Longfei-Taijiquan Association of Great Britain

Letter from the Chairman
Longfei News Letters - Volume 2, Issue 3

Welcome to Issue 3, Volume 2, Longfei's Millennium Newsletter. We are pleased to present another contribution from Professor Li Deyin. This was recorded in the summer of 1998 and it appeared in the 1999 summer issue of John Ding's magazine "Tai Chi and Alternative Health." Simon Ward and Simon Watson supplied the questions which are very thoughtful and should provoke interest among Taiji practitioners. We repeat this interview for the benefit of those who do not subscribe to John Ding's publication.

HOWARD CHOY, HARMONY IN PRACTICE 
- THE QI CONNECTION

I have corresponded with Howard Choy for some time and have suggested he contributes to our newsletter. My connection with Howard arose through our mutual association with Yang Style Taijiquan. My Yang Style teacher, Master Chu King Hung, trained under and was a disciple of Yang Shou Chung (see family tree in Issue 1 Volume 2), the eldest son of the renowned Taiji Master Yang Cheng Fu.

Howard was also a student of Yang Shou Chung. Yang Shou Chung inherited the role as head of the Yang dynasty when his father passed away in 1936. Master Yang died in 1986.

The other important influence in Howard's Taiji training is the current head and 19th generation of the Chen Tradition "Master Chen Xiao Wang." This is surely a Taiji 'win double' by any standards. Howard Choy is a unique practitioner of Taijiquan who has trained with two of Taiji's most significant masters.

Leaving China at an early age, Howard migrated and made his home in Sydney, Australia. He has however remained in contact with his native tounge and culture. In addition to his passion for martial arts he is an expert in the art of Feng Shui for which he is a published author. He is a graduate from the university of New South Wales, gaining a BSc and B.Arch degrees. Howard currently practices architecture and I understand the Feng Shui connection has enabled him to create a special niche in the Sydney community.

Howard's martial arts began in 1966 with Choy Lee Fut, Yang Style Taijiquan, Baduanjin Qi Gong. These interests have never left him throughout thirty three years.

I have seen Howard's form and I can vouch for its uniqueness; a blend of Yang Style with the Fajing of Chen Style.

He is the principle of the Sydney Tai Chi and Qi Gong Centre. He has taught Choy Lee Fut at the Choy Lee Fut Academy and assisted Master Chen Youg Fu with seminars in Spain, Portugal, Germany and Poland. He has taught Taijiquan in Australia and Switzerland.

He is a regular contributor to "Inside Kung Fu", "Australasian Fighting Arts" and "The Journal of Asian Martial Arts."

I hope you enjoy his article "Harmony in Practice." We hope Howard will visit us in March 2000 and conduct a 3-hour workshop one Friday evening. See below for details.

CHANG QUAN (LONG FIST)

This article is presented by Simon Watson to help us understand the exercises presented by Professor Li at Dudley University. The illustrations should help those students who wish to continue with these exercises. It is also interesting to see both the contrasts and similarities with the principles of training in Taijiquan.

Internal and External

In Professor Li's article it's quite obvious that the separation of internal and external is far from clear cut and remains controversial. Perhaps, as Simon often remarks: "The hard train to be soft," while, "The soft train to be hard."

DATES FOR THE MILLENNIUM DIARY

Howard Choy:	Friday evening - 17th March
Master Wang:	10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th April. Evening Seminars. 15th and 16th April.  Pushing Hands Weekend.
Dudley:	21st, 22nd and 23rd July. Dudley Summer Camp with Professor Li and Master Wang.
Master Wang:	25th and 26th November.  Pushing Hands Weekend.

Professor Li will be conducting seminars in Glasgow, Jersey and Yorkshire. 

Please contact the Secretary, Karen Watson, for details:

Tel: 01707 269490. Fax: 01707 269490.
e-mail: simon@longfei-taiji.co.uk

Richard Watson

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