Yang Sau Chung, son of Yang Cheng Fu

[yoda93100]

he was greedy he did not want any one outside his own family to know real tai chi he and his friend maid a lot of money with out with out giving away the real thing good job he and his pals now have tai chi mess up so bad theres no way to save it good job guys

[ATMfromNJ]

@yoda93100 Not true. Gin-Soon federation (the Chu Family), H Won Gim of NYC (one of Chu's disciples), and other students from Yang Sifu's lineage are teaching the art the way it was meant to be taught. I highly suggest you seek out these schools and see for yourself. There is certainly a lot of hogwash out there, but the real thing flourishes. You just need to know where to look.

[barcher]

What a precious gift it is to have this available to the public. This is real tai chi.

[JianChuanTaiChi]

Loyaute is correct. By the way, the 'leaning' you see in the video is the same as the photos of Yang Cheng Fu and is also the way which was transmitted to Wu style founder Quan You. Some Yang style practitioners these days dont do it, so it must have been changed by someone after Yang Cheng Fu/Yang Sou Chung or maybe someone outside the yang family and Wu family even.

[piaten]

I did, and its impressive! These guys you mention represent high level Taichi skill, unlike Yang Zhen Duo and Yang Jun, who have yet to show real skill on video.

[TheAstro1972]

This is still the same version of Yang cheng fu... the grandson of lu chan. It ws Yang cheng fu who proliferated the form, also he took all the martial aspect out of the family taiji, making it shorter, easier to learn and acomplish by young or old. also in the west we dont want to spend time (6 yrs) learning a form and then practicing everyday. Most only want to exercise 20 min three times a week...sad really.

[washingzoo1]

This sifu is very good in his Taiji, but don't imitate his hunch back; it's bad to health; i m not blaming him; at his time, health consciousness was not high ! 勿學他的寒背！

[yinghonghaohan319]

haha, this is the son of the famous Yang Cheng Pu. are you sure you want to "correct" him?

Maybe because he is elderly, but the Tai Chi Classics says to "sink the chest and lift the back" （含胸拔背）so the qi can sink and collect in the dan tien and go smoothly to the limbs.

[wingchuntaiji]

@washingzoo1

You do sound like a lay person! If you look at how this 8mm movie was taken in a small room with limited space. The 8mm camera did not even have auto focus. The movie was taken by the daughter while she was standing on a chair. Since it was not taken at the same height and without enough distance. The images would appear distorted.

[washingzoo1]

yeah, i m a lay person, a person who lays his back straight while practising taiji and wingchun, ur 2 most favorite gungfus; just joking ! no offence; thanx for commenting, anyhow !

[wingchuntaiji]

I am happy that you have an open mind! That means we can exchange for ideas! I wish that the video was taken with nowadays' hi-tech digital camera, and that the movements were captured with a clearer view at correct angle and with a long enough distance. The almost bird view made the movements appear distorted!

[washingzoo1]

yeah, i've an op mind; ppl usu say that the gungfu ppl are narrow-minded and sectarian, partisan (just like our dems and gops in usa); i think we sh have a broader heart to embrace diff views for the future gd and unity of gungfu &/or chinese; u r gd cos u do wc and taiji at the same time (like me) ! happy practising !

[piaten]

@wingchuntaiji Yeah, and did you know they didn't have telephones either back then? -Everyone had to use their CELLS!

[piaten]

@washingzoo1 That aint no hunched back! There's a difference btwn relaxed stretching of shoulders and spine while closing the chest, and hunching. The latter involves a lot of undue tension in the neck and shoulder area, the former makes the body like elastic rubber. Also, the Wu style, which uses a very similar stance, is said to be especially healthy for the lower back. And this stance further has some definitive advantages for internal power and fighting.

[pribadi8406]

@piaten ,

It sure looked like leaning forward all the time. Isn't Wu style learnt from Yang Luchan? Yang Zhen Duo (Chen Fu's grandson) did NOT perform like this at all. So...among the family, got so many variations? This one looks terrible. Yang Zhen Duo even in old age, still looks "regal" in his performance...calmness and yet exudes strength within...I like that way ;-)

[piaten]

@pribadi8406 From a dance-perspedtive, you may be right, but I'm talking martial and health value. YZD is a great business man, and also got some Taiji skills. No doubt about it -I studied his style for 6 yrs, and have on one occation touched hands with his grandson Yang Jun. Still, there's not one video of these two "GM"s doing anything impressive in terms of push hands, rooting, gold bell etc. This begs the question: Do they even have high level skill at all, or is it just a marketing hype?

[ATMfromNJ]

@piaten do a search on Gin-Soon, Vincent Chu, and H Won Gim. I'm sure you can find a video or two.

[USN288]

@pribadi8406 ...The fact is Yang ZhenDuoTai chi form is based upon Chinese Govt Form like the 24..and he was just too Young to even study a single posture from his Father Yang cheng Fu who passed away very Young at 50 over-weighted 260pd with Heart attack;.. This style is Closer Small circle Yang Style also know as Combat Yang Style.

[USN288]

@pribadi8406 ...In the USA the only Yang style Instructor can really Issue and control with YangTaiChi Internal power Is Chu Gin-Soon of Boston..Yang Zhen Duo is very "Poor" in yang style Martial Art...If you want to be Fit , and good Health study ballroom dacing or Hard style Chinese Martial arts and live longer than any Internal style Founders or Master...why do you want to study and be Fat? This is not good Health or for your Heart

[ATMfromNJ]

@USN288 Chu Gin-Soon's son Vincent and his disciple H Won Gim can also issue and control. They are both very highly skilled practitioners and will carry on the lineage and pass this knowledge to future generations. Most people will never experience this kind of tai chi gong fu.

[exeterbrighton]

I read on Master Chu King Hung website "as a 12 years old boy, he began an apprenticeship with master yang Shou-Chung which would last for 26 years"

But it's true I could not find a single photo where he appears next to his master

I took a look at several websites of his schools in Europe and I have not found either

I never asked but I understand that there could be a problem of legitimacy

I have trouble beleiving that a taoist master to lie that way but there are so many frauds in all areas

[jpcayrol]

si Maître Chu a obtenu le niveau que l'on peut constater sur les vidéos prises à Hong Kong en seulement 4 mois de cours avec YSC alors ce n'est pas flatteur pour les autres disciples qui ont pratiqué des années avec YSC. La calomnie et la jalousie sont de vilains défauts. Je suggère aux courageux anonymes de venir tester Chu lors de ses venues en France. Mais je pense que vous ne prendrez pas le risque...

[ylouis19]

All about Chu King Hung's lies is on the website "L'Espace du Taiji de Grenoble et Paris" (find it with Google). Analysis, proofs. Look at FAQ n°47.

[yangluchan9999]

There is not any picture of Chu king Hung with Yang Sau Cheung. Not even the picture of discipleship.

[yangluchan9999]

Yang Sau Cheun had two true disciples:

Ip Tai Tak who staid 29 years with YSC and Ginsoon Chu who worked about 4 years with YSC.

Chu King Hung has never been accepted as a disciple by the Yang's. He was still in probation when YSC died in 1985, after at most 4 months of teaching with YSC. But he was authorized to keep the title of disciple for business reasons.

[nanhuazhenren]

I practice this form, too.

[jpcayrol]

Voici la forme très secrète de la famille Yang, exclusivement réservée à la famille et au premier disciple d'après certains. Si secrète que même les élèves de longue date ne la connaissent pas.

Et c''est d'ailleurs pour qu'elle reste strictement secrète, joyau de la famille, que maître Yang S.C. a choisi de la rendre publique.Allez, encore un effort et le bon sens triomphera !

[Loyaute]

Wu style was founded by a student of Yang Luchan and Yang Banhou named Wu Quanyou. Wu Quanyou was a young Imperial Guards officer cadet who started training with Yang Luchan in 1850. He became Banhou's #1 disciple in 1870.

Quanyou's son, Wu Jianquan, was a colleague and family friend of Yang Shaohou and Yang Chengfu, and sent his own sons to learn from Shaohou when they were youngsters.

Wu style and Yang style were closely linked. Their modern training methods are different, though...

[lim88an]

Hi TaoBoxer,

This video is priceless. He is my grand sifu as my sifu was his disciple during the early 80's. What I was taught by my sifu was almost close to what is shot in this video. My sifu went to Hk to be his disciple and was fascinated with his fa-jing during the push hand session. If you compare his still photos against his dad Cheng Fu you will notice the similarities.

It is no doubt the original Yang style is the exact form demonstated by Yang sau Chung.

[5950231]

That makes sense! The form is very precise nonetheless,Thanks for the reply!

[5950231]

Perhaps the form was influenced by the Wu style form, I've seen Wu style masters perform in the same manner.

[TaoBoxer]

close.... But the other way around. The Wu style was founded by students of this mans father, Yang Cheng Fu.

Lewitt

[ukwushitaijiquan]

@TaoBoxer

the wu style was developed by wu quan yu and wu chien chuan, respectively students of yang luchan and yang ban hou. the we style is similar to the small and middle frames of the yang style!

[USN288]

@TaoBoxer Needed Correction "Yang Cheng-Fu "Created the Large Circle Yang Style in 1920's in Shanghai for his Classes at the Ching-Wu Gym. his the Wu style was created by Wu Jian-Guan in 1910 at Beijing also know as Small circle Yang Style... Yang Cheng Fu has to Address"Wu Jian-Guan as his "Senior Uncle"Si-Bok"in the Yang style Family Tree. Because of Father the" Founded" Yang Lu -chien " Small Circle Yang style" The Grandfather of this Man on Video

[Loyaute]

@TaoBoxer

Wu style was founded by a student of Yang Luchan who was Yang Chengfu's grandfather. The student was Wu Quanyou. His son's name was Wu Jianquan. Yang Shaohou, Yang Chengfu and Wu Jianquan (as well as Sun Lutang) all taught at the same martial arts school in Beijing from 1914-1928. That is probably why there are many similarities between the forms.

[Gieszkanne]

Yes Taoboxer is right, but they just similar in leaning forward the mechanic is quite different in new Wu stile.

[5950231]

what's with all the leaning? does it not violate the principles?

[TaoBoxer]

Some say it does. I say no. If Yang Sifu is doing it, it's propbably right, dont you think??

Lewitt

[Gieszkanne]

From the scriptures yes. The Yang Jianhou Yang Shaohou linage is totally upright like the Hao, old Wu style and Sun style is. Even a good Student of Chengfu, Li Yaxuan was upright and have a good disciple still living Lin Mogen.(Look here;)

Its said that even Chengfu just began leaning in his later years. Sau Chung lived in HK maybe they get influenced bey the southern styles like Bak Mei, southernMantis, Dragon. The all have this rounded forward leaning back.

[ATMfromNJ]

he's not really leaning. that's how it looks in all of the family schools.

[5950231]

After watching the video several times, I've notice that it,s his deep front stance that makes it appear that way, (my opinion), on the other hand it still reminds me of the Wu style photos I've seen. Thanks!

[pribadi8406]

@ATMfromNJ ,

It is NOT leaning if only he has "longer" stride or steps to compensate the "leaning". Younger practitioner who has longer stride also performs like this old master but does not look like leaning forward. It is just body mechanic. Upper body leans forward, lower body firmly straight to the ground, solid. Does not look good :-)

[JazzRastaf]

@5950231 yes it does :)

Do not think any member of the Yang family ever revealed the form done right publicly. Yang Cheng Fu also leans forward on his fotos.

[yieldingxxx]

I would love to see more clips from Yang Sau Chung!! Anyone??

[chijsun]

A thing of beauty. This exact form is taught in Boston at Gin Soon Tai Chi club. If you have ever had the priviledge of seeing Master Chu do the form, you would think it was the same person on the video above. Same movements, same posture, exactly. Amazingly connected and fluid tai chi.

[TaoBoxer]

I attended Chu Sifu's banquet dinner this year. It was great to see him, his sons, and all of their students.

Lewitt

[pillsburydoughboy47]

He looks a lot like Yang Ban Hou.

[andreandjacob]

why film someone of which, when the finished product is over, cannot see the outcome

[joshb0y]

How can you tell its him?

[taichiheaven]

Yes, it is 100% Yang Sau Chung. This was a well known tape he made for the Taiwan government. Also, it was filmed at his apartment in Hong Kong on Lockhard Road. This is where he taught all his students. Too bad we don't have this great treasure around anymore. He was an extremely powerful TCC master and I don't think there's many around like him today.

[conde19745]

That's the real deal right there, I hope it will not be lost to future generations.

[Changramai]

Simply great. Thanx for sharing!

[FaceOfBoe65]

Great Video. I have aquired the bigger version recently and put it up on my account. Enjoy!!!

[OmBatul]

The posture is the same of Tung (Dong) Yang Tai ji. Like is show here the back is curve. That minimise the risk of be hit in the chest or abdomen. This kind of move is near of weaving moves of shadow boxing. With that you will pass under the guard of your opponent. The yang family change many time their form. Now the official Yang family is a 103 form. The form we see here is more twisting move.

[Mangojuice211]

The back looks like the "Wu Style" otherwise it looks all Yang to me! I have never seen the back like that before in Yang.

[drdankness]

thats because most of the "yang" out there is not the real deal. in the family forms, the back always looks like that.

[Mangojuice211]

Dude, I don't know what lineage you are from, but I'm from Yang Cheng Fu > Cheng Man Ching > Huang Hsing Xian lineage. Are you saying all those drawings of YCF with his straight back are wrong?!

[drdankness]

those pics are not wrong. they are also large frame, so...

and cheng man ching. come on man. he studied very little with yang (2 years tops), no where near enough time to put a real dent in the full curriculum. i do not say this to insult or to inform. too much misinformation exists in the tai chi world and the results have created somewhat of a mess.

[Mangojuice211]

CMC studied with YCF for 7 years, 1928-35. Being all high hung on ones own lineage can't be a good thing. The skill of the practitioners should speak for themselves.

[drdankness]

no one is high on lineage here. but you are misinformed. CMC (according to disciples of yang family) only spent about 2 years with YCF. in fact during most of those years, the man in the video above was doing most of the teaching. most who claimed to have learned from YCF actually learned from Yang Sau Chung being that he took the teaching responsibilities of his father

[drdankness]

a quote from a highly reputable tai chi chuan practitioner of yang family style: "Not many people know about Grandmaster Yang, Sau-Chung. As a teenager, he took over the teaching responsibility of his father. Moreover, he has taught many students who later attained world renown by attaching themselves to Yang, Cheng-Fu's name. CMC & many others were, in truth, mediocre students of Grandmaster Yang, Sau-Chung."

[drdankness]

meant "only to inform" in the previous post. this man you see in the clip above was yang cheng fu's best student- his eldest son and only son from his marriage. of all who learned from yang cheng fu, none received the same transmissions as the man above. yang sau chung's teachings live strong with his disciples and some of their family students/disciples. i suggest doing some research on yang sau chung.

[drdankness]

only son from FIRST marriage

[JianChuanTaiChi]

Yes this looks alot like the Wu style practiced today. This Yang Form was changed by several disciples along the way to the modern forms you see today.

[drdankness]

Maybe for some, but Yang sifu passed this form down and through 2 others it has reached me. Its the same form. It should be noted that there is a major difference between what was taught to the masses and that which was taught to family/disciples. this form still lives on strong in a few schools.

[drdankness]

Tiger Style... sweet.

[gouarts2]

This is not tiger style!

[drdankness]

um... yeah it is. yang sau chung is my great grandmaster, chu gin soon my grandmaster. most definitely tiger. yang family... either crane, snake, or tiger. most definitely tiger style. why do you claim "not tiger"?

[gouarts2]

you don't know the difference? there is a huge difference in tiger and snake style Yang tai chi. look more closely and you should figure it out.

[Loyaute]

Very interesting, very interesting. I won't be taking up Yang style (personally I like Wu style better) but skill is skill, and this form is a pleasure to watch. I wish the video quality was better...

[TaoBoxer]

Oddly, I think modern Wu has more in common with this style of Yang Taiji than modern Yang does!!

Lewitt

[TaoBoxer]

Yeah..... Her certainly did not suck..... I have trained with one of his students. He said he had high skill.

[drdankness]

very very high skill. the same goes for his two students and a few of their students as well. a lot of the REAL deal tai chi is happening in a very low key manner. they are not big advertisers. anyways, Yang Sifu was awesome according to my Sifu... and going by my teacher's skills I definitely believe.

[TaoBoxer]

I have practiced with Fong Ha a few times. He says that he was a very good practitioner and a very serious man.

Lewitt

[Mangojuice211]

A lot of the "real" stuff happens in a low key manner. People who know often see no need to advertise or boast about it.

[drdankness]

Yang Sifu had some skills...

[cheesewillakers]

this is exactly what i do, same transmission, amazing. thank you

[taichigirlie]

I also learn this form, but not so good. My sifu taught me a slightly modified version in the beginning because I had really painful knee problem. Now that my knees are better I receive corrections to the form that results in the same transmission as the video. I am still not great at it due to flexablity and other issues but I manage. By the way, many thanks to TaoBoxer for sharing.

[Changramai]

As I heard of it, this style is especially protective to the knees and lessens the strain to them. Maybe you should ask iptaichi here about it...

[FLHFAT]

old school as taught at cape cod tai chi club

[Rothen60]

Great to see three of this great videos up on youtube. My deepest thanks to Mary Yang for sharing them with us!

[rosul1]

I am new to (youtube)and not sure of the procedure. I would like to get a hold of Mary Yang so I can ask some questions about this tai chi form.

Also, how did you now the video was from Mary Yang?

[HengTanJian]

Great video of old skill. Total inspirational - I will take up yang taiji. Keep sharing !!!

[HengTanJian]

Ment that you will take up yang tai chi after seeing this :)