Cloud Hands West Tai Chi Tradition
An Incomplete History
by Bradford C. Bennett, June, 2011
Where does our Tai Chi form and style come from? We know Mr. Lui learned from multiple sources. In Hong Kong Mr. Lui studied Wu style with Cheng Wing-kwong ¹ in 1955. In Chicago he learned a short form from Dr. James Wing in 1966. In 1968 he studied with Prof. Hou Chi- Kwong (Fok) and learned the long form. While I have not found any information on Dr. James Wing the lineage of his other teachers is the subject of this short treatise.
The question is where did this long form come from? It seems different from just about anything else one sees. It seems that Prof. Hou also had multiple teachers and learned various Chinese martial arts. The Traditional Chinese Cultural Academy web page (http://taichicertification.org/ProfessorHuo.aspx) states, “He studied Old Style Yang Tai Chi Chuan with Yang Shao-Hou, the elder brother of Yang Cheng-Fu.” However, some dispute this and suggest he may have studied with a student of Yang Shao-Hou. Nonetheless it seems that he did not learn the Secret Family Form in his early studies, but much later when he studied with Wang Yen-nien in Taiwan. Wang stated that Hou was in his class and below is an excerpt from his web page: http://www.ymti.org/us/modules/xoopsfaq/index.php?cat_id=6#q7#q7
What is the relationship between Professor Huo Chi-kuan's secret family style and Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan?
Huo Chi-kuan (HCK) was a native of Shanxi Province, as I am, and he was a member of the Republic of China's National Assembly in Taiwan. I was invited to teach Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan to members of the National Assembly and HCK attended those classes.
Many people told me his taijiquan did not look exactly like Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan and they wondered why HCK did not teach or practice neigong when teaching taijiquan.
The differences in the form are probably because even before taking classes with me at the National Assembly, he already knew a Yang Style of taijiquan, which he had learned in mainland China, and therefore mixed together what he knew from before with what he learned with me later.
As for why he did not include neigong in his practice of taijiquan, I cannot explain.
Wang learned his Tai Chi from Chang Yin-lin (Zhang Qinlin by the Michuan group). Zhang was a student of both Yang Chien-hou (Yang Jianho) and his son, Yang Ching-pu. The Michuan (Secret Form) he said he learned from the father, Yang Chien-hou. Interestingly many cite Chang Yin-lin as Chen Man-ching’s teacher, while other sites say he studied with both Chang Yin-lin and Yang Ching-pu.
As a side note the Traditional Chinese Cultural Academy web page states the Prof. Hou was a lifelong friend of Kou Lien-ying of San Francisco. Was this the reason Mr. Lui visited Kou when he visited San Francisco in the 60’s?
I also found this revealing post on the web:
Herbert (sic) Lui and I were classmates under Prof. Huo, although the Prof. became angry later, because H. Lui began teaching and changed the form while the Prof. was away in China. Apparently Mr. Lui thought that Prof. Huo was not going to return to Chicago. his initial trip was planned for two months ,but he stayed for two years. While the Prof. was away I heard that Mr.Lui was teaching at a church in Chinatown and I went there to watch his class. He pretended as though he didn't know me. That was the last I saw of him and later he wrote a book. The rest is history.
Ray Cooper 29 Oct 2000
Final Comments
Below is a graphical lineage I put together from my research. (Any missing information reflects gaps in what I could find.) It makes clear that Mr. Lui’s Tai Chi education was influenced by the teaching of both of Yang Lu-chan’s sons. In the long run it matters little, who studied with whom. What matters is how you move: at least that’s what Mr. Lui told me.
¹ One issue in researching Tai Chi is the multiple spellings that are used. For instance the founder of the Yang school, Yang Lu-chuan, can be found as Yang Lu-ch'an, Yang Fu-k'ui, Yang Lu-Chuan. and Yang Lu Shan. For the most part I have used the spellings of Mr. Lui.
