Longfei-Taijiquan Association of Great Britain

Third Annual Longfei Summer Camp
Longfei News Letters - Volume 1, Issue 3

Li Deyin speaks almost no English, but delivers a unique universal understanding of Taijiquan. He regularly spoke about the background and the details of the Taiji form being demonstrated, and thus gave us some insight, first into the 88 step Yang style form and later on the recently choreographed Sun style short form. He also regularly demonstrated and compared Taiji styles by. for example, showing us the Chen, Wu and Yang forms of Dan Bien or single whip. An attitude of joy appeared to radiate from him whilst performing Taijiquan and correspondingly a sense of stillness which forms the essence of the art.

During our first weekend at Dudley, when we were concentrating on the 88 step Yang form, Professor Li told us that it was difficult to know what is an original Yang form. There were no video or still cameras available whilst Yang Luchan, originator of the Yang style, learnt and taught his Taiji.

Today in China some people practice a form which they claim comes from Yang Luchan's son Yang Banhou and that it is, therefore, closest to the original Yang style. However. because of the lack of any real evidence to support their claims and because there are differences between the forms, said to be from Yang Banhou, the authenticity of any such form must be in doubt.

Humble

Professor Li always made sure people could ask any questions they wished regarding Taiji, so the Dudley seminars were a great opportunity to refine and progress. However, he is also a humble man.

For example. a student queried the exact direction of one Peng posture in the 88 form and Professor Li had no reservation in consulting his 88 form book and confirming that the student was correct. In China Professor Li teaches different forms all the time and is in constant demand. Which of us at the age of 60 would be able to remember all the details of so many routines? After all, it is possible to intellectualise about Taiji in print, but it is not possible to reproduce the sheer beauty of the forms as demonstrated by Li Deyin.

Professor Li made sure that people were not overworked during the seminars and in some of the breaks he would explain the finer points of the forms. For example he made sure that everyone understood the difference between An (as in the last posure of Grasping the Sparrow's Tail) and push, like in brush knee and push. He explained that in An, one goes backwards first, making a hole for ones opponent to fall into and then, when they start to pull back, helps them on their way with the pushing part of the posture.

Football fan

On a lighter note, as a warm up the whole group played football. Although this had nothing to do with Taiji. everyone enjoyed themselves and it helped to bring the whole group together. Professor Li is a great football fan and I asked, through the interpreter, which was his favourite British side and although I don't speak Mandarin, I could hear the word Manchester in his reply!

The second Dudley seminar involved a Sun style routine. Professor Li explained that Sun Lutang did not actually practice Taiji until the age of 56, and the style itself seems more internally connected to Qigong.

Sun Lutang was a great practitioner of Qigong and some of the form's small movements and concentration on the breath, seem to reflect this. The routine itself is a 38 forms choreographed by Li Deyin. It has none of the repeats which are common in traditional forms. Professor Li said that it was a 'taster' of the Sun style, and one should learn the traditional Sun form if one appreciated the taste!
During the second weekend we also did some Bagua, including the basic stepping and turning. Later on we were shown the Bagua Eagle step in some detail and some others more briefly.

Bagua and Xingyi

We were also taught some Xingyi steps: horse, monkey. chicken and duck, amongst others. Sun Lutang studied Bagua and Xingyi from an early age and was one of the greatest exponents of these arts before he ever started to learn Taiji. Li Deyin's grandfather, Li Yulin, was a student of Sun Lutang from the age of 36 and the families still retain their links to this day. The influence of Xingyi and Bagua can be seen in the Sun style form and also in some parts of the Yang style forms choreographed by members of the Li family.

We came to understand something of the essence of Taiji and Li Deyin has refined this essence through his thoughts and actions.

Back to contents