www.Longfei-Taiji.co.uk	Longfei Taijiquan Association of Great Britain
		Longfei Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 1

Letter from the Chairman

Longfei landmark: 20 years 2009 represents a small, yet significant landmark for Longfei. It is 20 years since I first met Professor Li Deyin, during my first trip to China in April 1989, I travelled with 40 other itinerants to the People's University where Prof Li was head of the physical education department. Many of our members have retraced these steps in recent years. I had been training in the Yang style with the ITTCA for 15 years and for one year with the Liu Academy based at the Renshuden Judo Club.

Jifu Huang was to be our mentor. As the Chinese "Mr Fixit" he was the essential connection with Prof Li. Li Hui was then a young girl on the threshold of preparing to visit Britain to complete her university education and was already able to converse in English. At this early age she was accomplished in much of Professor Li's martial arts curriculum.

This was at the beginning of my retirement from business and fortunately the vast continent had been opening up to western visitors since Nixon's visit and the ending of the cold phase with China in 1976. I had previously travelled to Hong Kong, Singapore, Penang and the USA and met fellow students studying taijiquan. It was odd that certain individuals' advice was to discourage the trip to China as they assured me that "all the good taiji had left its birthplace for more fertile pastures". The training took place in the university gymnasium under the tutorship of Prof Li and assisted by a young Master Wang Yanji (who earned the nickname Mr Push Hands) and one other taiji expert who was a sanshou champion. These three were to be our teacher companions for our three-week sojourn. Master Li Tianji visited on several occasions to inspect the troops as it were.

The accommodation left something to be desired as did the food. I did not know any of my fellow traveller's and so opted for a room on my own. A number of the lady students for economic reasons or the flavour of the spartan life decided to opt for dormitory living. An experience that probably lives on in their memories. It was on this trip that I first met Chew Yeen who I know could enlarge on the joys of this adventure. Incidentally Chew Yeen was the only member of this trip that gave support to the Longfei idea in the United Kingdom and continues to do so. Chew Yeen and I subsequently globe trotted as members of the British Wushu team to the USA, Malaysia (where her family turned out to support her in force for the competition), Italy and Germany. Chew Yeen subsequently twice won gold medals for Great Britain in the European Championships.

Subsequent to the April visit I arranged to return in the Autumn of that year. Jifu Huang was my go-between and translator with Professor Li. At this early point in our relationship I was not really aware of Prof Li's status in Chinese Wushu. I was only conscious of the beauty of his movements, his coaching ability and his relaxed and friendly manner. I simply wanted to return and learn the 42 competition routine. The arrangement was concluded with the help of Jifu. I was to return in September and study on a one-to-one basis (bingo!).

1989 was the year of the Tiananmen Square problems and although the foreign office guidance was against travel to Beijing I did not feel intimidated. Indeed on arrival I was made welcome by all and sundry. An international boycott was in place for all things Chinese, tourism had ground to a halt, in Beijing there were tanks camped on major road junctions and a heavy presence of armed troops. However seeing a honkey walking the streets may have suggested to the indigenous population that things may not be so bad after all. Tiananmen was internal politics.

In the three weeks I was there I met Prof Li in the park each morning (0730-0900) to take instruction. When he left for his duties at the university I remained to practice. I was surrounded by the locals practicing taiji, qigong, ballroom dancing, gymnastics. Their only interest in me was one of curiosity. Each morning when I took my lesson we were accompanied by a translator from the university. After she had known me a few days I was invited to her home for dinner. When I arrived and as soon as the door closed behind me she asked "what are they saying about us in the west?". So there was a huge sensitivity about their international image, but not to be discussed in public.

The training for me was a great success. In addition to the early morning lessons I accompanied the Prof to evening classes in and outside the university and some tutorials for teachers that he was conducting in preparation for the forthcoming Asian Games in 1990. He was appointed senior judge for the taijiquan competition to be staged in Beijing. The realisation of the man's status had dawned. How fortunate was I that this humble man cycled to the park every morning to give me tuition in the subject of the international competition, the 42 combined routine. During the day I would stroll around the parks of Beijing stopping every half hour to practice, it could not get any better.

Laying the Longfei foundations

I returned again in 1990, taking Simon with me. Although the intention was to do some training, the bonus was that Prof Li had obtained tickets for us for the opening ceremony of the 11th Asian Games. This was to be the first time China had been host to the games and the opening ceremony was brilliant (a forerunner to the 2008 Olympics). The Asian Games are the largest games outside of the Olympics and were indeed intended to be a showcase to bring a future Olympics to Beijing. Unfortunately the Tiananmen affair put China's bid out in the cold and on the back burner. It was this visit that created Simon's interest in competition. We were to see for the first time 47 countries competing for medals in a taijiquan competition both male and female. The 42 International Competition Routine was the subject for examination, created by "The Chinese Martial Arts Research Institute " along with six other routines by prominent martial artists for the Asian Games. In this instance of the 42, the prominent martial artist was Professor Li Deyin, Chief Judge at the competition.

During the visit Prof Li arranged for Simon to learn the Chen style along with Li Hui. During this practice the Prof remarked that Simon could be competition material (Simon had been training in taiji for 12 years). With that ringing in his ears and the inspiration of the gold and silver medallists of the Asian Games a new competitor had arrived, a new career was to unfold and another step toward the foundation of Longfei GB.

It was not until 1995 that we had sufficient members and the confidence to stage our inauguration ceremony. This was attended by Professor Li, Mrs Li and Li Hui. Jifu Huang would have been a special guest but sadly passed away that year. During the period 1989-1995 Longfei had attracted sufficient membership, among whom were a number of teachers, so we were able to put on a some really good demonstrations. Some old friends from the ITTCA including Karel Koskuba and John Ding both gave demonstrations and by virtue of my association I was able to persuade the British Wushu Team to attend in force and perform all the international routines and some of their own traditional kung fu.

Making taiji friends

During my visits to China in 1992/93/94. Professor Li suggested and invited me to train with him when an annual party of Japanese enthusiasts visited Beijing. A friendship developed and to my surprise and delight ten of them travelled to Great Britain for the inauguration. They also performed skillful demonstrations: Master Wang demonstrated some xingyi; Professor Li demonstrated the Wudang taiji sword; and Li Hui introduced us to Sun style taiji. All in all it was a wonderful bevy of Chinese Wushu with international support. On the way back to my house Prof Li remarked "very good" so for me it indicated that the dragon had taken flight.

Longfei goes global

In the period 1995-2009 Professor Li has made annual visits to the UK and so has Master Wang. At the summer camp and various others venues, the whole range of taijiquan schools and subject matter have been examined and taught. The content is far too long to be listed here. The message has been carried throughout the UK with the help of associated schools: Derek Daly (Glasgow), Andrew Austin (Hampshire), Alan Briggs & Brian Butler (Weymouth), Dora De Gruchy, Peggy Danby, Vivian Fretwell, Jim Marsh (Jersey), Patrick Harries (Dorset), Richard Small (Devon). I mention these people in the extremities of our influence but I also embrace all teachers in near reach and between the extremes. In the last year Chew Yeen has taken the brand to Ireland and we must not forget Mark Atkinson in France. Mario O'Neil has recently taken residence in Northern Ireland. He also teaches under the Longfei banner. Mike Graves an ex member of the US air force who was stationed in the UK several years ago has been in touch and asked if he can represent Longfei in the USA. So we now have a contact in the state of Texas. "Yeha", well done Mike and thank you. In 2008/9 Simon established links in Saudi Arabia - taijquan globalisation Longfei style.

In 2010 we will take our 4th tour party to China (already over subscribed by April 2009). This popularity is indicative of the success of our earlier visits. Previous trips have taken in many and varied tourist/cultural areas around Beijing while journeys away from the capital have included, Shaolin Temple and Wudang Mountain, the village of the birthplace of the Yang and Wu styles. The 2010 agenda will include the Yangtse river boat journey through the Three Gorges which takes in the Three Gorges Dam project and also training and sightseeing in Beijing.

This represents a brief resume of our short history, a progress that could not be foreseen 20 years ago, a development with contributions from our 36 registered teachers and the whole membership. Not a bad achievement I feel.

Financial update: Karen was able to record that membership finances were healthier than in previous years. A unanimous decision was made to increase membership fees by £2.00 for the forthcoming year.

Richard Watson

Longfei Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 1 Table of Contents