During 1997 we wento to China in July and, also hosted Teacher Yang and Yang Jun in San Antonio in August.
In July, nine people from San Antonio arrived in Taiyuan to participate in the Fifteen Aniversary of the formation of the "Shanxi Province Tai Chi Chuan Association.
From Left to right: Jim Hollis, Greg Gibbons, Carol Chidlaw, Horacio Lopez, Charles George, Jennifer Donald, Art Fuentes, Pam Annarumo. (missing in the picture is Sandra Lopez )
First International Invitational Traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Competition,Shanxi - China"
Taiyuan, July 1997
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| Participants were given between 7 and 8 minutes to complete the "49 forms for Competition". Everybody was judge by the same 10 judges, who where looking for the same standards of execution, in the same form. Two participants per ring were judged at the same time.The banner reads: "First International Invitational Traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Competition,Shanxi - China" |
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I was placed as Fourth Place overall. Here, receiving Fourth Place Award from Teacher Yang Zhenduo. |
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Taiyuan, July 1997 Texas Representatives receive a commemorative banner for "Most Spirited Performance" from Master Yang Zhenduo.
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In August/97, the Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center - USA, Texas Branch, hosted the second seminar taught by Teacher Yang Zhenduo and his grandson Yang Jun in San Antonio, Tx. The seminar was held at the "Seven Oaks Resort". There were 70 participants.
Following, some pictures taken during class:
These snaps were taken during actual explanation of Peng, Lu, Chi an An. They are not posed. |
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Master Yang Zhenduo describes the characteristics of Yang Family Style Tai Chi Chuan as marked by: Extended and natural movements; distinct transformation between and combination of hardness and softness;beautiful postures, and bold grace. |
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Master Yang said during the seminar that during one's practice one must keep the awareness of "sinking the shoulders, dropping the elbow, sitting the writs and extending the fingers" at all times, during all postures and transitions. If instead, one does not "sink the shoulders and drop the elbows, etc", then the movements are based only in the hands and not on the whole body. Ward off, Pull back, Press and Push must all be coordinated with the waist turning and and the weight shifting to become a total "unified movement". He also reminded us to always incorporate the 10 principles in all actions, and to make sure that the body is relax and the joints opened and extended.
Making some finer points about the direction the eyes look; the pulling of the elbows away from the body; and the hollowing of the armpits. |
Under construction. |
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Yang Jun, Yang Zhenduo, Horacio Lopez and Jeremy Blodgett (translator) at the end of the 1997 seminar.