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Introduction of Tai Chi Master Yang ZhenDuo:
Yang Zhenduo, born in Yongnian, Hebei Province in 1926, is one of the successors of the Yang Style Tai Chi (Taiji)quan. He studied Yang Style Tai Chi (Taiji) Chuan and the use of all kinds of weapons, and studied the push-hand method from his father Yang Chengfu. In 1951, he moved to Shanxi Province. For many years he has dedicated his life to the promotion and popularization of the Yang Style Tai Chi (Taiji) Chuan. He has held the position of president of the Shanxi Province Yang Style Tai Chi (Taiji) Chuan Association founded in 1982. He has been invited to give demonstrative performances and teaching activities in international Tai Chi (Taiji)Chuan conferences. In 1979 and 1980, he got the first place and recognition prize in the National Wushu Inspection & Exchange Meetings.
In 1983, he was commended as the Sports Advanced Person in the 5th National Sports Meeting. In 1987, he took part in the 6th National Sports Meeting as an invited representative. Furthermore, he has been to many regions of the world to lecture many times, which won him international prestige. In 1989, on the invitation of the National Wushu Academy, he held the post of Referee of the national Tai Chi (Taiji) Chuan competitive routines training class. He was also a member of the China Wushu Association Referee Committee and Shanxi Province Wushu Association. He wrote many books, such as Yang Style Tai Chi (Taiji) Chuan, Sword and Broadsword.
In 2001, Yang was invited to be a tutor in the First World Tai Chi (Taiji) Chuan & Health Meeting held in Sanya, Hainan Province.
Another description for Yang Zhenduo:
Master Yang Zhenduo, born in 1926, is the great-grandson of Yang Luchan (1799-l872), the founder of the Yang school of Tai Chi Chuan, and the third son of Yang Chengfu, the finalizer of that school. He is now a member of the Coaches Committee of the Chinese Wushu Association and a member of the Wushu Association of Shanxi Province and vice-president of the provincial capital's Wushu association. Starting to learn Chinese boxing from his father at six, he now has a history of over 70 years in exercising with Tai Chi Chuan.
It is said that when Yang Zhenduo's great grandfather was young, he had the luck to learn Tai Chi Chuan from Chen Changxing, a well-known master of the Chen School of Tai Chi Chuan in Henan Province. Having mastered this art, he was recommended to be a teacher of Chinese boxing to an aristocratic family in Beijing and later an instructor in an army unit. When it was passed down to Yang Chengfu, grandson of Yang Luchan and Yang Zhenduo's father, its movements had undergone great changes.
Characterized by its easy, nimble and leisurely style, combining vigor with grace, this newborn school of Tai chi Chuan has since been very popular among the Chinese people.
Yang Zhenduo once said, "Originally, Tai Chi Chuan was created primarily for combat purposes. But with the development of weapons, this function slowly diminished and the stress was laid mainly on health promotion. However, it could still be used in combat fighting. But nowadays, people are apt to do the Tai Chi Chuan exercises with too much ease because of lack of real under-standing of the demand for relaxation of the joints. After all, Tai chi Chuan is a kind of martial art, and its function of attack and defense must not be forgotten. So in practice, the movements are outwardly 'soft' but inwardly vigorous. Otherwise, it is not Tai Chi Chuan but calisthenics.
As Yang Zhenduo's movements and posture bear a close resemblance to his father's boxing style, he is regarded as heir to the orthodox Yang School of Tai Chi Chuan. In 1961, when he gave a performance at the Shanghai Palace of Physical Culture, Wushu experts from Hangzhou, Changzhou, Suzhou and Wuxi flocked there to watch and learn from him. Some took along with them the books containing photos of his father doing the Tai Chi Chuan exercises so as to make comparisons. They all came to the conclusion that his movements were almost exactly the same as his father's. On the two occasions of the national boxing exhibition competitions he took part in, each time he carried off the first prize. The number of his students over the years run to many thousands (at home and abroad) some of whom suffer from chronic diseases and some are Wushu enthusiasts who wish to perfect their skills.
A gentle and amiable man, Teacher Yang devotes himself to teaching Tai cChi Chuan and he is determined to pass this valuable legacy to posterity for the benefit of everyone's health.
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