Resume of Master Yao Zongxun

  Master Yao Zongxun (1917-1985), well-known martial artist of modern times, once the advisor of Beijing Martial Arts Association and President of Beijing Yiquan Research Institute, was the heir of Master Wang Xiangzhai, the founding master of Yiquan. He had mastered the essence of Master Wang's boxing skills, and accumulated the experience of several decades in real combats. On the basis of this, he widely absorbed the strong points of various boxing schools both home and abroad and integrated the research results of modern science into the development of Yiquan. As a result, Yiquan was able to make successive breakthroughs and gradually step towards perfection. Master Yao had played a great role in the development of Yiquan as well as in the history of Chinese martial arts.

  With what he had learned from his teacher Master Wang Xiangzhai, Master Yao took over the responsibility to develop national fist arts. He dedicated all his life into the research of fist arts and never surrendered when confronted with difficulties and hardships, while caring nothing about his personal gains. In the Cultural Revolution, he was forced to move to Changping County in the west suburb of Beijing . But the harsh life of breeding livestock on desolated hills was not able to make him give up his lofty aspirations.

  Though he was possessed of consummate skills, he didn't refuse to share with others. At any moment he was worried about whether Chinese martial arts, the national treasure, could be carried forward and thus bring benefit to people. Though his life path was rough and bumpy all along, he had never forgotten to pass down his skills to the next generation. In the harsh time during the Cultural Revolution, more than once, he had told us in sincerity and earnestness, “Since our country is in trouble at present, you should press much harder to practice so as to master more theories and skills of boxing and understand more deeply about the theoretic system of training and the methods of it. Therefore, once the country calls for helps, we can send some qualified talents to serve the country as well to carry forward the national treasure of martial arts.” At that time, Master Yao and his whole family were still at loss about how to make a living, but what he was concerned all the time was the problem about the cultivation of successor of Chinese martial arts. Such lofty spirit really fills one with awe and admiration.

  Master Yao was rigorous in his scholarly pursuit and strict with his students. He never forgot to remind his students of the importance of moral quality in martial arts. Repeatedly he admonished his students to learn to be a man before one learns boxing, since the essence of fist arts was the crystallization of mind, will, morality, knowledge, physique and skills. He was quite strict in choosing students, with a comprehensive view of every aspect. Among his students, there are: Zhao Xuquan, Bai Jinjia, Zhang Hongcheng, Bo Jiacong, Cui Ruibin, Liu Pulei, Wu Xiaonan, Lin Zhaolun, Peng Andi and his sons Yao Chengguang and Yao Chengrong. He had been an example for his students throughout his life, which really puts one gasping in admiration.