Re: Fu Zhongwen's 4 disciples
Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2021 7:44 pm
The only official designations of the heads of the major tjq families came from the PRC. There are several lineages of tjq coming down directly from Yang Luchan. "Yang" style tjq isn't one thing, and the different branches have their own leaders. But, skill is not genetic --and each of the branches have different skill sets. That's been true from the beginning. Panhou's tjq was his own --and no one surpassed his skill. The Shouchung people practice "dynamic" push hands and emphasize different things.
The two things that connect all Yang styles family or not is their acknowledged descent from YLC, and their general adherence to YCF's organization/choreography of the form. That's not to say he invented it, but he "popularized" it --as it's commonly said. And that's primarily why YCF's tjq became so prominent. Most of the people who practiced tjq in the US (on the East coast) had pictures of YCF in their schools, even CMC schools. There were two exceptions I knew of; one taught Wu/Hao style, and the other taught Yang Shouchong's tjq (in Boston).
Afa actual bloodlines, it's interesting that Ma Yuehliang was recognized as the head of the Wu Jianquan branch, but when the PRC published its official book the pictures used were of his wife (Wu Yinghua) because she was the blood relation of Wu Jianquan. Although, imo, she had the most beautiful form I'd seen. Anyway, that branch is Shanghai Wu. Hong Kong Wu/Ng had completely different family leaders. Those leaders are "officially" recognized by the family or its association, regardless of their skill level. But there are always senior students; often called gatekeepers who'd take challenges in place of the family head. That's normal, no?
Afa Yang Jun's form, I'm in no position to judge. I don't know how to take the idea that he learned from Sam Masich --not that I know him. I do know that YJ was with Zhenduo since the 90s, at least. I've never studied with him, but I have also heard that he focuses mostly on the form --though he also knows applications. If someone wanted to focus on fighting skills, it'd take more than seminars. But, even the legendary skills of tjq would require someone have lots of experience using them --against non-tjq people, specifically.
The two things that connect all Yang styles family or not is their acknowledged descent from YLC, and their general adherence to YCF's organization/choreography of the form. That's not to say he invented it, but he "popularized" it --as it's commonly said. And that's primarily why YCF's tjq became so prominent. Most of the people who practiced tjq in the US (on the East coast) had pictures of YCF in their schools, even CMC schools. There were two exceptions I knew of; one taught Wu/Hao style, and the other taught Yang Shouchong's tjq (in Boston).
Afa actual bloodlines, it's interesting that Ma Yuehliang was recognized as the head of the Wu Jianquan branch, but when the PRC published its official book the pictures used were of his wife (Wu Yinghua) because she was the blood relation of Wu Jianquan. Although, imo, she had the most beautiful form I'd seen. Anyway, that branch is Shanghai Wu. Hong Kong Wu/Ng had completely different family leaders. Those leaders are "officially" recognized by the family or its association, regardless of their skill level. But there are always senior students; often called gatekeepers who'd take challenges in place of the family head. That's normal, no?
Afa Yang Jun's form, I'm in no position to judge. I don't know how to take the idea that he learned from Sam Masich --not that I know him. I do know that YJ was with Zhenduo since the 90s, at least. I've never studied with him, but I have also heard that he focuses mostly on the form --though he also knows applications. If someone wanted to focus on fighting skills, it'd take more than seminars. But, even the legendary skills of tjq would require someone have lots of experience using them --against non-tjq people, specifically.