“Guang ping is more difficult and you will notice a change in your body almost instantly.”

INSIDE KUNG-FU: What are the secrets to learning tai chi?
Y.C. CHIANG: Peace of mind, calm, and accuracy of movements. If the mind is not calm, then fire moves up; mind at peace, fire moves away. To learn tai chi, one must relax the body, concentrate the mind, have patience, and refrain from thinking bad thoughts.



IKF: What are the most common mistakes made by tai chi players? 
YCC: As I previously stated, if too much heat or “fire” in body and mind, then qi can not flow seamlessly.

IKF: What made you choose tai chi over other styles, both internal and external?
YCC: Tai chi stems from Taoist tradition. Tao is the backbone of tai chi. It’s derived from the yin and yang principles with a mixture of martial arts. Every movement must match the thoughts—external and internal combined. Tai chi incorporates both the internal and external traits.

IKF: Kuo Yin Ling is thought to be the creator of Guang Ping Yang tai chi. How did you meet him?
YCC: By fate. I went to watch a movie with some friends and after the movie, we went to have watermelon. I heard a familiar voice in the background and when I turned around, it was Judge Chou. Chou and Kuo were also eating watermelon and Judge Chou introduced master Kou to me since he knew of my interest in martial arts. I had wanted to learn tai chi for many years, but none of the tai chi that I observed had any “spirit” to them. All the other tai chi movements looked like a patient in a hospital. After meeting Kuo and watching him practice, I knew that his was the traditional tai chi.

IKF: Why is the Guang Ping Yang style so different from others?
YCC: During the Ching dynasty, the Yang tai chi was no longer taught after the last descendent; therefore, it was a very rare form of tai chi.

IKF: How is it different from other forms of tai chi?
YCC: It stems from the I-Ching; from yin and yang and bagua principles. Every step of the bagua changes into eight other steps, which resolve to become 64 movements. The hand moves in eight different directions. The steps follow the mind—front and back, left and right, and center. Every external movement is composed of six opposites: hand and foot, elbow and knee, shoulder and hip.

With the internal movements—heart and mind, mind and qi; qi and power; unyielding and tight. It’s like pulling silk in a spiral circle. The body is stable and secure; the yin and yang alternates and yet are continuous. From the beginning of the practice to the end, use only one breath.

Here’s a brief history of the Yang style tai chi:

During the Ching dynasty, Yang Ban Ho learned the entire form from his father. The Ching emperor allowed him to teach his style of tai chi to the court. He didn’t want to teach the eunuchs his style of tai chi, because he didn’t think they would take it seriously or use it wisely. He wanted his style of tai chi to remain with the people of the country or the “Han Ren”. So after Ban Ho, the Yang split into three styles—the Guang Ping style, which is named after Guang Ping, his birthplace; the Beijing Yang style, which came from teaching the eunuchs; and the Yang Cheng Fu tai chi, which is named after the form his nephew learned.

His next students were master Kuo and master Wang Zhang Zhai. Grandmaster Wang then secretly learned from Yang Bang Ho.



IKF: Why hasn’t it become as popular as other tai chi styles?
YCC: Because it’s not common. It’s more difficult and you will notice a change in your body almost instantly. If you’re trying to lose weight, you can do so within six months of practicing tai chi every day.

IKF: What made you want to do a DVD after all these years?
YYC: I felt it was time to teach everyone in the world and to share this special form of tai chi. I learned through my own experience the benefits of Yang style tai chi and wish everyone else to gain from it.

IKF: What does the DVD cover?
YCC: Everything everyone expects from a complete martial art-philosophy, movements, technique, history and art.

IKK: How hard is learn tai chi from a DVD?
YCC: It’s not really hard at all. Just follow the DVD—it’s very detailed from beginning to end. Each movement explains the placement of the hand, foot, and center of gravity. Even someone who has never heard of tai chi can follow the DVD and learn from it.

IKF: How often do you practice?
YCC:  Every day for two hours for my health. You must remember that after five years of practicing tai chi, you will no longer need to practice for two hours, because the body has been thoroughly cleansed. But you should do so for continuous health benefits.

IKF: Your movements are somewhat different from others who perform Guang Ping Yang tai chi. Does the style adapt to the individual?
YCC: I learned from master Kuo for 25 years and master Wang for seven years. I combined the best of both teachings and formed my own style of Yang tai chi. I also incorporate the 30 basic exercise movements, which includes the most difficult movement of all—chin to toe.

Name: Y.C. Chiang
School: Wen Wu School of Martial Arts
Address: 10124 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, Calif., 94530.
Contact:
E-mail: www.wenwuschool.com

Sidebar 2
Y.C. Chiang Unveils Guang Ping DVD
With over five hours of information related to taiji and the philosophy that accompanies it, Guang Ping Yang Taiji, Master Y.C. Chiang is an essential DVD instrument for all who wish to learn a bit more about Yang-style Taiji and Master Y.C. Chiang’s history behind it.
Unlike other “soft-form” martial arts, the Yang-style taiji 64 movements combine both the firm and soft. The form involves the use of both the mind and the body to create an all-encompassing fitness regime that provides life-long health benefits. When the practitioner combines both the practice of Yang-style taiji with a healthy lifestyle, his health is rewarded beyond expectation.
Guang Ping Yang Taiji, Master Y.C. Chiang includes the entire 64 movements explained and narrated in detail so that any practitioner at any stage can easily follow the instructions. The DVD also includes the 30 basic exercise movements developed by master Chiang as well as standing meditation, which is essential for the balance of mind and qi. There is also a section detailing the history of the Guang Ping Yang Taiji and master Chiang’s personal journey into becoming the 5th generation master of Guang Ping Yang Taiji. The DVD also includes master Chiang’s background in Chinese calligraphy and brush painting.
To order, contact Wen Wu School at www.wenwuschool.com or .

Bio
Suzan Chiang teaches dayan qigong in Southern California.