HISTORY
Tradition claims that during the 13th century, Daoist monk Chang-San Feng created Tai Chi Chuan, a method of self defense allowing to develop internal energy (QI) and leading to immortality.
Nowadays, Tai Chi Chuan is widely practised around the world, whether as an art of movement , a martial art or a spiritual path.
YANG STYLE
Later in time, the Chen school, founded during the 17th century by Chen Wang Tin passed on the Tai Chi inside the family circle. During the 19th century, a family servant, named Yang Lu Chan (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 student. Thus was born the Yang style.
It was Yang Chen Fu, Lu Chan's grandson, who first chose spread Tai Chi Chuan 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 Cheng Man Ching, Chen Wei-Ming and Dong Ying-Jié.
CHENG MAN CHING (1900-1975)
An accomplished fighter and a refined man, Cheng Man Ching includes the philosophical aspect of Tai Chi Chuan in his teachings. He spread his art in Taiwan and the United States during the '60s . He shortened Yang Chen Fu'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 Sheng Shyan ( Huang Xingxian ) taught in Malaysia , DR Qi, William C.C.Chen an Lo Pajang chose Europe and the United States.
HUANG SHENG SHYAN (1910-1992)
Expert in the Fujian White Crane (Bai He Quan), Huang Sheng Shyan became a student of Chen Man Ching in 1947. After years of daily work at his side, he left for Malaysia at the end of the '50s teaching to thousands of students, creating a network of schools throughout South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. He codified 18 “push hand” exercises, and reintroduced a fast form based on principles of both Tai Chi Chuan and White Crane. Like Cheng Man Ching, he openly taught the deepest aspects of the art.
(read Huang Sheng Shyan interview)
PATRICK KELLY
Patrick Kelly met Huang 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 continues to form about a hundred teachers, gathering several thousands of practitioners.
(read Patrick Kelly interview)