Simply chi newsletter number 9

Yang Family Style Tai Chi Chuan

As with last years trip to China the first day in Shanghai was a bit of a culture shock, this year we landed smack at the beginning of the national holiday and at holiday time the Chinese like to go out, all of them!  The subway was packed, so much so that we almost did not get on a couple of the trains, it was made no easier by transporting our 2 weeks worth of luggage with us, huge bags, packed trains, crowds of people, do NOT try this at home folks.

Trying to walk up Nanjing Lu was a nightmare so many people shoulder to shoulder and trying to walk through the tunnel to get to the bund? We almost gave up, but here we are:

                       L to R Chris Harris, some odd geezer (don’t ask), Ted Sullivan. Front row: Caroline Glynne, Matt Stannage, Susanne Hackney, Emma Harris with Archie the star of the show.

Well actually this picture is the next day but we made it. On the second day in Shanghai we took a long walk to shake out the cobwebs and kinks from the flight, we did a loop out to the bund down the river and across to Yu Garden and the Old town area. First we paid a visit to the temple of the city gods and said a prayer for a good trip, which they provided bless em. Tuckered out we staggered back to the hotel and slept likes babes.

Next day and we are into training with a vengeance only trouble is its raining so we have to squeeze into Master Carol Tians flat which was ok as it turned out as Master Bing Yuan was able to watch the guys very closely indeed. This being said we got through to the end of the first set with no major glitches and by the end of the first 3 hour session it was very clear where the training for the next few days was going to head.

James Yuen Pushing hands with Matt

Next day was the day of my Bai Shi, thought it was going to be a little affair but Master Carol, Master Bing and James Yuan put on a great show for the guys and all of my Master’s tudi came to welcome me into the Tai Chi family. Demo’s were given of the Jian (straight sword), Dao (sabre), double Tui Shou (push hands) and 4 people did the first set of the Zhong Jia (middle frame) plus they gave a powerpoint presentation (no good demo or presentation can be without one) to show the history and lineage of where our Tai Chi came from. (This has now been made into a website; address is at the end of the newsletter). After plenty of backslapping and photo’s off for a slap up meal where the highlight of the evening was or at least seemed to us the next day, introducing the Chinese to the saying ‘one more for the road’.

Back row: Mr Weng, Mr Yao, Mr Yao (number 1), Bing Yuan, Mr Yuen (James)Front row: Mr Xu, Mrs Yang, Carol Tian, Mr Zhu

Next day down to the nitty gritty of training and perfecting what we had learned of the first set, under the watchful gaze of Master Bing Yuan and Mr Weng and because it was raining again there was no pressure in doing it one at a time for the teacher, was there?

Master Bing Yuan shows Ted a thing or two

After 4 days of training its off to Pu Tou Shan for a well earned couple of days in the sun, by the beach, exploring the temples and caves that make up what is in my opinion one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on the planet. Much has been written about Pu Tuo all I can say is for as long as I am able I will go back again and again.

  Hui Ji Temple on Pu Tuo Shan Island

Another couple of days training and the guys go off to Su Zhou for the day which is great for me and Matt as we get Master Bing Yuan all to ourselves so that he can push us all over the place and I can polish up my Jian sword form.

Master Carol shows the first set of Middle Frame.

We finish our training and its sad farewells all round, much hugging as good friends say goodbye some for good, others with the determination to return in the future and here is hoping that we can meet in England some time.

Master Bing Yuan Pushing Hands with some geezer (he’s rubbish)

On the last day Matt and me take Master Bing Yuan and Master Carol for a goodbye meal and it is agreed between us that we will start the Tian Zhao Lin Tai Chi Association in the U.K under their approval to teach their Large frame Tai Chi and with a view to others learning the Middle Frame Tai Chi and the sword forms and the Gun 6ft Long Pole and maybe with some dedication to the cause becoming, in time, Tudi (Disciples) to Bing Yuan.

The future holds so much for this club it will be interesting to see how it all turns out.

All this is dedicated to the memory of my master Tian Yin Jia and his father Tian Zhao Lin, God Bless them.

     Tian Zhao Lin                                 Tian Yin Jia

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