Formosa Neijia

The following is from a comment on the post regarding the Yang family statement a while back. As you guys can tell, I sometmes like to reward particularly insightful comments with a post of their own because they might say something we should all be aware of.

This comment addresses Mary Yang (Yeung Ma-lee), Yang Shou-chung’s second daughter, and some related thoughts about training. Background info on her can be found here and here. It was supposedly her branch that issued the statement. Why it was issued is still a bit unclear, as the comment explains.

Yes for Mary it sounds of character (edit: the statement from the Yang family) because she told me herself six years ago she likes a low profile and her Tai Chi can spread through her students. But maybe she has had something happen to warrant this shift? Like many people have commented on other sites quality will spread on its own. No need for the individual to defend their art.
I have many friends who are connected to various Tai Chi lineages not just Yang Style. Each has their own perception about the quality of their instructor and knowledge. That is all fine. I have met many substantial martial artists in Asia through my networks of my company who are incredible fighters and I always say when the quality of training and fighting arguments come up, “If you want to discuss fighting and lineage put the people in a room and let them fight for real.” Then at that moment in time you will know who is better.” Otherwise it is all talk. You know and who really cares about that in 2007?

As an example, my friends who study with the Chen family have no such problem with access from what they have said. They have access and just have to pay the rate of the day. Remember the Chen family helped the Yang family. I don’t dispute who is better because I have seen many great people in many great styles by actually living in Asia for 6 years now. Unless they put their hands on you then you cannot feel their power anyway. So talk is cheap.

I have to say I really like Mary and anyone who gets in front of her will enjoy the experience. I think access to her should be greater and that of course is very political. But people can find her on their own as some people have without the aid of me or Jim Uglow or any of the other publicized teachers. Mary can certainly speak for herself when she chooses to and can say yes or no to a student. As far as saying that the Yang Family holds all the secrets: what a way to share an art. If it is the ultimate exercise then why not teach it more openly. Would Dr Salk hide his vaccine from people who wanted to take it for Polio? He did not and he was rewarded properly for it. Many times more than the Yang Family has been for their art. I would encourage all teachers and family heads to be open. They will in fact get more business not less if that is the concern. I am sure Mary knows a great deal and more than many people are aware of. It is up to her to share it with who ever she wants to. It is her life. I do not get concerned over statements by her or anyone on the Internet about training. If someone really wants great training and seeks it long enough they will find it.

By limiting access to a teacher then the teacher is the one who looses in the end. The lineage thing is fractured and falling apart. Thank God. Let the quality of a person’s Tai Chi stand on its own. Forget about titles when you meet people. Watch how they move. What is it like to study with them? What can they teach you? The teacher is there to guide and nourish the student. The world has changed. In Asia now the Chinese laugh and say the westerners are more Chinese then they are. The statement in itself is quite telling about how the Chinese have updated their perspective on life and their arts which they have done for many more generations than most cultures. It is 2007 not 1760. No need to burn incenses, no need to have cults about dead people. They train and have normal lives. That being said all the people arguing should enjoy their Tai Chi and their teachers and the teachers should take note that the students are the ones that propel the art forward in the final analysis. It s not worth debating. Spend time practicing instead.