Yang Zheng Ji’s Signed Taijiquan BookBy Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD
Our family visited Hong Kong in 1999 and during that time met with a number of martial arts masters linked in one way or another to our family gongfu system. This is because there are a number of different arts that comprise our style such as Taizu and Tongbei Longfist, Snake Form, Yang Style Taijiquan, Spear Form, Qigong, and various weaponry, etc. We practice the Old Style of Yang Cheng Fu’s Taijiquan System. Yang Cheng Fu (1883–1936) was the grandson of Yang Lu Chan (1799–1872 – the Founder of the Yang Family Taijiquan Lineage) and a very renowned fighter in his own right. As a master of martial arts he was also an expert in Daoist self-cultivation, robust health building and longevity. I was told by a descendent of Yang Cheng Fu that he taught a number of versions of his style of Taijiquan – with some variants not as profound as others – to suit the character of the disciples. Deep-minded students received the authentic transmission, whilst shallow-minded disciples received a more practical version suitable to their needs. The father of our Master Chan Tin Sang (1924-1993) – Chan Yun Fat (no dates) – trained directly with Yang Cheng Fu in the early 1930’s and this is how Yang Taijiquan became part of our Hakka martial tradition. In the year 2000 we received a book in the post from China written by Yang Zheng Ji (the middle son of Yang Cheng Fu) which gives an overview of the Yang Taijiquan Style from its inception and into the modern day. As our version of the Yang Style was authenticated in China as a true transmission of Yang Cheng Fu – we received a signed copy of the book with the signature of his son - Yang Zheng Ji - and his wife, which even includes their ‘official’ family stamps.
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2016.
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