Translations (译文)
Connections is available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Chinese. We are very grateful for our translators who volunteered to translate: Cyntia S. Levy, Rubén Coirini, Daniela Famulari, Gennaro Ripa, Françoise Desagnat, Jean-Claude Miremont, Thilo Krienke, Huang Gang, Zhao Ruiyuan, and Yao Tiebin. Thank you very much! Here are the links to the other languages:
Welcome to Our New Members
I would like to welcome all new members who have recently joined our international association. Thank you for joining us and welcome to our tai chi family! I am happy you have chosen to join us and hope that you feel welcome and receive great value from your membership.
I hope that all members will have a long and fulfilling relationship with our association. For those members who have been with us through the years, I appreciate that you have chosen to stay with us as we continue to spread tai chi chuan worldwide to help humankind.
Sincerely,
Grandmaster Yang Jun
President
New Logo
Yang Family Tai Chi has a new logo. It was designed to be readable in China as we expand in that country. Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo painted the calligraphy used in the logo's design. Another change made was to use the words "Yang Family Tai Chi" instead of "Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan". "Tai Chi Chuan" refers to the martial art itself. "Tai Chi" is more expansive, going beyond the martial art and widening the meaning to refer to health, business, and many other areas.
Essential Form
Grandmaster Yang Jun recently recorded a video demonstrating the new Essential Form. It is available for association members in the "Members Only" section of our website. WATCH VIDEO
The Essential Form was created by Grandmaster Yang Jun in response to the needs of beginner tai chi students and the teachers who teach beginner classes. This shorter hand form of 22 movements includes most of the movements from the longer 103 Movement Traditional Form but is easier and faster to learn.
Beginners often say that the Traditional Form takes too much effort to learn and they find it challenging to commit to an entire year to learn the form when their lives are already very busy. While the longer Traditional Form is still recommended for receiving the many benefits of practicing tai chi, the Essential Form allows beginners to complete an entire hand form in just a few months. Teachers may choose to teach the Essential Form as a prerequisite to the Traditional Form. Students who choose to continue afterwards and learn the Traditional Form will find it easier to learn and may be better prepared for the longer time commitment required. This may help increase student retention rates in tai chi classes.
The Essential Form is highly suitable for tai chi classes taught in places such as gyms, clubs, businesses, or community programs that are looking for a shorter alternative to the Traditional Form. And since it only takes about 6 minutes to perform, the Essential Form is more suitable for public tai chi demonstrations and tai chi competitions.
China Adventure Cancelled
Our association was planning a China Adventure (symposium, tournament, and tour) for the summer of 2018. Unfortunately this event has been canceled. We hope to offer it next year.
North American Teacher Academy Training
The North American Teacher Academy Training Division will offer the 2018 National Event on September 14-16. At this event, Grandmaster Yang Jun will present a hand form seminar. Academy faculties will offer courses on anatomy and bio mechanics, and pedagogy. The event will take place on the campus of Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT. Details of the program and the registration form will be available soon.
For more information please contact:
Mari Lewis Yang Yaju: mari@yangfamilytaichi.com
Head Director, North American TA Training Division
Spring Festival Celebration at Shanxi Yang Family Tai Chi Center
Tai chi practitioners gathered at the Shanxi Yang Family Tai Chi Center in Taiyuan China for a Spring Festival Celebration to celebrate the New Year. Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo and his wife, Hu Ruidi, attended the celebration which included a variety of performances.
(The video also contains a special new year's wish for Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo that was recorded at the Directors and Instructors Seminar in January in Bothell, Washington.)
Happy New Year from Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo
Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo and the Yang family wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year!
Grandmaster Yang Jun's Seminar Schedule
Seminar in San Jose, California, USA
The Affiliated School of San Jose, along with 14 participants from the Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center of Stockton, sponsored a 3-day sword seminar January 13-15 with Grandmaster Yang Jun. Mr. Mingyang Li is the director of the Affiliated School of San Jose that was newly formed in 2017 with the help of the YCF Center of Stockton.
Seminar in Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
Grandmaster Yang Jun taught a hand form seminar January 21-23 in Zhongshan, Guangdong. Zhongshan is the same city where his grandfather's older brothers Yang Zhenming and Yang Zhenji taught 70-80 years ago.
Directors and Instructors Seminar, Bothell, WA, USA
From January 27-31, a seminar for directors and instructors was held in Bothell, Washington. Participants learned the Essential Form, practiced push hands including the 2-person push hands form, and learned a great amount of tai chi theory.
Belt and Road China Tai Chi Culture World Tour
Grandmaster Yang Jun along with other world-renowned tai chi masters Kang Gewu, Chen Xiaowang, Wang Zanhai, Tong Hongyun, and Huang Xin participated in a series of seminars in Europe from February 18-28, 2018. The seminars were part of the Belt and Road China Tai Chi Culture World Tour. Cities in the tour included Vicenza, Berlin, Vienna, and Budapest. The seminar tour was organized in cooperation with China's central government to share tai chi culture with the world. The event was advertised in Times Square, New York.
Grandmaster Yang Jun Interview
Ana Horta (Sao Paolo YCF Center), Jose Luis Castro, and Lucas Saraceni (Ribeirão Preto YCF Center) recorded a video interview with Grandmaster Yang Jun in November 2017 during a seminar in Brazil. The interview is posted on their blog. WATCH VIDEO
Ranking Event at Bedminster/Montclair Yang Chengfu Center
The Bedminster/Montclair Yang Chengfu Center held a ranking event on November 11, 2017. Congratulations to the following students:
Copper Eagle Rank: Paul Strnatko, Suzanne Li, Eric Moore, Marlene Hendrian, Keith Zurcher, Jean Chu
Silver Eagle Rank: Michelle Gouin, Gang Huang, Beverly Saadeh, Richard Grzanka, James White, Anthony DiPrimio, Erwin Jongh Visscher
Richard Grzanka, Gang Huang, Erwin Jongh Visscher
Beverly Saadeh, Paul Strnatko, James White
Michigan Tai Chi Center, USA
Instructors from the Michigan Tai Chi Center attended the Directors and Instructors Seminar, January 2018 in Bothell, Washington. Great training from Master Yang Jun! We enjoyed reconnecting with our tai chi brothers and sisters.
Instructor Course - Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan - Instructor Course - Brazil
BEGINS: March, 2018
ENDS: August, 2019
Classes one weekend per month every month, all day Saturday and Sunday.
WHERE: Ribeirão Preto Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center - Brazil
CONTACT: Fernando De Lazzari: fernando@yangfamilytaichi.com
View more information about the course on the website: www.taichichuan.com.br
Seminar in Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 1-3, 2018
Seminar in Sao Paulo, Brazil with Laoshi Fang Hong
01 June: Friday - 7:00 p.m. Lecture: "A Female Vision on the 10 Principles of Master Yang Chengfu" - Free lecture to be offered at the SBTCC Headquarters.
02 and 03 June: Saturday and Sunday - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.and 3:00 p.m. to
5:00 p.m. - Essential Form Seminar
For a longer description of the seminar, please visit our website.
For more information contact: Angela Soci - YCFTCC Center Sao Paulo, Brazil
angelasoci@sbtcc.org.br
Seminar in Stockholm with Teo Mei Mei
Eugene, Oregon Center
Grandmaster Yang Jun will be presenting a seminar in Eugene, Oregon September 8-9, 2018 hosted by the Eugene Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center. The focus of the seminar is the Traditional 103 Hand Form and an afternoon of push hands. Several Eugene Center students have offered their homes to those who may need to reduce costs of lodging or are traveling from distant locations. Those wishing additional information can contact Center Director James Fox at either 541-285-5949 or james@yangfamilytaichi.com
Happy New Year!
On February 18, many students from four Seattle-area YMCAs gathered with their teacher, Stefanie Russell, at Coal Creek YMCA for their annual Lunar New Year Celebration. Everyone enjoyed studying, practicing and sharing treats together which strengthened the feeling of community.
They extend their best wishes for a healthy and prosperous Year of the Earth Dog to the Yang Family and to their taiji brothers and sisters everywhere! Xin Nian Kuai Le!
Journal Gem
Journal Gem
The Tao of Learning Tai Chi Chuan: A Conversation with Master Yang Jun. (By Dave Barrett). Volume 23, Summer 2008, pages 16-21.
READ ARTICLE
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