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THE YANG FAMILY
MASTER YANG JUN Master Yang Jun began his training with Master Yang Zhen Duo when he was only 5 years old. He is proficient in Tai Chi Chuan, Sword, Saber, Push Hands, and many other forms of Tai Chi. Beginning in 1982 when they went to Singapore, Master Yang Zhen Duo has taken Yang Jun with him whenever he traveled abroad to teach. Now, after nearly twenty years and dozens of seminars around the world, Yang Jun has become a teacher in his own right. His skill is unquestioned. His forms seamlessly combine softness with hardness, finesse with flair, and restraint with expression. Since 1995, Yang Jun has served as the Vice President of Operations and Training of the Shanxi Province Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association with over 30,000 members in his hometown province of Shanxi. In October 1998 Yang Jun created the International Association and has served as President since. In August of 1999 Yang Jun moved to Seattle with his wife Fang Hong to formally begin working for the International Association and to establish a school in Seattle. Yang Jun represents the first member of the Yang Family to live outside of China. Master Yang Jun graduated from Shanxi University in 1989 with a degree in physical education. In 1995 the Chinese WuShu Academy recognized him as a famous WuShu master in Shanxi Province. In 1996 he was certified as the highest level national judge and served as the head judge at the 1998 National Tai Chi Chuan Competition in China.
GRANDMASTER YANG ZHEN DUO He started studying with his father when very young and continued studying with his elder brother after his father passed away. Not only did he practice hard, but also he enjoyed researching and advancing his technique. He worked hard at understanding and advancing the theory of tai chi chuan. Being very approachable and caring, he has continuously treated those around him with kindness and respect. His patience is a reflection of his father's character. He possesses a great desire to pass on his ancestors' consummate skill and spends his time unselfishly sharing the benefits of tai chi chuan. In 1960 Master Yang Zhenduo moved to Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. Since then, Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan has gradually spread within Taiyuan and to other cities, provinces, and countries. Now, his students number in the tens of thousands in his home province and are spreading throughout the world at an ever-increasing rate. He has traveled to 8 different countries to share his charisma and his art. Since 1980 he has served as Vice-President of the Shanxi Wushu Association. In 1982 Yang Zhenduo founded the Shanxi Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association, and has served as President since. The Association has now grown to over 30,000 members throughout the Province and is the largest martial arts organization of its kind in China. In October 1998 Yang Zhenduo founded the International Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association, serving as Chairman of the Board. Under his leadership, in just one year the International Association has grown to 18 centers in 9 countries with over 350 members. The Chinese WuShu Academy recognized Master Yang Zhenduo in 1996 as one of the top 100 WuShu Masters in China. He has also been honored by proclamations from the Mayors of San Antonio, Texas and Troy, Michigan. Master Yang Zhenduo has appeared on the covers of Tai Chi and other martial arts magazines at home and abroad. He has written 5 books on the study of Tai Chi and countless articles. He has produced 3 complete sets of videos instructing in the Yang Style system of Tai Chi.
GRANDMASTER YANG
CHENG FU He was born into the famous Yang Taijiquan family, the son of Yang Chienhou and grandson of Yang Luchan. With his older brother Yang Shaohou, he was among the first teachers to offer Taijiquan instruction to the general public at the Beijing Physical Culture Research Institute from 1914 until 1928. He moved to Shanghai in 1928. He is known for having "smoothed" out the somewhat more vigorous training routine he learned from his family as well as emphasizing a "large frame" or "Da Jia " with expansive movements in stepping and using large circular motions with the arms. His smooth, evenly-paced large frame form has been the standard for Yang style Taijiquan. His sons have continued to teach their father's Taijiquan, including - his first son, the late Yang Zhenming (1910-1985), who brought Yang style Tai Chi Chuan to Hong Kong, - his second son Yang Zhenji (born 1921), and - his third son, Yang Zhenduo ( born 1926), living in Shanxi Province, who is widely considered the most prominent of the Yang family Tai Chi Chuan instructors living today.
GRANDMASTER YANG JIAN HOU Yang Chienhou's sons Yang Chengfu and Yang Shaohou were also famous teachers of Taijiquan.
THE FOUNDER OF YANG TAI CHI - YANG LU CHAN According to several accounts, Yang first started studying Taijiquan in the Chen family village from Chen Changhsing in 1820. He was subsequently given permission by his teacher to go to the capital and teach his own students. In 1850, Yang was hired by the Imperial family to teach Taijiquan to them and several of their elite Manchu Imperial Guards Brigade units in Beijing's Forbidden City. This was the beginning of the spread of Taijiquan from the family art of a small village in central China to an international phenomenon. Due to his influence and the number of teachers he trained, including his own descendants, Yang is directly acknowledged by four of the five major Taijiquan families as having transmitted the art to them. Yang Luchan passed his art to: - his second son but oldest son to live to maturity, Yang Banhou (1837-1892), who was also retained as a martial arts instructor by the Chinese Imperial family. - his third son Yang Jianhou (1839-1917), who passed it to his sons, Yang Shaohou (1862-1930) and Yang Chengfu (1883-1936). Yang Luchan was also known as Yang the Invincible.
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