太
极
拳
极
拳
What is Tai Chi?
Yang Style of Tai Chi Chuan
Yang Style
The founder of the Yang Family Style, Yang Lu Chan
[also written Yeung Lo(u) Sim] was born in
the Hebei (Ho-Pei) Province of China. He showed an
interest in the martial arts at a very young age and
first learned a hard boxing style from an elderly boxer
named Shao-Lin. At the age of 10, he left his home
village to go to Chenjiagou in Wenxian County. There
he worked for the Chen family and learned a style of
Tai Chi called "Lao Jia" ("Old Frame"). He also learned
"Tui Shou" (push hands) and combat with weapons
from Master Chen Chanxing (Chen Chang-Hsing).
After a long period of study (30 years) with Master Chen Chanxing, he returned
to his birthplace and began to instruct others in Tai Chi. In addition,
he gave demonstrations of his power and many stories and legends exist
regarding his abilities and strength. Yang Lu Chan had 3 sons. The first died very
young but the other two, Yeung Ban Hou (1837-1892) and Yeung Kin Hou
(Yang Chien Hou) (1839-1917) were trained in Tai Chi Chuan by their father.
As Tai Chi increased in popularity, Yang Lu Chan modified the form to make it
more accessible to people. This form would be further modified by his 3rd son,
Yeung Kin Hou (Chien Hou) and by his grandson, Yang Cheng Fu (1883-1936)
[also written Yeung Ching Po] into the present "Da Jia" (Large Frame) style of
Tai Chi Chuan.
The magnificent skill of three generations of the Yang Family Members won them
great renown throughout the capital. What was noteworthy was the fact that
they unstintingly passed on their skill to many young people, which is perhaps
one of the reasons why there are so many followers of the Yang Style Tai Chi
Chuan today. In 1928, Yang Cheng Fu was invited to teach in the South,
successively in Nanjing City, Shanghai City, Hangzhou City, Gangzhou city and
Hankou city. Thus the Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan spread throughout China.
Noted for its extended and natural postures, well knit, gentle and steady
movements, the Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan combines vigour with gentleness, its
actions following a circular path. Each and every movement contains the
technique of countering and overpowering the opponent.
The Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan can practiced in many ways, taking high, medium
or low stances and varying the radius of the circular movements. More
expansive movements are known as ‘Large Frame’, the more compact being
‘Medium Frame’ or ‘Small Frame’. The way the form is practised can therefore be
easily adapted to suit age, physical condition, training objectives and specific
requirements.
The above text has been adapted with kind permission from Gin Soon Tai Chi Chuan Federation.
Yang Style Lineage
The following chart shows the transmission of the Yang Style through six
generations to the current lineage holder, Master Ding:
[also written Yeung Lo(u) Sim] was born in
the Hebei (Ho-
first learned a hard boxing style from an elderly boxer
named Shao-
he worked for the Chen family and learned a style of
Tai Chi called "Lao Jia" ("Old Frame"). He also learned
"Tui Shou" (push hands) and combat with weapons
from Master Chen Chanxing (Chen Chang-
After a long period of study (30 years) with Master Chen Chanxing, he returned
to his birthplace and began to instruct others in Tai Chi. In addition,
he gave demonstrations of his power and many stories and legends exist
regarding his abilities and strength. Yang Lu Chan had 3 sons. The first died very
young but the other two, Yeung Ban Hou (1837-
As Tai Chi increased in popularity, Yang Lu Chan modified the form to make it
more accessible to people. This form would be further modified by his 3rd son,
Yeung Kin Hou (Chien Hou) and by his grandson, Yang Cheng Fu (1883-
Tai Chi Chuan.
The magnificent skill of three generations of the Yang Family Members won them
great renown throughout the capital. What was noteworthy was the fact that
they unstintingly passed on their skill to many young people, which is perhaps
one of the reasons why there are so many followers of the Yang Style Tai Chi
Chuan today. In 1928, Yang Cheng Fu was invited to teach in the South,
successively in Nanjing City, Shanghai City, Hangzhou City, Gangzhou city and
Hankou city. Thus the Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan spread throughout China.
Noted for its extended and natural postures, well knit, gentle and steady
movements, the Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan combines vigour with gentleness, its
actions following a circular path. Each and every movement contains the
technique of countering and overpowering the opponent.
The Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan can practiced in many ways, taking high, medium
or low stances and varying the radius of the circular movements. More
expansive movements are known as ‘Large Frame’, the more compact being
‘Medium Frame’ or ‘Small Frame’. The way the form is practised can therefore be
easily adapted to suit age, physical condition, training objectives and specific
requirements.
The above text has been adapted with kind permission from Gin Soon Tai Chi Chuan Federation.
Yang Style Lineage
The following chart shows the transmission of the Yang Style through six
generations to the current lineage holder, Master Ding:
Please Note:
The Yang Family Tree is shown from the perspective of JDIATCC only.
Not all branches are shown.
