Yang Family Hidden Tradition Michuan Taijiquan
Yang Family Hidden Tradition Taijiquan promotes health and well-being through the practice of basic exercises and the form. Utilizing breath, body and mind in our practice strengthens one's balance and concentration while calming the mind and relaxing the body.
Taiji (often written as 'Tai Chi') comes from an ancient tradition of martial arts in China. Yang Luchan, known as "Yang the Invincible", learned his form of Taijiquan in the early 1800s. He was a teacher who taught a modified form to the public, but taught his personal form to his family. This form was then taught to a very few family members and their students over the years.
Wang Yen-nien (born in 1914) studied the Yang Family Hidden Tradition as a student of Zhang Qinlin beginning in 1945. Wang Yen-nien taught in Taiwan and at workshops around the world until his death in 2008. (memorial photos)
Akai Jong, Julia Fisher-Fairchild and Wang Yen-nien founded the American Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan Association in the 1990s. For more more information please see the AYMTA website.
The European association, AMICALE, has a lot of information and other links on its website (in French.) "Actuellement l'Amicale regroupe 65 associations (ce qui représente environ 2000 membres) principalement basées en France, mais aussi en Europe (Angleterre, Belgique, Allemagne, Suisse, Italie, Hongrie)." AMICALE holds an annual "Rencontre" in November, with teachers from many schools.
Other schools (with websites) that practice Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan in the United States include Yen-nien Daoguan in Madison, WI (Don Coleman), and teacher John Cole in Benicia, CA. The Great River Taoist Center of Chinese sword authority Scott Rodell in Washington, DC, has a website featuring videos and many articles.
Jim Carlson has been practicing Taijiquan since the 1980s and teaching Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan at the Rou He Daoguan for the last fifteen years. Rou He Daoguan is located on the St. Joseph River in downtown Mendon, Michigan. Rou He Daoguan, 157 West Main Street, Mendon, Michigan; telephone 496 - 8997.