Yiquan Ideology

by Xie Yongguang

Part One

Prologue

    It's him, studied his family's legacy from a child; practiced Yiquan assiduously under his father's strict teaching.

    It's him, moved to Changping with his family during the Cultural Revolution and never lost his will to study Yiquan during that hard time.

    It's him, took 5 five years intensive Yiquan training with his Yiquan fellows under his father's supervision; filled his unforgettable youth years with blood and sweat.

    It's him, took part in the first National San Shou Contest in 1982, knocked out his opponent in 47 seconds and got suspended from the competition for the reason that his heavy punch might result in danger. The rules of the San Shou Contest therefore were modified and he was then praised as “the man who changes rules with fists.”

    It's him, after his Yiquan training, teaching Yiquan all over our country; everywhere he went every contest he joined, never lost.

    It's him, was invited to go to Hong Kong for Yiquan teaching in 1988, and lasted half a year, which great promoted the development of Yiquan in Hong Kong.

    It's him, was invited by Japanese Taikiken Association in 1992, taught Yiquan and improved the theoretical and technical system of Japanese Taikiken; and at the foot of mountain Fuji, beat other martial artists with Yiquan.

    It's him, won a decisive battle the champion of French Free Fighting in Beijing Ditan; easily beat Taekwondo black belt from South Korea at the Peninsula Palace Beijing and Singapore martial artist Shi wang at Beijing Hua Qiao Hotel; greatly developed the reputation of Chinese martial arts.

    It's him, established Beijing ZongXun WuGuan in 1994, and had more than twenty thousand students; many of his students won the champion in Yiquan Tui Shou contests and San Shou contests; 

    It's him, spent large amount of money without hesitation, took half of year, visited many famous sites in our country, created the first systematic Yiquan training VCD and DVD: The Chinese Yiquan.

    It's him, for more than 40 years, who unwearied to pursuit of Yiquan and now his virtue and martial arts are famous throughout China and all over the world.

    He is the famous Chinese Martial artist, the guard of the strength of Chinese Yiquan, the 3^rd generation of Yiquan: Yao Chengguang.

Yiquan is his life!

In the afternoon of August 5, it was cloudy with light rain.

In No. 21 Mao-Er Hu-tong DongCheng District, Beijing, I was in Mr. Yao's small dining room. I luckily had this opportunity to interview this martial artist who is famous all over the world. Outside the window, the light rain continued but Mr. Yao's words warmed my heart, He told his story calmly, the story of his life.