An inside perspective (Part 1)

I have been a student of Jim Uglow in Yeung Tai Chi Chuan for 9 years and in that time I have been fortunate enough to experience a transformation in myself that words can not truly give it justice, but I will try my best.

I still remember the first lesson I received from Jim as clear today as it was then. Jim greeted me and offered me a seat or I was free to walk around the school. I took the seat and waited while Jim kicked a football around with his son. It wasn’t long before I became impatient and started to become concerned whether I was going to receive my lesson or whether I was paying for Jim to kick a football around. Fortunately I kept my mouth shut and after about half an hour my lesson started, Jim wasted no time in depressing my chest with his thumb and bellowing instructions at me. This followed with a look at my form, which could only really be described as a sequence of movements at that time. He soon started attacking my form with gusto and passed on a layer of instructions, which I soon reacted to with an abundance of hysterical laughter whether this reaction was correct, I had no idea, but it felt good.

The following couple of years I did the best I could with the instructions Jim taught me that had been passed onto him from his first teacher Chu King Hung (3rd Disciple of Yeung Sau Chung). Each lesson I had from Jim would be intense, enjoyable and above all I always walked away with more knowledge than I felt I could contend with. But Jim was always one step ahead of me, he knew exactly how much I could handle more than I did and set out a programme that I was unaware of at the time. This would allow me to grow and transform not only my ability in Tai Chi but also my ability to deal with situations that entered my life.

All of this stepped up several gears in November 1999 when Jim introduced to myself and all the other students in the school the first basic layer of the Yeung family system. A set of fundamental softening exercises, which would form part of the foundation of the Yeung family style, coupled with the instruction form.

The softening exercises enable an insight and understanding of the internal workings of the body coupled with an application in fighting. Starting from the head working down to the feet no part of the body is left untouched. Each exercise has a layer of instructions which is then added to when the body and mind has become accustomed to each new idea. Each layer brings new awareness and an understanding, which can then be transferred, to the form or for fighting. There is a great emphasis on ideas in the Yeung family system.

The instruction form is the basic foundation, which allows successive forms to be added layer upon layer building up a framework, which allows the mind to gain a clear picture of the internal workings within each posture. Each new idea is like a virus that spreads and infects every other aspect of training. Nothing is left unturned, and it is expected that the information be challenged so that the mind can be left with no doubt to the authenticity of the information enabling a clear picture to present itself.

The Yeung family style is not to be underestimated. As Jim would reiterate again and again “if it is not practical it is not Yeung family”. Every instruction, each new layer and all of the ideas that are exposed to the individual learning the family system have a practical function. This may not be fully comprehended early on in training but as time moves forward so ideas become clear. The training is time coded, so only by fulfilling the first layer of instructions will the next layer be revealed.

© 2007 Taichi.co.uk

An Inside Perspective (Part 2)

Continuing with a view from the inside, in the Yeung family art of Tai Gik Kuen (Tai Chi Chuan). I and the other student’s of Jim Uglow’s school have been very fortunate to receive the teachings of the Yeung Family style. After many years of battling with ideas that were either contradictory or paradoxical such as separately but together. We were further confounded when we were introduced via Jim from Yeung Ma Lee the following:

There are thirteen important rules which should merit your attention and be strictly observed when practising Tai Chi Chuan. 1.

Obviously this is a Yeung family method and I could not possibly comment on other styles due to my lack of knowledge. These rules were extracted from Yeung Sau Chung book "Practical Use of Tai Chi Chuan" , so that we may have the pleasure in reaching some kind of understanding within the family art. I must point out these rules only apply to the form.

There are thirteen important rules which should merit your attention and be strictly observed when practising Tai Chi Chuan.

1. Set the shoulders down and lower the elbows.
2. Hollow the chest and raise the back.
3. Keep the energy leisurely down to the navel psychic-centre (the capacity 3” below the navel) by hollowing the chest and loosening the waist. The navel psychic-centre is the place where the energy is cultivated and reserved. After a long time of practice, the potential energy forms a forceful impetus which, when required, can be sent out to attack and to defend.
4. Keep the head upright and the body well-balanced.
5. Loosen the waist.
6. Shift the centre of gravity as required.
7. Every part of the body is well co-ordinated.
8. Do not exert force, but the idea is there.
9. Action and idea should be in harmony.
10. The idea and energy should be in agreement.
11. Action is included in activity.
12. Action and activity should be well coupled.
13. All movements should be performed in rhythm and follow one another evenly without any jerky motion,as silk is drawn from cocoons. 1.

Now considering I have been a student of Jim Uglow for 9 years, it is only just becoming apparent what Hollow the chest (No 2) actually means. And no way am I claiming that I have mastered that rule nor that I fully understand it. But, it does reveal how important it is to stay with one teacher and absorb the full extent of what he/she may have to offer. My understanding of the Yeung family system will only ever be as good as the source from where it sprang. As a statement from the family recently revealed, I quote “Know your source”.
For those that read the first part of this article, you are aware that in my first lesson with Jim, the first thing he did was to depress my chest with his thumb and bellow some instructions at me. This was the beginning of ‘Hollow the Chest’ and I have not even addressed ‘Raise the back’.
All of these rules are important, but what truly gives them definition is someone who has a clear understanding of the Yeung family style. This is essential in fully comprehending how these rules are applied and what they truly mean.

1. Yeung Sau Chung : Practical Use Of Tai Chi Chuan. Tai Chi Co. Boston, USA, 1977.

© 2007 Taichi.co.uk

An Inside Perspective (Part3)

Back again with another angle from inside Jim Uglow’s school and the Yeung family system. In August 2003, the Yeung Ma Lee Student association was born comprising of three founding members, namely:

John Conroy – Rhodes Island – USA
Joseph Balthazar – Pasadena – USA
James Uglow – London – UK

The association is private and informal, but reveals a coming together and proves there is communication between each member and the Yeung Family. These three members are students of Yeung Ma Lee and have been given access to advance knowledge.

The Yeung Ma-Lee Student Association has been a great benefit to all of the students associated with their respective teachers. The positive interaction of all three members has produced a climate of communication and enabled the transmission of the knowledge that has previously been unseen outside of the Yeung family.

I have experienced on several occasions, since the inception of the association, the teaching of all three members in one room. This has always been an unprecedented experience for all concerned. Each of these events transformed my own understanding and that of all the students attending, revealing aspects of the family system and opening up new possibilities unseen to the mind's eye.

The Yeung family style is an internal art, and so does not utilise muscular force. Instead the emotions, the mind, and ultimately the spirit, are invoked to protect oneself within one's environment. A positive attitude allows anyone to train, enabling the weak to become strong. This positive attitude is reinforced through the training which opens doors and allows clarity to shine through onto any problem or circumstance that an individual may encounter in his/her life situation. Fighting applications are reflected in life. How efficiently you can deal with someone’s intention or Yi is a reflection of your own ability not only in fighting but in your daily life. Fighting is one solution to a problem; creating harmony is ultimately proof of one’s ability to deal with any circumstance.

The principles utilised in the Yeung family system are naturally occurring in nature. They do not lay any claim to these principles only to adhere to them, which produces a state of harmony with oneself and one's environment.

I have limited knowledge and still have not mastered any of the skills which have so far been taught to me by the three students of Yeung Ma Lee. I am blessed to have the opportunity to learn not only this style but the actual family system itself. Regular practice is not enough.. A consistent, positive approach in daily life, coupled with loyalty and dedication, provide a good foundation on which to build.

© 2007 Taichi.co.uk

An Inside Perspective (Part4)

I am relatively new to this wonderful world of martial arts, but it is apparent that there are many people who make false claims. The statement below clarifies the organizational structure of those who practice Yeung Sau Chung’s family style tai chi chuan. It was written by John Conroy and subsequently edited and approved by the three daughters of Yeung Sau Chung.

Yeung Family’s Tai Chi Chuan

The Yeung family’s style of Tai Chi Chuan is unique to the Yeung family. It was started by Great Master, Yeung Lu Chan, who was born over two hundred years ago, and has been passed down to family members, generation after generation to the present day. The lineage under discussion is that of Mr Yeung Sau Chung, the eldest son of Mr Yeung Ching Po. Mr Yeung Sau Chung moved to Hong Kong with his family in 1949, and continued to dedicate his life to practicing and teaching Tai Chi Chuan until his death in 1985. Since then his family has devoted themselves to practicing and teaching Tai Chi Chuan. Mr Yeung had taught for over fifty years, and his daughter Ms Yeung Ma Lee, taught for over twenty years. Over these seventy years, they both have taught many students. Their method of teaching is personal and individualized. Through this methodology, they have employed various teaching approaches that take into consideration an individual’s learning level, capabilities and physique.

It is important to clearly define the different categories of learning more fully:

Category one is family. Yeung family members are taught the complete body of knowledge. In the family, the methods and formulas are observed most strictly, and the teaching methods employed are quite severe. While all family members learn, not all like teaching and not all take disciples.

Category two is disciple. Generally, a student is required to spend a specific amount of time studying with the teacher before being considered for discipleship. Students are accepted as disciples based on several criteria. The disciples must have aptitude and possess virtues such as honesty, kindness and loyalty to the Yeung’s family. Once accepted, they would acquire from the Master skills that lead to a level of comprehension that far exceeds that of the students so that they can help the Master to spread the Yeung Family’s Tai Chi Chuan.

A disciple is allowed to use the Yeung family’s name when teaching. Disciples can choose to take their own disciples. All disciples are listed in the chart of School of Yeung’s style of Tai Chi Chuan but not in the Yeung’s family lineage despite the fact that some people shamefully promote themselves this way.

Category three is student. With permission from the Yeung’s family students could teach using the Yeung’s family name.

The family itself has published books about Tai Chi Chuan. One must understand that books only serve as a guide; you could only learn the art well with instructions from the Yeung family. Recently a movie of Mr Yeung Sau Chung surfaced on the internet (without family permission). The same principle applies. It may be the best form one has ever seen, but without the underlying formula, it is impossible to learn from it.

There are a lot of claims by some people saying they are practicing the “real” Yeung style, or they possess the “forgotten secrets” etc. It is absolutely important that the followers should exercise the utmost caution to discern the authenticity of these claims and whether the martial art is appropriate for their physique, otherwise it is not only a waste of time and money but also it might cause serious injury. Yeung style Tai Chi Chuan is both an extraordinary defensive art as well as an unparalleled health maintenance exercise. The principles and applications are only as valuable and effective as the source from which they spring. Know your source.

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As an example: Jim Uglow is category 3 student with advance knowledge.

Please note as mentioned above the video of Mr Yeung Sau Chung that surfaced on the internet is a gift to the Taiwan Education Department to promote Tai Chi Chuan.

Many individuals lay claim to a certain status such as 6th generation. John Conroy, Jim Uglow and Joseph Balthazar are all 6th generation students but so is anyone who has learned from Ip Tai Tak (1st Disciple), Chu Gin Soon (2nd Disciple), Chu King Hung (3rd Disciple) or directly from theYeung family. The criteria is knowledge not generation. It should be noted that knowledge is different if you learn directly from the bloodline rather than indirectly, as the bloodline includes transmission not just teaching.

This concludes this series of articles. I must say thank you to the Yeung family for being so open and intuitive , and thank you to the three students of Yeung Ma Lee. I owe a special thanks to Jim Uglow who is able to transmit the knowledge and teach in such a way as to incorporate cultural references from England but still staying true to the traditional method of teaching as taught by the Yeung Family.

The above four articles were written by Paul Davy.

© 2007 Taichi.co.uk