Daoyin Yangsheng Gong weekend in Glasgow

Professor Zhang Guangde's first visit to Britain

Professor Zhang travelled to Glasgow for his first ever visit to GB. His hosts in Scotland were Gordon Faulkner, chief instructor of the Chanquanshu School of Daoist Arts. Gordon is an adopted second generation (disciple) of Professor Zhang's system of Daoyin Yangsheng Gong (qigong). His co-host was Bob Lowey, from the Seven Stars School ofTaijiquan. Both schools are based in Scotland. Gordon's wife was the organiser of what was to be a first-class weekend seminar.

The event was held in the Arc Gymnasium, part of the recreation centre of Caledonian University. Professor Zhang is a senior member of the Faculty at the Beijing Sports University. It is here that he has spent 30 years researching and developing his daoyin system of health preservation. His busy schedule takes him all over the world training instructors, their students and groups of daoyin enthusiasts, many of whom derive the attributes of greater health and well-being. I have looked forward to training with and meeting the professor for some time and it proved most enlightening. Along with gaining knowledge ofthe intricate movements first hand, he spoke at great length on the theory, philosophy and psychobiology of his daoyin (qigong) system.

Xing Ti Shi Yun

A literal translation is quite difficult of the subject for our weekend study. It is referred to as the daoyin dance, poem or song. XingTi Shi Yun isfomprised of movements akin to qigong, wushu (taijiquan) and meditation. They are performed to music and the meaningfullyrics are a very important part of conveying the underlying significance of the movements and the theoretical and historical base from which they are derived.

The physical structure of the routine is a synthesis of postures taken from his previous work (General Health, Heart, Lungs etc) and introducing movements from the Taiji Palms 1 & 2. The whole set is aesthetically pleasant to watch and perform (but not easy) and the introduction of the moves for the taiji palms have exotic names, such as "The Moon Goddess Extends her Sleeves" and "Two Dragons Play with a Pearl". Professor Zhang's eye for, and conveyance of detail is exceptional. His teaching methods are both clear and preCise and the forms are ancestral, containing the essence of views on the development and sCience of humanity. His modern pedagogy does not detract in any way from traditional theory and prinCiples of Chinese mediCine and health preservation. The form has artistic quality and maintains a well-balanced symmetry. The dynamic and absorbing postures encompass both the internal and external functions of traditional qigong methods.

Zhou Jin

We were introduced to our interpreter, Zhou Jin, who is employed by the Beijing Sports University as liaison administrator for foreign visitors. She is fluent in English and German and is an ideal companion for Professor Zhang on his travels to Europe. Much of the daoyin language is classical Chinese and the need for good translation is of paramount importance. Zhou Jin fitted the bill and is also adept in the professor's exerCises. She was able to convey the technical, philosophical, medical and physiological concepts of our studies and interject some fasCinating cultural influences and legends surrounding qigong and daoyin.

Professor Zhang opened the proceedings with some historical information about the development of his system. We learned that 2004 marked the 30th anniversary and there was a large gathering in Beijing to celebrate the event. There are now 4 million practitioners in China and 400,000 throughout the world. Daoyin has a firm footing in Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, England, Scotland and the Channel Islands.

This was to be the largest group Professor Zhang has encountered in Europe with 85 delegates attending. The Professor was delighted with the turn out and pleasantly surprised with the standard. There were three other schools in addition to the two host clubs. Longfei was well represented with 12 members including three from Derek Daly's club, Scottish Wushu.

Yang Xue Bu Qi Yi

Exercise to benefit the blood

The day began with a warm-up exerCise to benefit the blood and qi with explanation of the method and theories. The Professor also introduced a new set of kidney exerCises. Will he ever stop creating these wonderful exerCises? At the close of the seminar Professor Zhang thanked the five heads of assoCiations for their support.

Richard Watson began his training in Daoyin Yangsheng Gong in 1989, meeting Professor Zhang in 1994 and subsequently travelling to the Beijing Sports University to study with the Professor in 1995. He gained certification in five sets of Daoyin and becoming a member of the Chinese Daoyin and Qigong AssoCiation. He has continued his studies with Professor Hu Zhou Fei, and the two disciples Mark Atkinson and Gordon Faulkner. He has been a supporter and promoter of this work since 1989. This was quite visionary as the system is still in its infancy and just like China (the sleeping dragon) will in the fullness of time become one of the most successful and widely practiced forms of exerCise in the world. It has been a long-awaited ambition of mine to train with Professor Zhang and the experience was fantastic - he is a brilliant man.

Simon Watson (October 2004)

Longfei Newsletter Volume 6 Issue 1 Table of Contents