Legend has it that, in 13th-century China, the Taoist monk Zhang Sanfeng (Chang-San Feng) observed a crane and a snake fighting, and had the revelation that the soft wins over the hard, and calm tames aggression.
This led to the creation of Taijiquan, a self-defence method that encourages the development of internal energy (Qi) and leads to "immortality".
Nowadays, Taiji is widely practised around the world, whether as an art of movement , a martial art or a spiritual path.
Yang Style
Yang Style
The Chen school, founded during the 17th century by Chen Wang Tin passed on the Taiji inside the family circle.
During the 19th century, a family servant, named Yang Luchan (1799-1882) was found spying on the lessons.
Chen Chan Xing asked him to demonstrate what he had learned, and he revealed himself so skilled that the master accepted him as a student. Thus was born the Yang style.
It was Yang Chenfu, Luchan's grandson, who first chose to spread Taijiquan outside the family.
He abandoned the fast form, and created the slow form ( 108 moves ) which is still the skeleton of the Yang style.
After his death, his teachings spread out of China, amongst others by Zheng Manqing (Cheng Man Ching), Chen Wei-Ming and Dong Ying-Jié.
Zheng Manqing
(1900-1975)
Zheng Manqing
(1900-1975)
An accomplished fighter and a refined man, Zheng Manqing (Cheng Man Ching) includes the philosophical aspect of Taijiquan in his teachings. He spread his art in Taiwan and the United States during the '60s.
He shortened Yang Chenfu's form to 37 movements to allow a more direct access to the ideas and principles, in our modern society.
Amongst his most advanced students, Huang Xingxian (Huang Sheng Shyan) taught in Malaysia , Dr Qi, William C.C.Chen and Lo Pajang chose Europe and the United States.
Huang Xingxian
(1910-1992)
Huang Xingxian
(1910-1992)
Expert in the Fujian White Crane (Bai He Quan), Huang Xingxian (Huang Sheng Shyan) became a student of Zheng Manqing (Chen Man Ching) in 1947.
After years of daily training at his side, he left for Malaysia at the end of the '50s teaching to thousands of students, creating a network of schools throughout SouthEast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
He codified 18 “push hand” exercises, and reintroduced a fast form based on principles of both Taijiquan and White Crane.
Like Zheng Manqing (Cheng Man Ching), he openly taught the deepest aspects of the art.
Patrick Kelly
Patrick Kelly
Patrick Kelly met Huang Xingxian (Huang Sheng Shyan) in 1973. He became one of his closest students, until his death in 1992.
Patrick Kelly then decided to carry Master Huang's teachings to Europe. Today, this recognized expert teaches in Shanghai and continues to form about a hundred teachers, gathering several thousands of practitioners.