International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association
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I was born/raised in Gardena, California and have one daughter and granddaughter. My background is in Human Resources, Marketing/Sales and Administration.
I started my tai chi journey in 1996 and learned Yang Style Simplified 24 and 32 Sword, 85 Long Form, 2 person Opposites and Push Hands under the teachings of Master Shuo Y. Chen. After his passing in 2000, I began studying with Master Yang Jun and now add the Traditional 103 & 13 Hand, 67 Sword, and 13 Saber Forms to my resume.
I teach tai chi at senior centers and at Shoreline Community College with my husband, Mike. I am currently the Office Manager of the Redmond Center and Master Yang's Assistant in the International Association.
My Chinese name is Lu Tao Nan, and I was born in Hong Kong. My family moved to Seattle when I was five. I started training external boxing at age fourteen (Hung Kuen, and later Sil Lum P'ai).
In 1992, I started looking for a teacher to teach me internal martial arts. In 1999, when I attended Master Yang's grand opening demonstration, I knew I had finally found my teacher. Master Yang is my first and only teacher in tai chi.
In addition to tai chi, I also enjoy Cuban music and dance, gardening, travel, cooking and eating good food.
Mike graduated from California Institute of Technology in 1981. He had a few jobs programming computers, had his own programming business, then joined Microsoft in 1988 and left Microsoft in 1997.
He started learning tai chi in 1996 at a class taught at Microsoft by Master Shuo Y Chen, learning the 24, 32 sword, and 103 forms and starting push hands.
In 2000, he and his wife, Nancy, started to teach tai chi at Microsoft, and near the end of 2000 joined the YCF Center, where he also learned the 67 sword form and 13 saber forms.
I first learned the Yang Simplified 24 in 2000 and later a form so-called the "Old Yang" Style from two Tai Chi clubs at Boeing. I served on the Executive Board of both clubs. lead practice sessions and occasionally taught classes there.
After reading the article "A Talk on Practice" by Yang Chengfu: "...a group takes their mistakes and transmits them to generations, necessarily fooling both themselves and others...", I realized I have to search for a professional Tai Chi instructor. I found Master Yang Jun!
Besides practicing Tai Chi Chuan, I enjoy travelling, hiking and outdoor photography.
I grew up in Singapore and came to the United States to further my education. I graduated from Boston University with dual degrees in MBA and Master of Science.
Ever since I was a child, I was intrigued by taijiquans graceful, but powerful moves. In 1996, I started learning Yang style taijiquan, push hands, sword, saber, and Wu style taijiquan with Master Xie Bing Can. I also assisted in teaching and translating. In 2002, I took the opportunity to continue studying taijiquan with Master Yang Jun.
I live in Bellevue with my husband, two children and hamster. My other interests include gardening, piano, and painting.
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