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I thought I’d share my meeting with
Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan. He is one of
the great unknowns outside of
China due to a lack of English, but is
so well known within China.
Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan is a man who
has come up through the ranks of the
Shanghai Wu Shu Federation, was an
integral part of the national team and
emerged as the primary lineage holder of
Eagle Claw Kung Fu and a lineage holder
of Da Yan (Wild Goose) Qi Gong. He has
also studied Ba Gua Zhang and Xing Yi
since 6 years of age. Now in his 76th
year he still trains every day - up at
about 5:30am for his own training in
either Eagle Claw, Da Yan Gong (Wild
Goose), Ba Gua Zhang or Xing Yi, then
off around 8am to the park to teach some
of the older citizens. Most weeks he
goes out to schools to teach kids simple
Kung Fu to keep them fit.
Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan has slowed his
competing somewhat over the last 10
years - he only does the big provincial
or national competitions and it’s a rare
day he does not get his gold medal. He
had been awarded 5 in the last year
alone! He is a busy man, working harder
at 76 than I do at 43.
I met him through one of my annual
voluntary / study trips to a TCM
(traditional Chinese medicine) hospital
in Hangzhou, China. I’d been on the
look out for a good teacher.
My good friend Darren Stone, an
Australian TCM practitioner like me,
introduced me to Grand Master Yin Zhu
Yan.
I was one of a few people who introduced
Darren to his wife Annie. Annie, a
senior TCM doctor, had been my
interpreter on a previous trip to the
hospital and had become a friend over
the years. I’d encouraged Darren, who
was staying longer than me, to keep
company with the very knowledgeable and
fun loving Annie. Little did I know she
had a crush on him and they married
shortly after. Anyway, Darren had found
Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan by accident (as
so many meeting of this type are) when
he was training at the local park just
along from where he lived.
Darren saw him in the distance and
thought ‘”What’s that?”. He wandered
over, saw this guy really had
‘something’ so he started to train with
him. “This guy is really great at
Medical Qi Gong (as we in the west call
it) do you want to meet him?” Darren
asked me. I was curious and asked what
he was like. I got a vague “His qi is
really big” and “his medical Qi Gong is
very strong”.
I was confused but intrigued - I trusted
Darren’s instinct. “I can’t really
explain him - you just have to meet him
to understand” was the only explanation
I got. Boy, he sure was right! Grand
Master Yin Zhu Yan is the type of person
that you meet rarely in your lifetime.
As soon as you meet him you know he has
got ‘it’. Even if you can’t articulate
what ‘it’ is, when you see ‘it’ you just
know.
When I first met Grand Master Yin Zhu
Yan he gave me a basic TCM (traditional
Chinese medicine) check over. He checked
my pulses to see how my qi was in
various organs of the body (Heart and
Small Intestine, Spleen and Stomach,
Pericardium and Triple Heater, Lung and
Large Intestine, Kidney and Bladder,
Liver and Gall Bladder), looked at my
tongue to check the organs and qi,
checked my inner top lip for why, I am
unsure (didn’t get a full answer too
that one, when I do I’ll let you know),
then confirmed his diagnosis by looking
at my palm. He told me things about
myself I hadn’t ever verbalised even to
my wife. Finally he scanned my qi and
told me more stuff. At this point I was
fairly impressed to say the least, and
not a little freaked out!
Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan told me about
his vision, his “Sky Eye” that he uses
to see inside people to fully diagnose
them and see if they have deep-set
problems. He said this was a skill that
Yang Mei Jun his Da Yan Gong Master had
taught him. You may or maynot know,
Yang Mei Jun is very famous around the
world for giving us Da Yan Gong or Wild
Goose Qi Gong as it known.
Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan continued to
train faithfully all through the late
80’s, 90’s and into the 2000’s - even
through the dark days of Fa Lun Gong.
I was so impressed that I asked to be
his student there and then thinking he
would just laugh at me and wave me off
as not being good enough, but to my
surprise he said yes. Grand Master Yin
Zhu Yan even offered to take me on as an
official Tudi the following year (2006)
along with Darren, but I had to practice
hard and prove my worth in the
meantime. He was pleased my tai chi
teacher was also working on building up
my qi.
I had learned many Dao Yin sets such as
Ba Duan Jin (8 brocades), Wu Qin Xi (5
animal frolics), Shaolin Nei Gong,
Daoist strengthening Nei Gong, and Tai
Chi Nei Gong. I had seen Da Yan Gong
performed in the West. I was not as
impressed as I might have been and
didn’t consider it medical qi gong.
Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan wanted to teach
myself and Darren Da Yan and I admit to
feeling a little disappointed. That was
until I started to do it - what a
transformation, I loved it and wanted to
learn the whole thing.
Everyday I practiced a small exercise he
had given me and I also practiced the
Yang family’s middle frame tai chi
taught to me.
I was so impressed that I asked to be
his student there and then thinking he
would just laugh at me and wave me off
as not being good enough, but to my
surprise he said yes. Grand Master Yin
Zhu Yan even offered to take me on as an
official Tudi the following year (2006)
along with Darren, but I had to practice
hard and prove my worth in the
meantime. He was pleased my tai chi
teacher was also working on building up
my qi.
I had learned many Dao Yin sets such as
Ba Duan Jin (8 brocades), Wu Qin Xi (5
animal frolics), Shaolin Nei Gong,
Daoist strengthening Nei Gong, and Tai
Chi Nei Gong. I had seen Da Yan Gong
performed in the West. I was not as
impressed as I might have been and
didn’t consider it medical qi gong.
Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan wanted to teach
myself and Darren Da Yan and I admit to
feeling a little disappointed. That was
until I started to do it - what a
transformation, I loved it and wanted to
learn the whole thing.
Everyday I practiced a small exercise he
had given me and I also practiced the
Yang family’s middle frame tai chi
taught to me.
When I returned in 2006 I was pleased
when Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan confirmed
my qi had strengthened enough to be
accepted as his Tudi. Sandy joined me
out in China. It was her 4th
year visiting Hangzhou. Sandy is
qualified in Chinese medical massage
also used to treat hospital patients.
She was looking forward to taking photos
of the Bai Shi ceremony and catching a
glimpse of Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan, as
she got from me, the same stumbling
explanation of Master Yin that I had
received from Darren. I brought Sandy
along to my training sessions. Grand
Master Yin Zhu Yan gave her that same
rigorous health screening that I
underwent, before declaring her in good
health. He showed her a couple of
things to move her qi. The exercise he
had her practice kept her fascinated for
nearly 2 hours, it was almost hypnotic
to watch. The next day he invited Sandy
to train with Darren and me.
That was just the start of a very
interesting and fascinating training
period. Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan taught
us many things, such as; a form to
strengthen our internal qi as well as
how gather qi from the environment
(trees and plants). As he was
explaining and training us, he
demonstrated how to manipulate inner qi
with the hands. We watched attentively
- it was the most fabulous thing I have
ever seen. In the space between his
arms started to grow a shimmering light
and a movement that I can’t explain.
With the movement came flashes of light
and swirls like whirlpools of energy.
For maybe 2 minutes Grand Master Yin Zhu
Yan continued to manipulate the energy
and then gathered it back in to his
body, I just stood transfixed. I was
thinking, “Did I really just see that or
am I convincing myself I just saw
that?”. It was like something straight
out of the films, not from real life. I
did not look at either Sandy or Darren.
I just kept looking forward mulling over
what it was that I had just witnessed.
When finally I did turn, it was at the
same time as Sandy and we simultaneously
said “Did you just see that?”. We both
turned to Darren and we all just laughed
and said “Wow, I can’t believe what I
just saw!”. Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan
had a great big knowing grin on his
face. He knew what we had seen and he
knew we were impressed!
Darren Stone, Sandy, Grand Master Yin
Zhu Yan, and me
After only 8 days of training with him
we got a big surprise. Grand Master Yin
Zhu Yan was very impressed with Sandy
and said that if she was happy to (how
could she not be?) he would take her on
to also be his Tudi. He had something
special in mind for us all. He wanted to
teach us something he had not shown
anyone else and was happy for us to
popularise it in the West. Sandy has
been doing Tai Chi and Dao Yin for over
10 years and has trained under many of
the same teachers that I have. She was
hooked! Just like me, she’s practicing
hard to strengthen her qi so that we’ll
be at a level for Grand Master Yin Zhu
Yan to pass on his closely guarded
secrets.
At the end of our stay in
China
we found out that Grand Master Yin Zhu
Yan had set up our Bai Shi ceremony. A
meal had been arranged for the Wu Shu
Federation of Zhejiang Province and
Hangzhou to attend. We were to be taken
on officially and formally introduced to
the heads of the Wu Shu Federation. At
the top table was Grand Master Yen, the
chairman of the Wu Shu Federation and
Grand Master Chang, the Vice Chairman.
They were 2 of the most physically
intimidating men I have ever met (and I
have met a few)! Master Yen was 6ft
tall and looked possibly 6 ft wide -
almost square and made entirely of
muscle (no fat there) with a shiny bald
head and a huge smile. You can guess
what nickname sprang to mind as a means
of remembering his name? That’s right,
The Laughing Buddha! Master Chang was
nearly the same size but with forearms
like Popeye (which ended up being his
nickname). Other honoured guests
included the provincial champion of San
Shou (full contact fighting), the “Heads
Of” all of the main styles of Tai Chi
and Dao Yin, plus some top doctors and
teachers from around the area, not to
mention many of Grand Master Yin Zhu
Yan’s family and students.
When the ceremony started we gave Grand
Master Yin Zhu Yan a letter of
introduction telling him about our
training and lives in Britain and we
each gave him a present. As the oldest
of the Tudi, I gave a little speech on
behalf of Sandy and Darren. How much it
meant to be honoured as Tudi and how we
hoped that this would open up
communications between China, Britain
and Australia. It would also strengthen
the Wu Shu bonds of friendship in the
East and in the West.
We were given certificates to
commemorate the occasion and many photos
were taken under a special banner Grand
Master Yin Zhu Yan had made for the Bai
Shi ceremony. The eating and drinking
began with everyone toasting everyone
else. Much laughter came from the
tables. We had many surreal moments
such as when Master Chang (Popeye) was
heard to say to Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan,
“Aaahhh Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan, your
Eagle Claw Kung Fu is very strong, but
my Kung Fu is stronger! Hah, hah, haaah!”.
Laughter, back slapping and clinking of
wine glasses all round. It was straight
out of a Hong Kong Kung fu movie! It
was truly and honour to be amongst it
all.
Mark Sandy and Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan
We can’t wait to get back out to China
and continue our training with this
fascinating man and to study further
this powerful form of Dao Yin. We have
been asked by Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan
to teach Da Yan Gong (Wild Goose Qi
Gong) in England and been given an open
invitation to take students over to work
with Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan when they
have been training for a while.
Watch out for workshops and classes
starting soon.
Guess that’s why they call it Eagle Claw
Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan proudly shows
his 5 gold medals
Tudi and a Bai Shi
Ceremony
A Tudi (pronounced Too Dee) is the
adoption of a student to Master’s
martial family circle. Literally
translated as ‘student’ or
‘apprentice’. The acceptance of a Tudi
is usually coupled with a Bai Shi
ceremony (pronounced By Shur), which is
the student asking the Master to share
his knowledge and literally translates
as ‘Ask teacher for knowledge’.
Together, the bestowing the title of
Tudi and commemorating the special bond
between Master and student with the Bai
Shi ceremony, the adoption is officially
recognised and is documented in the
scrolls and stored in a temple on
Shaolin mountain. After the Bai Shi the
student and Master’s lives are connected
through the extension of the family
units and the Tudi is then officially
recognised as the next generation in the
lineage of the martial art. The Master
is free to give the student all of the
knowledge they want, all the closely
guarded secrets - the lot.
According to the Chinese Wu Shu Association, Masters are allowed
to take Tudi’s once they are over 70
years of age. A Master is not a Master
until they have Tudi’s.
History of Da Yan Gong (Dayan
Gong) or Wild Goose Qi Gong
Da Yan Gong or Wild Goose Qi Gong
started nearly 1700 years ago in the
north-west of China, high above the
Himalayas, in the mystical Kun Lun
Mountains. A hermit named Si Dao An
(the Peaceful Way) observed the
movements of the many wild geese in the
area and began to incorporate these
bending, stretching, twisting and
fluttering techniques into a
health-enhancing routine, Strengthening
and moving the Qi both through the
channels and meridians and through the
acupuncture points.
There are many forms in Da Yan Gong the
2 main ones are 64 movements long and
there are many others that are quite
short and others that are mainly
meditative. There is a lot to Da Yan
Gong as there is with all of the Chinese
Arts, what may look very simple involves
a lot of work.
The 27th generation inheritor,
Grandmaster Yang Mei Jun (who died in
2002 aged 107 or 109, a little unclear
on that but hey what’s 2 years after so
long?) was the first to teach Da Yan
Gong openly inside China.
Before Yang Mei Jun, Da Yan Gong was
passed down secretly. Yang Mei Jun only
passed this art on fully to 3 people,
her son, Master Yin and one other man
(who now resides somewhere in Guang Dong
province). She learned this form of Nei
Gong (Inner Skill) from her Grandfather
from the age of 13 and later retreated
away from the world on Mount Wudang.
When she came out of retreat in 1980 she
returned to her home in Beijing and
began to teach Da Yan Gong to local
people and became well known. However at
the time she went into retreat she lost
contact with her son who had joined the
army, not knowing what had become of him
she went in search of an apprentice or
Tudi to pass on her skills to.
Yang Mei Jun travelled to Beijing,
Shanghai and Hangzhou. In Hangzhou she
found Yin Zhu Yan, Master of Eagle Claw
Kung Fu, Ba Gua Zhang and Xing Yi. When
Grand Master Yin Zhu Yan saw how strong
Da Yan Gong was he asked Yang Mei Jun to
take him on as her Tudi.
Did you know? Mark,
Sandy & Darren are Grand Master Yin Zhu
Yan’s first overseas (foreign) Tudi |
