Yang Lu Chan studied Chen Tai Chi but surpassed his teachers, earning the name Yang the Unbeatable. Thus Yang Style Tai Chi was born.
Lineage is a time-tested method to ensure quality control in instruction. You start with one of the great martial artists of all time. That highly realized practitioner certifies his students to go out and teach. The knowledge is passed from one generation to another with teachers standing behind the instruction given by their students. If a student has a serious problem and is considered unqualified to teach, their teacher withdraws support. As Bruce Lee once said, martial arts are not about fighting. It is a way of life. To ensure all of the benefits can be transmitted, the instructor needs to be evaluated not only in terms of physical technique, but in terms of character as well.
Master Yu first studied with Lee Soo Chin, a student of Yang Ban Hou. He then studied with Cheng Man-ching, a student of Yang Cheng Fu. Yang Cheng Fu was the grandson of Yang Lu Chan and popularized tai chi throughout China. But Cheng Man-Ching changed the approach significantly from his teacher in ways Mr. Yu did not follow. He also studied Shaolin Kung Fu, which aided in the development of tai chi, and he used this practice to fill in the gaps left by Cheng Man-Ching in learning to use force properly.
Master Yu - Snake Creeps Down
“Just to give you a bit of overview of my back ground, I was born in 1929 in Shanghai, China. As a young boy, I studied Shaolin Chuan with Hou Zheng Chi. I went to Taiwan in 1949 and first studied tai chi chuan with Lee Sou Chin. When Master Lee passed away, I became a disciple of Cheng Man Ching to further my studies. I came to United States in 1979 and have been teaching tai chi Chuan in New York and New Jersey.”
Mr. Yu
Master Yu - Shaolin Chuan
“I would like to take this moment to explain a little about the tai chi chuan. When you practice, do not worry about which style. However, you must be take care of a couple of things where you will find a different feeling on your body.”
“First, you must be understand that the main purpose of tai chi chuan is the moving your body to the correct location. Second, if you know how to move your body it is important to understand where the force come and what support the movement of the body. Don’t forget it is the joint.”
“For a long time I have learned Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan and I got the technique just from the forms. This means that I have learned to match the form skill with my body together. You know the American idiom, “no pain no gain.” I want to emphasize that it is incorrect to practice the form soft and relaxed.”
“I hope you will watch very carefully every form of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan.”
Mr. Yu
Steve Kanney - White Snake/Tongue Out
Tai Chi Instructor
Steve Kanney began practicing tai chi with Master Yu due to health concerns in 1999. He began the practice of Aikido in 1978, but was unable to train in 1998 as his body was too weak. A Chinese doctor told him to begin tai chi practice. He replied that he only wanted to train in aikido. The doctor said, “You would like to practice aikido?” Steve replied, “Yes.” To which the doctor said, “Then practice tai chi so that you can practice aikido.” Steve met Master Yu in June 1999 after 9 months of poor health. Within 2 weeks he returned to work and started aikido training shortly thereafter.
During his continued training with Master Yu, he also studied an 81 move form from Wutang Mountain style of tai chi, whose main focus was health. In addition, he studied Chen Tai Chi, including basic forms as well as the older long forms and weapons.
As he found the style of Cheng Hsiang Yu to be the most effective as a martial art and also the best for health, he is only teaching this style. He continues his studies by taking classes with a senior student of Master Yu, and the Westchester class takes periodic trips into Manhattan for exposure to this instruction as well.
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