I first heard of this Yang style from Victor Leow, my Wing Chun senior who mentioned it in a letter to me. This letter postmarked 4 Aug 1993 is when he mentioned the first book on the OSR 108-form, saying that the book revealed the secrets. At that time he was learning Yin Yang Baguazhang from Master Xie Shoude, who was Grandmaster Wei Shuren’s disciple number eight.

Later Victor learned OSR from Master Xie. In another letter dated 30 Aug 1994 he wrote :-

[8] The Yang Tai-Chi is really quite amazing but it sure takes its time. My very short and brief experience suggests that a course on the 37-Form is a great help because of its familiarisation with Not-Moving-the-arms and the so-called Beautiful Ladies Hand.

Victor is referring to the Cheng Manching 37-form above.

In Victor’s next letter postmarked 22 Dec 1994 he mentioned the opportunity to learn from Grandmaster Wei himself as Master Xie had brought the old master to Sydney for a private seminar.

In this letter Victor mentioned that they saw first hand how Grandmaster Wei could send Master Xie flying off dramatically. The secret lies in a simple principle that everyone knows but not necessarily know how to use properly – intent.

From that time I had kept an eye out for the book on the 108-form, eventually buying it when it was available. Much later I also looked through copies of old and new Chinese martial arts magazines for any articles mentioning OSR. I did managed to find some written by Grandmaster Wei.

So as far as I could tell no one outside Grandmaster Wei’s lineage used the name OSR. Until much later when the 2nd book on the 22-form came out and caused a stir. That’s when Grandmaster Wang Yongquan’s early disciples also claimed that their Yang Chengfu variant of the Yang form is also called ……tada!….. you guessed it, OSR.

Today when I googled the name Old Six Routines I will come across either our version of OSR or the other party’s version. I have read comments where viewers were confused as to which is which. I don’t blame them for being confused. If I were’t involved back then I would be just as confused today.

In Grandmaster Wei’s lineage the 108-form, the 22-form and the 37-form are all Old Six Routines forms. So when you say OSR you have to mention which form you are referring to if you are to avoid confusion. For clarity, I just refer to the 22-form as the 22-form. Incidentally, I came across another Yang style 22-form recently taught by Master Yang Jun!

Anyway aside from the common denominator of Grandmaster Wang Yongquan, our OSR has nothing to do with the other party’s OSR except in name. The difference is obvious to anyone who has taken a look at the 108-form from each sides. Their OSR looks like the typical Yang Chengfu 108-form and I should know since I learned the Dong style variant of the Yang style 108-form.

Our version of the OSR simply looks too different not just from the Yang Chengfu variants but also the other Yang style that claims lineage from the other Yangs (Yang Chienhou, Yang Shaohou, Yang Banhou).

As to why the lineage also claimed their form is OSR I have heard stories. However, since some of the people involved have already passed on I will let sleeping dogs lie. Politics don’t interest me, only the skills that I can learn regardless of lineage or origin. This is how we can move ourselves forward.

Leave the politics aside. Learn from each other. Progress together. This is how we can revive Tai Chi regardless of style.