David from England practicing Fu Hu Zhuang

I began studying Chinese martial arts about 10 years ago in England. My teacher, who primarily taught me Taijiquan, had a background in a number of other Chinese martial arts such as shaolin and bagua and had always emphasised the importance of ‘Yi’ when practicing. He had a very high opinion of Wang xiangzhai, his art of Yiquan and his highly practical approach to martial arts. He also taught me some basic ‘Shi li’ exercises that helped improve my taiji enormously. I began to investigate the art of Yiquan myself and read anything I could on the subject. I learned of the great master, Yao Zongxun, successor of Wang and resolved to travel to China and study with his son, Yao Chengguang.

My first impression of Yao Chengguang’s students when I arrived in Beijing was of how dedicated they were. Their work rate was very high, training 7 to 8 hours every day whatever the weather. They were keen to see what skill this new foreign student had and challenged me to ‘push’ with them. I can safely say I was no match for any of them. Their push hands skills were fast and powerful and they over came me in seconds every time. Soon I witnessed them practicing ‘San shou’ and was impressed again by their speed, agility, power and ‘qi shi’. I realised that I had definitely chosen the right school. Yao Chengguang was teaching real gongfu and that the experience was going to challenge me both physically and mentally. 

Master Yao’s Yiquan is of the highest quality and a testament to his father’s methods. His skill is beautiful to behold, whether watching his health dance or feeling his ‘gonfu’ first hand when he is teaching push hands or ‘sanshou’.  He lives and breathes Yiquan every day and is passionate about passing it on to the next generation.

I think if I travelled all over China I could not find a better Yiquan teacher. He is able to explain the system clearly, simply and with no mystery. His approach to learning is very practical. Once students have learned the whole system, they are encouraged to practice all aspects of the art simultaneously. Standing posts, Shili, footwork and fali drills, reaction drills, tuishou, sanshou and jianwu are all practiced along side each other as each aspect of the training helps to reinforce and deepen the student’s understanding of what has been learned from the others. Whatever I am practicing, Master Yao is always emphasising the importance of  ‘Yi’ as a primary means to attaining real ability in Yiquan. As a teacher he encourages his students to be analytical in their approach to their practice and to think carefully about his words of guidance when training.  

I have been studying at the Zongxun Wuguan now for more than a year and I feel my gongfu has improved significantly in that time. However it is impossible to be satisfied with one’s improvement when your teacher's skill is so high and you are constantly reminded how far you have to go. Also my fellow students are always improving and so the classes never become any easier. I am very grateful to these students as they are always pushing me towards a better understanding of Yiquan and better gongfu.

        I am very grateful to Master Yao Chengguang for teaching me this wonderful art.