"Experience Yang Jianhou
Taijiquan as passed down to Wei Shuren in its originality!"
 

"Finally, the original teaching of Yang Jianhou is presented through the eyes of  a pure pedigree holder, a 'live-in' student of the master"

Dear Fellow Martial Artists,

In the age of mixed martial arts and cross trainings, it will be rare for a martial artist to learn just one style of martial art and be contented with it. After all variety is the spice of life and it's in our human nature to expand. Hence many martial art teachers also come with multiple backgrounds that make them what they are today. Being a 'mixed martial artist' has its pros and cons.  One pro maybe a refined configuration like what Bruce Lee did with his Jeet Kune Do and one obvious con is you are learning a 're-mix' instead of the original.  So finding a martial art teacher who focuses just on one style of martial art is indeed very rare.

Contemplating the origin of life is very much in our human nature. Questions like what is the origin of the universe, who am I, where do I come from, have plagued humanity especially scientists for eons. Of course the answers are different depending on your perspective. Despite the prevalent mind-set of mixing styles, there are many who yearn to know what could be the origin of a particular style. In the Taiji circle, the question of what makes Yang Lu Chan 'undefeatable' and peerless in his time has been on the minds of many Taiji aficionados especially against the backdrop of growing popularity of 'fighting' sports such as MMA, push hands etc.. With the lack of recording devices such as iPhone and the culture of clandestine martial upmanship in those era, the original  'deadly' tactics could be masked and kept secret lest they fell into the wrong hands.

Now we may never know the true origin of the universe nor the real deal behind Yang Luchan's prowess. One thing we know for sure are the many footprints left behind. The Big Bang theory, not the sitcom, came out of such footprints. For Yang Taiji, Yang Jian Hou - Wang Yongquan - Wei Shuren teachings are one set of footprints that may point us to the direction of Yang Luchan's prowess.

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few"......Shunryu Suzuki

Through coercion and the love of her father's legacy, she has finally agreed to share with us her father's great insights into Yang Jianhou Taijiquan.  In a way, she is leading the charge to set the benchmark of the originality of Wei Shuren Taijiquan so that other teachers of the same lineage, especially those with mixed martial art backgrounds, are reminded of the original transmission and be mindful of the influence from past conditioning of other systems.  Of course, individuals are free to integrate into their existing system of martial arts but at least they are learning the original Wei Shuren Taijiquan and make their own interpretations rather than getting a 're-mixed' version.

...And the legacy continues   

In the last few years of the GM Wei Shuren's life, he increasingly delegated the teaching of his disciples to his three daughters with Shifu Shiping leading the charge since she is the eldest daughter and most knowledgeable.  So through constant supervision from her father and the demanding nature of his overseas disciples since she is not their teacher but a senior sister, she has polished her Taijiquan knowledge and skills, and has become a very effective teacher.

»   Principles - Understand the guiding principles of  Yang Jian Hou Taijiquan that are universal, some highlights:

• Feel the Yin within Yin 
• Real intention springs from no intention
• Movements originating from the heart centre and returning to the heart centre
• 51%Yin, 49%Yang
• Seek other centre and conceal own centre by presenting a 'wall'
• Receive force without passing through the wrist; return force at the first point of connection

»   Structure - How to structure your body to carry its own weight efficiently and dealing with external forces with minimal impact:

• Plumline adjustments
• Curve the lower back
• 9 points connection
• Rounding all critical areas of force flow
• 5 points of weight distribution

»   Internal processes - How to harness  the power of Shen, Yi, Qi to strategically reinforce your structure to generate and dissolve forces:

• Taiji Gong to specifically develop Shen, Yi, Qi
• Meditative nature of movements from stillness
• Relationship of dispersion and concentration
• Mind intention leading movements 180 degree ahead
• How three rings and three gates relate to each other

»   Form work - How to cultivate the internal processes, structure and internalise the principles through form practice:

• Learn the sequence of the 22 and 37 forms
• Experience the stillness that drives the transiton of section of the form
• Understand the cultivation process of the forms
• How to integrate the internal processes into individual form

»   Roushou - Bringing it all together through partner practice to hone in on the internal processes, structure and principles:

• Partner routines
• Mindful listening, asking and taking the other's Jin Yuan (power centre)
• How to stick, adhere, follow and connect without losing contact or resisting
• No lose of contact and no resistance are beyond hands

Wishing you great success.

Warmly,

Sifu Richard Wong

P.S. Don't forget, this is truly a great opportunity to learn one set of footprints of the Yang Jian Hou Taijiquan that could possibly lead to the understanding of Yang Luchan's incredible feat as the undefeatable in his time.