Longfei-Taijiquan Association of Great Britain

Richard Watson - A Biography
Longfei News Letters - Volume 2, Issue 2

Part 2 - Second and final part by Simon Watson

IN recent years Dick's interest in Qigong has changed and evolved from the martial to, and with emphasis on, Medical Qigong. When he was training with Master Chu King Hung the Martial aspect of Taijiquan and Qigong practise were closely linked.

Professor Zhang Guande

Dick's first encounter with Professor Zhang's work was on his first visit to train with Professor Li in 1989. A visiting Qigong teacher supplemented the Taiji work with an introduction to Shuxin Pinxue Gong (Cardio-vascular system). Professor Zhang was resident professor at the University of Physical and Breathing Exercise for Health Preservation Combining Self Massage) was being taught to visitors from all over the world.

Doctor Dan Lijun

Dic was keen to add to the Daoying repertoire and made contact with a Chinese doctor he met in Beijing. Dr Dan, now resident and practising TCM in Britain, was able to facilitate additional Daoyin excercises. In addition to practising TCM Dr Dan was a Wushu graduate and his father a renowned master of Hao Style Taijiquan. In 1991/92 with Dan Lijun's help me father familiarised himself with Yiqi Yangfei Gong and Hewei Janpi Gong (Respiratory and Digestive Systems).

Mark Atkinson brings Professor Zhang to Jersey

Browsing through Combat magazine in 1994 Dick came across an article by Mark Atkinson announcing his intention to bring Professor Zhang to Jersey, his first visit to Great Britain.

So there was the opportunity to train with the creator of Daoyin Yangsheng Gong. Training with the professor was an experience to be savoured according to my father and there was the complimentary meeting with Mark and Tina and many students of Mark's school.

The University of Physical Education, Beijing

In 1995 Dick was to be in China to train with Professor Li at the People's University. The trip was to coincide with Mark Atkinson's intention to train with Professor Zhang. The association with Professor Zhang enabled Dick to add Daoyin Baojian Gong (Health Preservation Exercise) and Shujin Zhuanggu Gong (Locomotive System) to his Qigong, Daoyin knowledge.

Daoyin Yang Sheng Gong is a unique system of Health Management and Dick feels it to be complimentary to our Taiji curriculum. We are both pleased to have a close association with Mark Atkinson who is an adopted disciple of Professor Zhang's. On the visit to the University of PE my father was invited to become a member of the Chinese Daoyin Qi Gong Association. With our continuing fascination with Professor Zhang's work we have availed ourselves with accreditation for four sets of Daoyin. This accreditation taken with Mark Carry's and the professor's approval to teach his exercises.

Taijiquan Competition

My father's first visit to train with Professor Li took place in the spring of 1989. It was then that he first encountered the 42 International Competition Routine. During the training Chen Sitam came to the university and demonstrated the routine. He was immediately captivated by the aesthetic quality of the routine and the performer Chen Sitam would subsequently become Asian Games Gold Medallist and take first place in the Taijiquan section of the 2nd and 4th World Wushu Championships. 

To be successful in Taiji competition requires a great deal of dedicated hard work. The required workload is far in excess of practitioner' training to maintain reasonable levels of health. While this work may not make you a Tui Shou expert it nevertheless can be preparation for grounding, strength and suppleness.

When I traveled to China with my father for the 11th Asian Games my appetite was whetted for competition and we both set off on a new joint venture. He, acting as coach and with me his sole competitor. At my first attempt I was to win first place in the 1991 BCCMA National Championships and gain entry into the British Team for the first world competition. 

Encouraged by being placed eleventh we worked even harder and I was able to avail myself of Professor Li's expertise on his annual visits. In 1992 my competition aspirations took a lift when I was placed sixth in the Second World Championships and in 1995 I continued to make progress and secured fourth place. My other International successes include winning Gold Medal in the 1992 European Championships and twice securing silver in 1994 and 1996.

Dick has a number of other significant competition successes. Chew Yeen Lawes, European Gold Medal 1994-1996, Anne Lo, European Bronze medallist in 1998. David Nicholson, Dutch Open Champion 1998. Longfei have enjoyed many medal successes in British Competitions over the last four years. David Nicholson's Yorkshire teams have scored many Taolu and Tui Shou successes.

My father has acted as team leader to the European Championships in 1994, team manager to the World Championships in Baltimore USA 1995 and also team manager to the World Championships in Rome 1997.

Encyclopedia of Martial Arts

Dick acted as the BCCMA's liaison officer in the production of the CD-ROM featuring Chinese martial arts. Most of the material for both contemporary and traditional Wushu was supplied by Kim Han the BCCMA's senior coach. All the Taiji contributions came from Longfei 
Tajiquan Association.

In addition to teaching and coaching, Dick has been instrumental in bringing Professor Li Deyin to Britain since 1990. He has also introduced Master Wan Yanji's skills to Longfei students since 1995.

Rheumatology and the National Osteoporosis Society

As the health and therapeutic benefits have been published and popularised, Longfei Taijiquan Association have has been asked to make presentation lectures to many health professionals. 

Dick has lectured to the senior nursing staff at Edgeware General Hospital and the school of Health and Human Sciences, Hatfield University. For the Senior Nurse Development Practise at the Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospital NHS Trust he gave a review of the health benefits to mental health, the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems. These presentations will eventually appear on the Longfei website.

In 1997 Pamela Wells, the north London representative of the National Osteoporosis Society approached my father with a view to bring Taiji exercises to sufferers of the debilitating bone softening known as osteoporosis. Pamela herself is a Taiji practitioner who also experiences a degree of osteoporosis, was convinced that Yaijiquan exercise had something of value to persons incapacitated by this problem. 

A pilot scheme was arranged with all the participants being screened for their suitability. Dick devised a set of excercises enabling a one hour programme of excercise to take place whilst seated. The eight week plan looked at posture, relaxation, breathing excercise, self massage and a host of physical movement.

At the end of a second eight week schedule all the remaining students were able to take part in a whole hour of standing exercises based and adapted from Daoyin Yangshen Gong. 

The work with the National Osteoporosis came to the notice of Dr Griffiths, chief consultant rheumatologist at the Royal Chase Hospital, Enfield. Encourged by Pamela Wells, Dick was able to make presentations to both Dr Griffiths' colleagues and her patients. These lectures were on the complimentary effects of Taijiquan on the joints and their movement.

Longfei Website and Newsletter

Much of the mateiral for the website and the newsletter is contributed by our chairman, however his main committment remains with the promotion of all aspects of Taijiquan through Longfei Taijiquan Association and the distribution of the knowledge and experience gained from Professor Li Deyin and his family. 

Part of this activity is to bring this influence to as large an audience as possible with Professor Li's annual visit and Master Wang's Tui Shou weekends. Thanks to my father's work we now have influence in many areas of Great Britain.

Simon Watson.

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