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: Rubén Coirini, Daniela Famulari, Gennaro Ripa, Françoise Desagnat, Jean-Claude Miremont, Thilo Krienke, Davi Garritano, and Li Mingyang. 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 Yang Family Tai Chi. 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,
Yang Jun
President
Grand Opening in Brazil
The grand opening of the Brazilian branch of Yang Family Tai Chi took place on November 11, 2022, in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. This is our association's first self-directed branch of Yang Family Tai Chi. It will represent our international association in Brazil, managing members, ranking exams, instructor certification, training, and events. The branch creates a direct channel for Brazilian instructors, members, and practitioners. It will also expand the scope and importance of Yang Family Tai Chi in Brazil. Members of the Branch Executive Committee are as follows:
Angel Soci - President
Fernando De Lazzari - VP of Administration
Davi Garritano - VP of Instruction & Standards
Ana Horta - VP of Operations
Yang Family Tai Chi has a long history in Brazil that spans decades. Thanks to the dedication of many people to the art of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan, Brazil now has a strong community of tai chi practitioners that continues to grow. Thank you to everyone who participated in and helped organize the grand opening. Congratulations to everyone!
You can view the video of the event on our YouTube channel.
Jason Yang's First Seminar
From Sept 12-14, the 6th generation of Yang Family Tai Chi, teacher Jason Yang, taught his very first seminar! Teacher Jason taught push hands for three days in San Jose, California, USA. Twelve students attended and learned a great amount from teacher Jason about improving push hands skills. The students asked him to teach again and he promised to come back next year. Congratulations, Jason!
Master Yang Jun's Seminar Schedule
Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
April 22 - 23: Senior Form
April 24: Push Hands
Paris, France
April 29 - May 1: 103 Hand Form
May 2: Push Hands
May 3: Saber
Lausanne, Switzerland
May 27 - 29: 103 Hand Form
Rome, Italy
June 1 - 3: 103 Hand Form
June 4 - 5: Sword
Mexico City, Mexico
June 17 - 18 Essential Form
June 19: Saber
Please visit our association's website for more information as it becomes available.
Summer 2022 TTM-1 Seminar
Teacher Academy USA was the host of the Summer TTM-1 seminar with Master Yang Jun. The seminar was held on September 16-18, 2022 at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT USA. This in-person training, after three years of isolation, gave everyone the opportunity to reconnect, make new friends and, together with Master Yang, renew our tai chi spirit!
Seminar in Bothell, WA, USA
From September 24-25, Master Yang Jun taught a Senior Form seminar in Bothell, WA. This was the first seminar in Bothell since the pandemic began.
Seminar in Siegen, Germany
Master Yang Jun visited Siegen to teach a seminar from October 1-4. The training included the Traditional Form and push hands. Master Yang also encouraged participants to apply tai chi in their lives. There was so much valuable information presented and everyone left feeling like they learned a great amount. Thank you to everyone for participating in the seminar!
Instructor Seminar in Rome, Italy
After a 3-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were finally able to come together for a three-day instructor seminar with Master Yang Jun from October 7-9. Many instructors and members of the Teacher Academy from Europe, the United States, and Canada participated in this long-anticipated event.
We were guests at the San Vincenzo monastery in Bassano Romano, 50 kilometers north of Rome. The monastery is a peaceful, relaxing venue with beautiful surrounding gardens and large tree-shaded lawns. The seminar took place outdoors allowing us to take advantage of the splendid warm days that accompanied us throughout the seminar.
Master Yang Jun clarified and traced the fundamental path of study and practice for all the teachers of Yang Family Tai Chi. Starting with a deeper explanation of the fundamental Classics of Tai Chi Chuan and of the internal Chinese martial arts (Nei Jià), he added his method of practice and teaching stemming from his many years of experience. Partner work focused on the energy of tai chi chuan and its various modes of expression with various exercises and applications.
It was a great seminar for its content and for the spirit and energy that we shared with everyone who attended.
Seminar in Cervo (Lugo), Spain
For the third time, the National Department of Taiji Quan FEKM (Director: Miguel Ángel Rojjo) organized a seminar with Master Yang Jun. This was the second time in 2022 that Master Yang traveled to Spain to teach. The seminar focused on the Traditional Form. Everyone was very grateful for Master Yang's visit and the event was a success!
Seminar in San Jose, CA, USA
Master Yang Jun taught a Traditional Form seminar in the San Jose area from October 29-30. The seminar was organized by Lily Li. A ranking event was also held. Master Yang Jun was the head judge, Fang Hong and Raymond Tom were scoring judges, and Jason Yang was the push hands partnering judge.
Seminar in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
From November 12-15, Master Yang Jun taught an Essential Form seminar and an Instructor seminar in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Many people traveled from across South America and North America to attend.
Photo: Master Yang Jun with some of his disciples in Ribeirão Preto
News from Michigan YFTC Center
In August, the Michigan YFTC Center participated in the Michigan Cultural and Diversity Festival, presenting the Yang family's Essential Form, Saber Form, Sword Form, and short staff on Asian Night.
For their "Around the World with Yang Family Tai Chi" video, they filmed the Essential Form at a unique auto shop with a great antique car collection. They chose this location because Detroit, Michigan is known as the "Motor City" for its production of cars.
In early October, they held their Yang Family Tai Chi ranking event. It was their first ranking event in three years. Photo: Ranking Committee
20-Year Anniversary of YFTC in Mexico
During Master Yang's upcoming seminar in June 2023, the Yang Family Tai Chi Center in Mexico City will hold a special ceremony to mark the 20-year anniversary of Yang Family Tai Chi in Mexico.
In 2002, Director Daniel Corona was encouraged by his sister and father to look for a true master if he wanted to study tai chi chuan. During that time in Mexico, there were already people claiming to practice Yang Style Tai Chi but it didn't seem like what his father had seen when he studied in China in 1977. When Daniel searched for a teacher in 2002, he was surprised and happy to learn that Master Yang Jun was located in Seattle. Daniel organized Master Yang's first seminar in Mexico in March 2003. About 100 people came from across the country to experience learning authentic Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan. The center had to overcome some challenges in its history but was committed to success. It has welcomed thousands of people from many countries in the past 20 years.
We hope you will be able to attend the seminar and special ceremony in June 2023!
News from Paris YFTC Center
Duc and Carole Nguyen Minh (Directors) with assistance from Academy Instructors, organized weekend workshops in October and November. Students were mainly from the Paris area, but also from other areas in France. Thank you to all those tai chi players who contribute to the growth of the Yang Family Tai Chi in France.
The October workshop focused on tai chi chuan, push hands, and martial applications. At the workshop, they also celebrated the ranking of the 24 candidates who passed levels 1 to 5 in the 2021-22 year by handing out certificates. Congratulations to everyone!
The November workshop was mainly dedicated to weapons (saber and sword), with review and corrections.
During the November weekend, Uncle Bill Walsh from New Jersey visited. Sergio Aguire (whom Duc and Carole met in Selvino) was passing through Paris, and they had the pleasure of welcoming him at their workshop and touring Paris.
Tai Chi Helps Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
The 2nd Congress of Patients organized by the Association of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and their families was held on October 29, in Montevideo, Uruguay. The aim of this annual event is for patients to get information and guidance to achieve a better quality of life. As a body practice proposal, Yang Yata (MD Ramon Suarez) and Yang Yapan (Instructor Ricardo Suárez) were invited to participate with a theoretical and practical proposal. Patients, family members, rheumatologists, and other specialists participated.
Tai Chi Competition in Eritrea
Yang Family Tai Chi continues to spread throughout the world. Did you know we have a member in Eritrea? Eritrea is a northeast African country on the Red Sea coast. It shares borders with Ethiopia, Sudan, and Djibouti. Alemseghed Goitom (艾浪) is the founder and currently the head of the Harmonious Taiji Association at the Confucius Institute in Asmara. Asmara is the capital city of Eritrea.
In February 2022, the Harmonious Taiji Association held a Yang Style Taiji 32 video competition in honor of the Spring Festival celebrations. Fourteen members (9 girls and 5 boys) between the ages of 16 and 22 submitted videos. This is the second time the competition has been held in video format due to Covid-19 restrictions. The top six participants were awarded prize money and tai chi fans. Congratulations to all of them!
1st place: Even Yemane (age 22)
2nd place: Asmait Amanuel and Abigail Simon (both age 17)
3rd place: Saliem Tesfay, Feriha Ahmed, and Haben Haddish (all age 17)
Tai Chi Performance
Classic Ballroom Dance Studio in Hackettstown, New Jersey, invited Senior Instructor Holly Sweeney-Hillman and her students to perform at the DanceSport Showcase on October 15 and 16. The group performed the 26-movement Senior Form.
The Tai Chi Performance Team (from left to right): Chris Wilson, Holly Sweeney-Hillman, Wende Dasteel, Paul Strnatko, Kathy Greer, Abby McGuire, Nell Jackson, Pauline Simmons, Rich Grzanka
Journal Gem
"Questions on Tai Chi Chuan Answered by Master Yang Jun", compiled by Mike Lucero. Issue 26 (2010), pages 15-18.
This article can be found in our Members-Only Area on our website.
Contribute to Our Journal
Volunteer Opportunities
Yang Family Tai Chi depends on volunteers who donate their time and talent to make our association a success. We currently need more volunteers to help our association as we move forward into the future. We have an immediate need for people with skills such as website updating and management, writing, translating, video editing, social media, and assisting our department heads and executive with various tasks. We also welcome volunteers in other areas.
Do you have any skills or knowledge you would like to share? If you would like to volunteer but aren't sure how you can help, please just send an email telling us you would like to help in some way and we will suggest some ways you could volunteer.
We are very grateful to all our volunteers who have helped make our association and its events successful. Building a strong group of new volunteers will help us improve our service to our members and also reach more people around the world! Please contact Pam Boyde (pamboyde@yangfamilytaichi.com) if you would like to volunteer.
Posting to Yang Family Tai Chi's Social Media Pages
Want to post news on Yang Family Tai Chi's social media pages? Yang Family Tai Chi would like to keep its social media pages updated with current information from the association, centers, and schools. Ana Horta is managing Yang Family Tai Chi's social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. If you would like to share news on Yang Family Tai Chi's social media pages, please send an email to Ana at anamaghorta@gmail.com.
VISIT YANG FAMILY TAI CHI'S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES
Join Our Association
Become a member of Yang Family Tai Chi! For more information about membership benefits and how to apply, please visit our membership page on our website.
Previous Issue
Did you miss the last issue of Connections? You can read it here.
Next Issue of Connections
Connections is published in March, June, September, and December. We publish association news and school news (upcoming events, recent past events, awards, other news) but not general school advertisements.
The next issue of Connections will be published in March 2023. Please send any announcements to me at carolyn@yangfamilytaichi.com by February 18, 2023.
Carolyn Fung,
Editor
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