or secret
medicines. Yang Luchan saw that all of the
ointments that ‘Long Pole’ Xu sold were ac-
tually purchased from a nearby drugstore.
After the medicines were unwrapped, Mas-
ter Xu removed the labels and pasted on his
own, which showed his own stamp that indi-
cated his secret recipe. The so-called “seven
34 www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com | #51 SUMMER 2023 | ALL CONTENT AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2023
percent powder” that he sold as special in-
jury medicine was the same. As for Master
Xu’s martial arts skills, Yang Luchan knew
enough to see that he was an amateur who
relied on brute strength to overpower others.
As far as the legend that Master Xu could
break stone tablets, Yang Luchan wondered
how this rumor even started. Master Xu
could split bricks and stones, but this was a
common trick in the martial arts world that
Yang Luchan had seen before. It didn’t indi-
cate any special skill.
Although he wasn’t much of a martial artist,
Master Xu’s true talent lay in squeezing mon-
ey out of other people. ‘Long Pole’ Xu pro-
claimed that he would not charge for lessons,
but somehow the money that he claimed
to be spending on Yang Luchan was even
more than tuition would have been. One day
he needed to buy a blade, the next a bag of
iron filings for training. The next day, Yang
Luchan would require invigorating medicine
for his internal energy. More medicines were
needed for his muscles and bones. With all
of these expenses, Master Xu managed to
squeeze a large amount of money out of Yang
Luchan’s savings in a very short time.
After seeing all of this, Yang Luchan knew
that he could not stay. He quietly packed and
left without saying goodbye. He left the Hu-
bei region as if taking refuge.
As he traveled away from Master Xu’s school,
Yang Luchan felt angry and ashamed. He had
spent much of his savings and he thought
of just giving up his dream and returning to
Guangping where he could be a farmer and
never mention martial arts again.
But after walking alone on the road through
the countryside for a few days, Yang Luchan
felt calmer. He felt conflicted and challenged,
but he still couldn’t quite give up the desire
to learn true martial arts. However, when he
asked himself how he could do this, he felt
disillusioned once again.
IMPATIENTLY STRIVING FOR A HIGH DEGREE OF SKILL, STRAYING TO THE DARK SIDE

As Yang Luchan walked along the road, de-
bating his fate, a traveling group came up
the road quickly in a carriage. A porter in
the carriage eyed Yang Luchan in the road
and considered him as a young man who
was thin, weak, and unimportant. The por-
ter rudely demanded that Yang Luchan get
out of the way. When Yang Luchan did not
move immediately, the man decided to teach
him a lesson by jumping down and giving
him a beating.Yang Luchan wasted no time,
and used the long-fist kung fu training that
he had studied to easily dispatch the man.
A second porter from the traveling group
appeared and proceeded to attack Yang
Luchan, but he was also kicked aside. The
two porters were furious, and so they called
seven or eight more men who succeeded in
beating Yang Luchan up.
Laying by the side of the road, bruised and
beaten, Yang Luchan gritted his teeth and
spoke ruefully to himself, saying, “I have to
After hearing these questions, Yang Luchan
was nervous about revealing that he had
studied with Master Xu in case Iron Palm Lu
Wu had heard of him. He decided to quick-
ly cover up the past few months and said, “I
come from Chen Village”.
Iron Palm Lu Wu heard this and became
suspicious. He thought that Master Chen
had sent a spy from Chen Village . He didn’t
like the idea of someone from Chen Village
studying in his school and reporting back
regularly to his rivals, but he didn’t let his
feelings immediately show. Lu Wu was po-
lite to Yang Luchan, but became general and
noncommittal about teaching him.
Yang Luchan felt encouraged after meeting
Iron Palm Lu Wu, so after their first meet-
ing seemed to go well, he asked to meet him
again. In response, a disciple came out and
said, “The master has an important mat-
ter to deal with. He left at

practice martial arts, but I must study with a
true master!”. He picked himself up and con-
tinued along the road wearily until he arrived
at Heilongtan where the next master on his
list lived.
Yang Luchan had also heard people talking
about the teacher known as “Innate Iron
Palm Lu Wu” back in the merchant shop in
Chen Village, and as he arrived at Heilong-
tan, he hoped that the legends about this
five o’clock yesterday and
it’s difficult to say when
he will return. It could be
three or five years. Since
the master is gone, this
place will be closed at the
end of the month”.
Yang Luchan was con-
fused, and he wondered
whether to believe the dis-
ciple. He quietly asked a
“
The master has an
important matter to deal
with. He left at five o’clock
yesterday and it’s difficult to
say when he will return.
It could be three or five
years. Since the master
is gone, this place will be
closed at the end of

master were more accurate than the last one.
As he arrived at Lu Wu’s school, he noticed
with relief that it did not immediately look
suspicious. This time Yang Luchan decided
to be more cautious, so he asked for a meet-
ing with the master first before requesting to
be a student.
Iron Palm Lu Wu agreed to meet with Yang
Luchan. He asked about the young student’s
origins and intentions, saying, “Where are
you from? Where were you before you came
here? Why do you want to study martial arts,
and who sent you to me?”
“
nearby shopkeeper if the
master was leaving on a
the month.
trip. The shopkeeper said,
“Yes, that’s right! Mr. Lu
Wu asked us to hire a carriage for him the
day before yesterday”. He also said that the
duration of the trip was uncertain, which
matched what the disciple had said exactly.
This gave Yang Luchan no choice but to leave
Wu Lu’s school. Before he left, he left a mes-
sage that he wished to practice martial arts
with all his heart, and because he wanted to
study with a famous master, he would return

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 STEALING BOXING
to Iron Palm Lu Wu’s school in the second
half of the year to try again. Yang Luchan
felt defeated again. After being sad for a few
days, he decided to go back to
“ Yes. There is
Master Chen who
teaches tai chi in
Huaiqing, Henan
the same shopkeeper to ask if
he knew of any other famous
martial arts masters nearby.
The shopkeeper replied, “Yes.
There is Master Chen who
Province. His internal teaches tai chi in Huaiqing,
boxing is invincible Henan Province. His internal
boxing is invincible all over the
all over the Central Plains. Since you love
Central Plains. martial arts, you should go to
Since you love him.”
“
martial arts, you Yang Luchan had no choice
should go to him. but to start his journey again.
He left Heilongtan and trav-
eled to Fengyang. He stayed in
Fengyang for two days asking around for
information about any famous martial arts
masters in the area.
This time he was not disappointed. There
really was a martial arts master named Zeng
in the area called East Gate. He was a mas-
ter of the ditang saber and he had dozens of
disciples in his school. There was only one
odd detail that Yang Luchan noticed, when
he mentioned Master Zeng in the area sur-
rounding Fengyang, the people all frowned.
Yang Luchan wondered about this as he
walked. Did they frown because the master
was awe-inspiring? He must have amazing
fighting abilities for people to react in this
way. Yang Luchan wondered if it might be
that the master had been bullying the locals
but he dismissed this thought. Martial arts
heroes often fight injustice, so Yang Luchan
thought that it would be natural for some
people to be frightened of a skilled master.
He took a bath and changed clothes. After
offering a gift for the master’s disciples, he
went and asked to meet with Master Zeng.
As Yang Luchan approached the house,
he saw that it was large and lavish. Inside,
36 www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com | #51 SUMMER 2023 | ALL CONTENT AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2023
it was richly furnished and many people
came and went. Master Zeng was over 50
years old, with long eyebrows and green
tiger eyes. His dark skin looked shiny and
he appeared to be very strong. Yang Luchan
thought that he reminded him of Master
Chen, but slightly shorter and heavier.
Master Zeng sat in his chair with sever-
al strong disciples surrounding him like
wolves and tigers. They were all dressed in
short sleeved shirts, silk pants, and sandals.
It was obvious to Yang Luchan that they
were skilled martial artists. Yang Luchan
however, did not make such a good impres-
sion. His clothes were coarse and his face
looked thin and pale from traveling in the
wind and dust for many days. He was short
and weak looking compared to these tall
and strong men, and he felt a little ashamed
standing before them.
Master Zeng held a pair of iron beads in his
hands and they rang out loudly. He took a
good look at Yang Luchan and then asked,
“Brother Yang comes here to see us, but he
is short of money?”
Yang Luchan replied respectfully, “No sir.”
Then he told them why he wanted to learn
from a famous master.
After hearing this response, Master Zeng
looked surprised. He turned and glanced at
his disciples. Yang Luchan felt a bit nervous
and he quickly confessed his sincerity again.
He spoke of how he had traveled thousands
of miles to find famous teachers. He told
Master Zeng how he had admired famous
people from afar and so he came here with
a sincere desire to study. He spoke carefully
and deliberately and then waited for Master
Zeng’s response.
Master Zeng listened to Yang Luchan and
said, “Oh!” He looked Yang Luchan up and
down several times and then shook his
head, saying, “Not just anyone can practice
this kind of kung fu, you know? If it is not
practiced well, it will definitely not be effec-
IMPATIENTLY STRIVING FOR A HIGH DEGREE OF SKILL, STRAYING TO THE DARK SIDE
tive, but if it is practiced very seriously for
8 or 10 years, one can be invincible in the
martial arts world.”
“Do you possess enough determination?
How long have you been learning kung fu?”
After hearing this, Yang Luchan was over-
joyed. The style of this master was com-
pletely different from ‘Long Pole’ Xu. This
master really lived up to his reputation.
Yang Luchan immediately expressed his
determination and begged to be accepted as
a disciple, saying, “No matter if it’s 8 or 10
years. Any number of years will do”.
Master Zeng listened but still looked uncon-
vinced. The young man looked poor to him.
After a moment, Master Zeng spoke,
saying, “it’s not only a matter of getting ex-
cited about learning a unique skill. I can see
that you have determination, but can your
family afford it?”
Yang Lucan replied quickly, saying, “We can
afford it”.
Master Zeng was still unconvinced, so he
interrogated Yang Luchan about his family
background and possessions. Yang Luchan
was so relieved to finally meet a famous
master that he quickly spoke truthfully
about his family background, including how
many acres of land, how many houses, and
how many businesses the family owned.
After hearing this response, Master Zeng
seemed to become a bit more agreeable. He
listed many rules of discipleship to Yang
Luchan. He would need to work hard and
be patient. He would need to be willing to
spend money to learn the real kung fu. This
was basically consistent with what Master
Liu Ligong had told Yang Luchan to expect
since most of the masters were similar in
this way.
Master Zeng continued by explaining that
the annual fee was sixty taels of silver, with
another three taels of silver for food each
month. He also explained that the disciples
were not allowed to run around outside
when they were learning kung fu so that
they would not be distracted. He explained
all the rules and regulations of the school
and Yang Luchan quickly agreed. An auspi-
cious day was chosen and the ceremony of
discipleship was performed. Yang Luchan
met his fellow disciples in the school and
began to train with Master Zeng.
When Yang Luchan began to learn the pos-
tures as taught by Master Zeng they seemed
very familiar. He realized that they were the
same ones that he had previously learned
from Liu Ligong in the past.
While Master Zeng was teaching him, Yang
Luchan mentioned that he had practiced
these postures before, but Master Zeng was
very displeased with this. The fellow stu-
dents warned Yang Luchan that he had to
forget everything that he had learned be-
fore.
Yang Luchan realized that he had sounded
impetuous, and he felt ashamed. He didn’t
dare speak again. He only learned and prac-
ticed diligently. When he had the thought
that he had learned something before, he
ignored it. Ten days of training passed and
Master Zeng only taught the class twice, but
Yang Luchan continued to apply himself to
his training.
All of the other kung fu students in the
school were taught by the most senior stu-
dent, but Yang Luchan was the only one
who had to practice alone. He exhausted
his limbs each day, but he was still more
inflexible than a gourd. The master did not
often come to teach and the senior kung fu
students looked down on Yang Luchan and
treated him like a servant. He lived in the
teacher’s house and was expected to sweep
the training area, clean the weapons, and do
a lot of other jobs. They also kept him with
tasks like nailing shoes and buying sugar.
One day, while Yang Luchan was practicing
ALL CONTENT AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT © 2023 | #51 SUMMER 2023 | www.YangFamilyTaiChi.com 37
 STEALING BOXING

kung fu, he was obviously performing the
postures correctly, but a senior student came
over, criticized his footwork, and slapped
him in the face. Then, another senior stu-
dent slapped his neck, saying that Yang
Luchan was weak. These senior brothers
were all brawny local boys and Yang Luchan
was not only an outsider, but was physically
small. The senior brothers taunted him for
this, calling him names like “Yang Skinny
Monkey, and “Little Outsider”.
Yang Luchan was angered by their behavior,
but he endured in order to stay out of trou-
ble and keep learning. After three months
him was the behavior of Master Zeng and
his disciples in the Fengyang area.
Yang Luchan did not think that Master
Zeng was necessarily a bully, but it did seem
like the locals were being bullied at times,
and they did fear Master Zeng and his dis-
ciples. He also learned that Master Zeng
did not only make a living by teaching at
the school, but also ran businesses outside
the school and the disciples seemed to act
like thugs in support of these businesses.
Also, after 6 months of study, Master Zeng
had still not shown Yang Luchan any of the
ditang palm or ditang knife that he was fa-

“
of this treatment though,
These senior he was so frustrated that he mous for. Yang Luchan had only seen a few
really did feel like a skinny of the senior students practice a few of the
brothers were all moves of these forms, but they appeared to
monkey. It was difficult but
brawny local boys he was born with the unique be mediocre to him.
and Yang Luchan was temperament that made him
self-aware and persevering. Although these things bothered Yang
not only an outsider, Luchan, he was committed to stay and con-
Although he was not very
but was physically physically strong, he was tinue to learn martial arts. Fortunately for
small. The senior determined. As long as he Yang Luchan something unexpected was
brothers taunted him could master true martial about to happen that would change his fate
arts skills he was prepared to and prevent him from continuing to study
for this, calling him endure any hardship. at Master Zeng’s school. This would set him
names like “Yang free to eventually follow his destiny and

“
Skinny Monkey, and After some time had passed,
study tai chi chuan.
he somehow learned to fit in
“Little Outsider” and stay humble. He was still On this fateful day the students were all
having a difficult time earn- training as usual in the school when they
ing respect from the local heard that there was a visitor. The excite-
students so he took some of his own money ment grew when it became known that
and bought some snacks to share with them. there was a martial artist from an enemy
Demonstrating this kind of respect for the
school who had showed up unexpectedly
older students helped to make things a little
at Master Zeng’s door to challenge him to
better, and they gradually stopped insulting
a duel. The challenger was angry and deter-
him so much. After 6 months had passed,
mined, and he wanted to see Zeng Daye’s
the various levels of senior students had
come to like him and they became friends. legendary ditang saber moves for himself.

Although Yang Luchan had finally learned
to live in peace with his kung fu brothers,
he started to become discouraged in other
ways. 6 months had passed and he had been
taught about half of the tongbeiquan move-
ments by Master Zeng, so he was not total-
ly disappointed about this. What bothered
It was soon learned that Master Zeng and
his two sons had unintentionally angered
the man somehow. Unfortunately for them,
he happened to be a ditang boxing expert
from Shandong Province and after being
insulted, he had rushed to Fengyang to seek
his revenge. 

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 2023 SEMINARS
TEACHER ACADEMY USA
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September 22 – 24: 103 Hand Form
September 25-26: Push Hands
Contact: Mihaly Vada
+36 30 44 50 800
mihaly.vadas@gmail.com
SPAIN
September 30 - October 1   October 31: Push Hands
Traditional Hand Form
Contact: Miguel Angel Rojo Darriba
budo@newstyle.e.telefonica.net
ROME,ITALY
October 21 – 23: Instructor seminar 
Contact:  Claudio Mingarini
claudio.mingarini@gmail.com
TOULOUSE, FRANCE
October 27: Theory
October 28-30: Traditional Hand Form.
Contact: Thierry Huguet
thierryhuguet@taichitoulouse.fr

CHINA SEMINAR SCHEDULE:

TAIYUAN, SHANXI KUNMING, YUNNAN TAIYUAN, SHANXI

July 7-9:   Hand Form Intensive – Part 1, July 29-August 2: 4th Instructor Training August 25-27:  Special training for
– Part 2 5th generation of Yang Family Tai Chi
KUNMING, YUNNAN Chuan
July 13-17:  Master Yang’s Disciple and TAIYUAN, SHANXI
Pre-disciple Training, August 8-14:  Hand Form Intensive – YUEYANG, HUNAN
Part 2 September 4-8:  Traditional Hand Form
KUNMING, YUNNAN
July 21-25: 5th Instructor Training – Part 1 WENXI, SHANXI QIJIANG, CHONGQING
August 18-20:  Traditional Hand Form September 15-17: Traditional Hand
Form

Contact: Fang Hong

Email: fanghong@yangfamilytaichi.com

A
seminar with Master Yang Jun is a fun, inspiring learning experience that you will never forget. It is one of the very best ways to
quickly improve your skill and understanding of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan. His great ability to clearly teach the finer points of tai
chi chuan and link tai chi theory to practice will help you learn how to perform the movements and understand in depth why they
are performed the way they are. This greater depth of understanding will allow you to refine your own daily practice of tai chi chuan long
after the seminar is over so you can continue to improve. Master Yang Jun’s precise, clear teaching style and his patient, kind personality
makes him a favorite teacher for many Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan practitioners around the world. Attending a seminar is also a great way
to meet new friends who share your love of tai chi chuan.

If you wish to host a seminar, please send your request to Head Office at info@yangfamilytaichi.com.
All tai chi chuan enthusiasts are invited to submit articles, letters, and pictures for publication. Both critical and complimentary
letters concerning the form and content of this journal are welcome. Please send correspondence in electronic format to:
editor@yangfamilytaichi.com

2023 © International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association.

Any reproduction, in whole or in part, of the herein publication, is strictly forbidden, without the written
authorization of the publisher.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MASTER YANG JUN

EDITOR
EDWARD MOORE

ASSISTANT EDITOR
JOSHUA NEUHAUS

PROOFREADING
JOSHUA NEUHAUS
SUSANNA WEGNER
NIGEL JENNINGS
BAS DEBBINK

GRAPHIC DESIGN
MARCO GAGNON

CONTRIBUTORS
YANG JUN
EDWARD MOORE
PAT RICE
YANG FAMILY CLAUDIO MINGARINI
TAI CHI
DANIEL CORONA
HOLLY SWEENEY-HILLMAN
JOSHUA NEUHAUS
VIVIANA ULIARTE
CLAUDIO MINGARINI
KEN NING

FOUNDER PRESIDENT’S ADVISORY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo BOARD Fang Hong
BOARD OF DIRECTORS VP Administration
Therese Teo Mei Mei
Pam Boyde
President Angela Soci VP Operations/Executive
Master Yang Jun Claudio Mingarini Manager
HOME OFFICE
P.O. Box 786, Bothell, Audi Peal Han Hoong Wang
Secretary
WA 98041 USA Fang Hong Pat Rice VP Instruction & Standards
Ph: +1 (425) 869-1185 Carl Meeks Ray Tom
yangfamilytaichi.com
Nancy Lucero VP of Policy