Longfei-Taijiquan Association of Great Britain

An interview with Professor Li Deyin - Part 2
Longfei News Letters - Volume 1, Issue 2

by Dick Watson
Questions supplied by Dan Docherty for Combat

The concluding part of an interview with Professor Li Deyin which began is the last news letter (Volume1 Issue1).

My father 'Li Tian Chi' and my uncle 'Li Tian Ji' started their Wushu training from a very young age. My father later went to work as a doctor in a hospital using Taijiquan, Qi-gong and massage to treat and help patients to recuperate ftom illness.

My uncle 'Li Tian Ji' graduated from the Shan Dong Martial Arts College as a Martial Arts instructor in 1931. He taught at various universities and Martial Arts schools in the provinces of 'Shan-xi' and 'Hei Long Jian'. He came to Beijing in 1950 and was appointed coach to the state Wushu Team. From 1955 until his death in January 1996, he was a member and executive member of the Institute of Physical Education and Sport. His main preoccupation was Research, Study and Development of Taijiquan.

What other Taiji/Martial Arts have you studied apart from Sun Style?

Because of my family background I started my training when 1 was still young. The first was 'Shao-Lin Quan'. When I was a young lad, regardless of what we were going to learn, we had to begin with the study of 'Shao-Lin' and 'Chang Quan.' This was to facilitate good training for the waist and legs. When I was a little older I began to learn 'Pa-Kua Zhang', 'Hsing-I Quan' and 'Tai Ji Quan'. The Taiji 1 learned was centred on 'Sun Style' and 'Yang Style'. When I started as full-time coach at the People's University in 1961, it was necessary to widen my knowledge and so I studied 'Wu Style' with Xu Zhi Yi who was senior student with Wu Jian Quan. I learned Chen Style from Li Jing Wu who was a top student with Chen Fa Ke.

Mr Li is still living and is 86 years old. At the same time I went back to school to learn modern long fist and 'Woo Style'. I have been coaching at my university for 35 years.

Is Sun Style Taijiquan real Taiji or is it a separate art like Liu Ho Ba Fa, bearing in mind that 'Sun Lu Tang' was famous for his Pa-Kua and Hsing-I?

Chinese Taijiquan has many styles and schools. The main five are: Chen, Yang, Wu, Sun and Woo. In addition there is 'Zhao Bao Shi', 'He Zhao Yuan Shi' and from Beijing there is Li Rui Dong's creation of Taijiquan. 'Wu Xing Chi' etc. All these styles have their own special movements and characteristics, but they are still recognised and come under the heading of Taijiquan.

I cannot say which, one is real Taiji and which one is not. In the same way I feel it would be difficult to say that English soccer is the real soccer and the French soccer is not or Brazilian soccer is not. Each style has its own flavour.

About 70 years ago a Chen style master came to Beijing to teach. Many people could not recognise the style and a lot of people said this was not Taiji. Of course at this time the 'Yang style' was very popular in Beijing. However when Master Chen explained the history of Taiji, these people realised that the Yang style came originally from the Chen style. The realisation that there are different styles gave them the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and be able to practise the Yang style and learn Chen style from Master Chen.

Taijiquan is a developing Martial Art, we cannot look at it as fixed and set. There must be changes.

What percentage of the art as practised by Yang Lu-chan does your school retain?

In the life time of Yang Lu-chan there was no photography or video technology. So we can only surmise and take from the recorded literature and hear-say and create an image of what his form and style was like. In Chen Wei Ming's questions and answers on Taijiquan, he mentions that Yang Lu-chan when performing 'snake creeps down' was reputed to be able to pick up a coin with his mouth, he was so low that it was like sitting on the floor. He was also accredited with being able to use elbow stroke to an opponent's knee. From these records we can gather than Yang Lu-chan's form was rather low.

Also Yang Ban Hou and Yang Shao Hou when they practised their style was closer to Chen style. One of the Yang family taught the Wu family so we know the Wu style developed from Yang style. How close the many styles are to Yang Lu-chan is difficult to ascertain with the material and information made available.

What makes the 'Sun Style' different from other styles?

'Sun style' has in common with other styles' stability, central equilibrium, light and agile movements. The main difference is the adoption of moving, following steps. 'Sun style' is known as the moving step Taijiquan. This involves back and forward moves of a light and agile nature. When you step forward the back foot follows, when you step back the front foot follows. This stepping technique had already appeared in the Woo/Hao style.

Sun Lu Tang incorporated characteristics of 'Hsing-I' and 'Pa- Kua' and created a Taijiquan using features from the three internal/soft arts. They all follow common principles. In 'Hsing-I' you always step and follow, in 'Pa-Kua' we encompass the characteristics of open and close, step and turn. So I believe Sun Lu Tang developed his style because of previous training in martial arts.

In the same way 'Wu Yu Xiang' developed his 'Woo style' influenced by his background training. Each style has developed influenced by the previous Wushu training.

Why do you think the Chen style, as now practised in the Chen family village, is so different from the Yang family lineage styles?

The difference between 'Chen Jia Gou' and the 'Yang Style' that is the question.

The first three generations of the Yang family took three directions. The first is to bring Taijiquan from a village art to a wider audience in Beijing and encouraging its popularity to spread to the whole country. The Yang family can be regarded as the influence that initiated interest in Taijiquan to a world-wide audience.

The second is the modification of the Chen style. Whilst retaining the principles of Chen style foundations adapting the characteristics of smoothness, stability and practising the form at one level. The adaptation took place over three generations. The hard and fast movements learned by 'Yang Lu Chan' were gradually replaced to develop a new style more suitable for a wider appeal. After this creation, many areas of society began to take part in Taijiquan training. Interest was aroused among intellectuals, workers, the young and elderly, strong and weak. many of these practitioners put aside the emphasis on martial aspects and contained their interest in areas of rejuvenation, well being and health. So this development was the causative factor in the creation of 'Yang style' and the reason why it differs from the style of 'Chen Jia Gou'.

Many people in England consider the 24 simplified and 42 combined Taijiquan to be a mishmash, chop suey. What is your opinion?

In 1956 the 24 was choreographed by the Institute for Physical Education. It is a syllabus simplified to help the novice. It has taken many of the significant postures from the Yang style. Depending on how one counts, the Yang style exhibits 81, 85 or 88 postures. Without repetitions there is actually forty. If you wish to popularise the art and introduce it to school curriculum such a long sequence as the 85 is very difficult to learn. The time and energy required is not available to the majority of the population. Therefore it was considered necessary to create a shortened form to fill this purpose and help the beginner. A form that would highlight the important characteristics and emphasise the most significant moves. That is why the Yang style was chosen. In China of course the 24 is not considered as a mishmash.

There are many variations of the Yang style practised in China and many of these different schools were concerned that their style was not chosen for popularising or not included in consultation. When the 24 was created the choreography was taken from one source. Several years earlier an attempt had been made to create an amalgamate form but this proved to be unpopular because it was difficult to learn.

With regards to the 42, this was developed when Taijiquan became popular as a competitive sport/art in the 1980s.

It was considered necessary to develop a unified style of Taijiquan to allow athletes to compete. The Physical Institutions of China have set competition forms for all the five major styles, i.e., 'Chen,' 'Yang,"Wu,' 'Sun' and 'Woo.' Competitions take place for all three styles, but for international competition we have created the 42. This was introduced in the 11^th Asian Games in 1990. Forty seven nations took part in this international event. The 42 incorporates movements from the major styles and competitors have the opportunity to show their overall skill and knowledge.

So we should examine why these different forms and styles have appeared. The 24 was introduced for the novice, while the 42 was created to standardise international competition. They in no way interfere or cancel the importance of traditional forms of Taijiquan.

What do you think of competition Taijiquan ?

First of all should we compete in Taijiquan? Can you compete in Taijiquan?

In the old days competition was with 'Tui Shou,' attack and defence, to win or lose. This was the method to decide whether your Taiji was good or not. As Taiji became more popular the forms have assumed more prominence. Some people have asked whether you can use Taiji forms in the same way as we use and judge the floor exercise in gymnastics. If then it is possible, how do you award marks and what is the criteria for judging performance?

There are two opinions. Some insist that Tui Shou is the only way. Another group say both form and Tui Shou can be judged. These opinions exist both in China and throughout the world. In China today you can compete in one or the other or both. There is a third theory that Taiji is a pure form of self defence and competition is inappropriate and one should not take part in contests. Self cultivation is the only goal.

My personal view is that Taijiquan is an ancient health motivated exercise, however it can be used for physical competitions. Furthermore through competition the standards can be raised. It affords the opportunity for people to meet and exchange views. This can also encourage the incentive for others to join and practise.

Do students of your school take part in San Shou competition? If not, why not?

San Shou competition has only developed in the past few years, both in China and outside. Before it was called 'Da-Lei-Tai. 'Da-Lei-Tai' is not a part of Taijiquan. It is set competition for all forms of Wushu or Kung Fu as known in the west. In 'Da-Lei-Tai' they use the techniques of 'Pi,' ' Da,' ' Shuai' and 'Na' (i.e., Chop, Throw, Grab and Wrest).

Taijiquan practitioners engaging in Tui Shou, only use the techniques of 'Peng,' 'Lu,' 'Ji,' 'An,' 'Cai' 'Lie' 'Chou' 'Kao'.

What do you think of the difference in approach in the east.and west?

I think that any brilliant cultural developments of the human race should not be subject to the division of east and west. Western influence should spread to the east, eastern culture can travel to the west. They should be common treasures for humanity. However, because of geographic location and the events of history, this exchange has been resisted or blocked. To understand takes time. When English soccer first came to China, we Chinese could not understand it. The Chinese had played a form of football a thousand years earlier but this was completely different. But now western soccer has a great audience in China. It has become one of the most popular sports. Every year the Cup Final attracts a large viewing.

Chinese Wushu and Taijiquan were not popular in Japan thirty years ago. Today there are over 500,000 students. Because of this cultural exchange Wushu has developed rapidly.

For the last few years I have spent my summer holiday in England. I can see more and more people love to practise Taiji. Although the level of skill at the moment cannot be compared with China and Japan. The learning exchange in England is different. It has taken place with small groups and individuals, nothing on a large scale. So it takes more time. Let us consider the intensive promotion of the Olympic Games, how quickly and strongly it became a huge world-wide activity.

Chinese Wushu has been created for self cultivation, stillness is promoted within movement. The emphasis is on being natural, balanced and relaxed. To pursue the release of tension and combat fatique this is the essence of Chinese Martial Arts.

Many westemers realise that strenuous types of exercise is inadequate. Using only movement is not enough. Cultivation of relaxation and stillness in movement is necessary. This is like a human being and nature becoming one.

The late development in England will delay progress in Taijiquan, but it can follow the parallel of football in China with more and more people enjoying Taijiquan. I have been able to watch and enjoy the growth of Taiji and Wushu on an international level. I have seen it grow to competition at World class. I have seen the levels of skills rise and arts enjoys greater popularity. To move further forward we need earnest development, we need all interested participants to enjoy cultural exchange. To raise the standards we require more organisation to promote Taijiquan and Wushu, we must bring our sport/art to the attention of the respective sporting and health authorities. We need to let them know about our arts and seek their support.

This concludes the interview with Professor Li Deyin.

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