In the transmission of Zen Buddhism what matters is not the methods or the techniques but the engagement of the heart in the transmission.

What this is telling us is that in our pursuit of Tai Chi do not be obsessed with the style, the school, the lineage, whether the form is old or modern, how many awards the teacher has.

Instead, what is important is the depth and clarify of the transmission from teacher to student, and of course the willingness of the student to embrace the teachings, and diligently practice until fruition.

Sometimes learning Tai Chi is like a series of lucky encounters.

If Yang Jianhou had not been born to Yang Luchan, he would not had the chance to learn this wonderful art.

If the 4th Prince had not been interested in Tai Chi, he would not have engaged Yang Jianhou and his son, Yang Shouhou to teach in his palace.

If Wang Chonglu had not worked as the head housekeeper in the 4th Prince’s household he would not have met Yang Jianhou and the opportunity for him and his son, Wang Yongquan, to learn directly from Yang Jianhou would not have been opened.

If Wang Chonglu had not showed his sincerity by selling his asset and giving the sizeable amount of money to Yang Jianhou to demonstrate his sincerity and appreciation of their skills, the Yangs would not have taught them their secrets of their style.

If Wang Yongquan had not received training as a wrestler he would not have been able to take the rough and tumble of being Yang Shaohou’s demo partner, and in the process experienced first hand what the Yangs Tai Chi were like.

If Wang Yongquan had not changed his mind about breaking his oath to the Yangs to never teach what he had learned from them, this side of Yang style Tai Chi would have been lost.

Wei Shuren, a master of Chen style Tai Chi, was urged by his friend to meet Wang Yongquan. However, he refused, saying that he felt that there was nothing more to be learnt after he had learned Chen style for a long time.

If Grandmaster Wei’s friend had not been persistent, urging GM Wei for three years, then this Yang style would not have been passed on until now.

GM Wei finally relented, met Wang Yongquan who sitting down in a chair, gave him a fajing demonstration that blew GM Wei’s mind, and made him a convert. Thus, at the old age of fifty plus GM Wei Tai Chi from the beginning.

Wang Yongquan only taught this art to his last stage students. He did not teach it to his early stage disciples. A number of people also learned from Wang Yongquan at this last stage, including a lady, Wang Jie, who later followed GM Wei to become his disciple. GM Wei, was confirmed to have acquired the transmission by Wang Yongquan three years before Wang’s passing.

If not for Xie Shoude, this Yang style may not have come out of China. Xie was disciple number eight of GM Wei. Xie taught this style in Sydney. He later brought GM Wei out to Sydney to run seminar.

Due to Xie, GM Wei met a number of people who later became his direct disciples.

If Xie had not been secretive about this Yang style, students would not have voiced their concern to GM Wei, setting the stage for GM Wei to intervene and teach them directly.

Master L was one such student. GM Wei assured him that he knew what to do to address the situation. Thus Master L was able to invite GM Wei to live with him for some months and teach him privately.

Master L said that when he liked something he would spend all his time doing it, and he had the means to do so, practicing the entire day, making good progress in a shorter time.

When GM Wei retired on his 80th birthday, he announced that Master L would take over as the gatekeeper of the style. He also named Master L and Master Wang Jie as the official transmitters of the style.

As a teacher Master L taught by explaining the principles and how they are practiced in the 22 form. He did not teach how to fajing, how to push hands or how to use the techniques, at least to me. Since I had already learned how to do push hands from the Dong style I focused on improving and refining what I had.

Master L’s philosophy was the principles were like money to be accumulated and saved in the bank. If you had no money, where would you have the money to spend. On the first day I was at Master L’s place he made me touch hands with someone bigger and taller than me who had learned different arts. I guessed he must have seen what I really needed.

Funny thing though, somewhere along the line the story of how GM Wei had to relearn his Tai Chi made sense when I had to do the same too six years into the learning. That was the time Master L told me to fully focus on only Tai Chi to make the real breakthrough. This was the best advice I ever received and I am glad that I listened to him.

The moral of the lesson is that if you find something truly worthy of learning you should put your heart and soul into learning it, especially if your teacher put his heart into teaching you.

It is for this reason after many years of thinking it over I have decided to try putting it out there for those who have learned this wonderful Tai Chi but still not quite gotten into its essence.