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Longfei Taijiquan Association of Great Britain

Letter from the Chairman
Longfei News Letters - Volume 4, Issue 1

This newsletter heralds our fourth volume and welcomes in the year 2002. Last year was our most successful to date and I thank all Longfei members for your continued support. Please keep up the good work, especially in recruiting and building our membership. 2001 saw the last of our Dudley Campus seminars but we have already made provisions to take the event to the Walsall Campus of Wolverhampton University for this year. The Dudley gig was fully subscribed some ten weeks before and although we had a few last minute cancellations it was the best attended to date. Please bear this in mind if you wish to join us at Walsall.

GB tour of Professor Li De-Yin

Professor Li's visit this year covered eight locations. These included our associates in Glasgow, Jersey, Southampton, our summer camp at Dudley and a return to a very successful gathering in Hertfordshire. He also made independent visits to Aberdeen, Manchester and Bletchley. Several members traveled to Jersey to mix business with a short holiday. Please remember you will always be welcomed to these alternative venues by our Glasgow and Jersey friends (mates). Congratulations to all the delegates who successfully took assessments during the summer. Before Professor Li left Britain, plans were laid for his return in 2002 and his tour will follow the same pattern. Dates of seminars, venues and booking forms will accompany this newsletter.

Wu/Hao, Family Style Taijiquan

In this issue we continue our survey of Taiji's major styles and influences, there's also some reference to the lessor known style of Zhaobao. The style under review is the creation of Wu Yuxiang and I was fortunate to get a contribution from two Wu/Hao stylists and a little material from their teacher. There are other schools presenting this style. In the previous newsletter, under the review of the Yang Style it was noted that Dong Yingjie, prior to meeting Yang Cheng-Fu, had received instruction from Li Ziang-Yuan. Li in turn had studied with Hao Wei-Chen. The great grandson of Dong Ying-Yie visits the Uk twice a year, Alex Dong represents the "Dong Family International Tai Chi Chuan Association" and his host is Louise Bouck-Standen of Tai Chi Spirit. Some of you may recall that Louise used to be a regular attendee at Master Wang's push hands weekends. I understand Alex is teaching the Hao/Wu family to his student body in the UK.

Anyone wishing to study the family lines of the Chen, Yang, Wu and Sun styles should avail themselves of Dan Docherty's book "Complelte Tai Chi Chuan." It is as comprehensive as you can find in English.

Also in this issue Simon continues his examination of the 42 Combined Competition Routine. Placing this material on record is a valuable contribution for posterity, especially when we consider the shortage of the available information about the early growth of Taijiquan. Remember much of this modern development emanates from the Li family with whom we are joined in close relationship. Master Li Tian-Ji is acknowledged to be the father of contemporary Taijiquan, while Professor Li De-Yin has recently been appointed and recognised among China's current top one hundred martial artists.

QiGong (Daoyin), Taijiquan, the Medical Connection

The newsletter's Qigong theme continued looking at the way the theories of the three disciplines are interwoven. In the next issue we will begin to look more specifically at the practice of "Daoyin Yangsheng Gong."

David Farnham

I would like to convey my best wishes to Dave. He has designed and typeset all the issues of the newsletter, for which I and Simon are deeply grateful. David has been seriously ill and I know all our readers would join with us to wish him a speedy recovery to full and lasting health.

Richard Watson

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