Yang Zhi Fang's School, Handan
News : A 10 Day Intensive Yang Tai Chi Seminar with Yang Zhi Fang is planned for 29/9/10 - 8/10/10.
Yang Zhi Fang, Handan
- An Introduction to the School
- About Yang Zhi Fang
- The Association Teaching Staff
- The Yang Tai Chi Syllabus & Fees
- Accommodation & Food
- About Handan
- Getting to the School
- Contact the School
- Intensive Advanced Seminars with Yang Zhi Fang
Yang Zhi Fang is the son of Yang Zhen Guo and grandson of Yang Chen Fu.
He lives in Handan and is the head of the Yang Family Tai Chi Association there with links to many good Yang Style teachers.
Yang Zhi Fang's Association is based at Handan University Gymnasium and they have plans to use the venue as a base for teaching international students.
Yang Zhi Fang himself teaches Yang Style Long Form 85 and 37. (Nb. 85 is the same as 108, but with an alternate numbering system for the movements).
I had the privilege of practising Yang 85 with Yang Zhi Fang and found it easy to stay with him following his Qi. My body felt ligher and much more comfortable afterwards, good Qi...
He expressed an interest in teaching Western students and spreading the Yang Traditional Long Form and I've agreed to support him in this.
Association Teachers
Xie Yong Guang, Handan
The association has quite a selection of teachers :
The Wushu Master of the University is part of the Association and manages the school. He speaks English reasonably well. His name is Xie Yong Guang and his teaching speciality is 24 Style and Competition 42. He also teaches Yiquan.
Yu Cheng, a disciple of Yang Zhi Fang's uncle, Yang Zhen Ji also teaches Yang Style Long Form. He is one of the older generation Chinese Tai Chi teachers. His teaching is highly technical and precise and he's a wealth of knowledge on applications.
Wang Tao is a Wu (Hao) style teacher and a friend of Yang Zhi Fang. His form is beautiful, so this is another great opening for someone wishing to learn Wu (Hao) style Tai Chi.
Gao Xiao Bai, Handan
Gao Xiao Bai, is a Yang Style Tui Shuo specialist and really strong on the martial applications front.
He is an active participant in Chinese National & International martial tui shuo competitions.
I believe there are many other high level practitioners able to support the school as well.
Tai Chi Training.
Tai Chi will be taught indoors at the main gymnasium at the University and for this year at least, we've agreed that long term students can study for a rate of 3000Y / month, for 4-5 hours training a day, 6 days a week, in classes led by teachers from the association.
I'm sure students at the school will receive plenty of direct teaching from Yang Zhi Fang.
The syllabus options include Yang style Taichi, Wu (Hao) style Taichi, Taichi Sword and also 24 and 42 Style Tai Chi.
There will also be pushing hand (tui suo) tuition.
Accommodation, Food & Facilities.
Accommodation is available in local hotels, which cost 130Y - 250Y per night. No doubt students making longer arrangements would be able to negotiate and there may be other alternatives for long term stay such as renting a room from a local, or staying in the University itself.
Xie Yong Guang can assist in finding local accommodation.
Local food is not expensive.
English Teaching Work
There are occasional opportunities for a long term Tai Chi student to teach English at the University earning 3000Y a month. This would probably include room and board.
Location
GettingThere
Intensive Advanced Yang Family Tai Chi Seminars with Yang Zhi Fang
We plan to offer occasional 10 day intensive Yang Family Tai Chi Seminars in Handan, in addition to the regular teaching program.
These courses will be aimed at intermediate and advanced practitioners of Yang Style Long Form, i.e. practitioners who already know the Long Form, and have practised Tai Chi for several years at least.
Teaching will be provided by Yang Zhi Fang, with English translation by Xie Yong Guang along with background assistance from other teachers in the association.
The syllabus for the courses is not fixed at the moment, but we aim to keep to at least 4-5 hours training per day, and then there may be opportunities for additional private tuition from Yang Zhi Fang and other teachers outside of the main classes.
This is a unique opportunity to study intensively with a senior member of the Yang family.
We are considering late September, early October 2010 as potential dates for the first seminar.
A sample two week holiday including the seminar could be :
- Sat Sep 25th : Fly to Beijing
- Sun Sep 26th : Beijing Sightseeing
- Mon Sep 27th : Beijing Sightseeing
- Tue Sep 28th : Travel to Handan, 2-3 hrs by train
- Wed Sep 29th : Seminar Day 1
- Thu Sep 30th : Seminar Day 2
- Fri Oct 1st : Seminar Day 3
- Sat Oct 2nd : Seminar Day 4
- Sun Oct 3rd : Seminar Day 5
- Mon Oct 4th : Seminar Day 6 - Afternoon visit to the Yang Family House, Guangfu
- Tue Oct 5th : Seminar Day 7
- Wed Oct 6th : Seminar Day 8
- Thu Oct 7th : Seminar Day 9
- Fri Oct 8th : Seminar Day 10
- Sat Oct 9th : Travel to Beijing
- Sun Oct 10th : Fly Home
Students will be on their own in Beijing, but we are happy to help people to link up together.
Price to be announced but around £500 for the Tai Chi course, not inclusive of flights, hotels and food. Private tuition is likely to be charged for separately in Handan.
Accommodation will be arranged in one of the local Handan hotels, probably the Jinan Hotel as its well located.
As a rough estimate of costs I would say ~£500 for flights from Europe, ~£150+ for accommodation during the course and £200 for Beijing, probably £200 for meals and £100 for transport and sightseeing. So perhaps £1150 + the course fee => ~£1650.
It is possible to reduce costs by staying in hostels in Beijing and being careful with meals.
If you have more time, then Wudang Mountain is reachable by train from Handan, as is Xian and if you have a Buddhist interest, the Longmen Caves, near Louyang, Wutai Shan and the caves at Datong are all possible. The Shaolin Temple is also near Zhengzhou.
A deposit of £100, payable by Paypal is sufficient to reserve a place at the Seminar, and the remaining amount is payable by mid September.
At the moment, I am keen for people to register their interest in attending such a seminar, even if these dates aren't possible for you. Please include something of your background in Tai Chi. There will no doubt be other seminars planned for 2011.
Contact me, Anthony Fidler, to register interest in attending this or another Seminar.