Translations
Connections is available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, and German. We are very grateful for our translators who volunteered to translate: Cyntia S. Levy, Rubén Coirini, Daniela Famulari, Gennaro Ripa, Françoise Desagnat, Jean-Claude Miremont, and Thilo Krienke. Thank you very much! Here are the links to the other languages:
Welcome to Our New Members
I would like to welcome all new members who have recently joined our international association. Thank you for joining us and welcome to our tai chi family! I am happy you have chosen to join us and hope that you feel welcome and receive great value from your membership.
To all the new members from China who have recently joined our association, I want to thank you for joining us. I look forward to working together to help our association grow.
感谢最近加入国际杨氏太极拳协会的会员，我期盼着和你们一起帮助我们的国际杨氏太极拳协会成长.
I hope that all members will have a long and fulfilling relationship with our association. For those members who have been with us through the years, I appreciate that you have chosen to stay with us as we continue to spread tai chi chuan worldwide to help humankind.
Sincerely,
Grand Master Yang Jun
President
New Requirements for Association Instructors
Beginning January 2017, our association has some new requirements for our instructors including an exam. READ MORE about the requirements for the different levels of instructors.
New Departmental Appointment
Department of Training Standards
Martine Salane It is my pleasure to announce that beginning January 20, 2017, Martine Salane will take on the position of Co-Head of the Department of Training Standards with me. She will be responsible for the administration of instructor certification, training standards and the Instructor Registry. I will supervise the Training Standards Department in general and chair both the Instructor Committee and Examination Committee. As Vice President of Instruction and Standards, I will continue to oversee all elements of that branch of the Association.
Martine has been a long-time and dedicated member of the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association and a committee member of the Michigan Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center with whom I have worked closely over many years. She holds Rank 6 and is on the Ranking Committee of the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association.
In the past 12 years, Martine has made a significant contribution to her community by donating her time and instructional skills to her local cancer organization.
With her strong administrative skills, I know that Martine will be excellent in this new position. Please join me in welcoming Martine as the Training Standards Department Co-Head.
Han Hoong Wan
Head, Department of Training Standards
Vice President, Instruction and Standards
Association Registered in China
The International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association has been entered in the records in the Department of Human Resources in the People's Republic of China. Our association can now legally do business in China.
Executive Committee Member Introduction
VP Operations/Executive Manager: Pam Boyde
Pam began her studies in tai chi chuan in 1989 with the Beijing Simplified 24 Form. In 1995, she decided to focus on learning Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan. She first learned Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan from videotapes because there were no YCF centers or teachers where she lives in the Yukon in northern Canada. In 2002, she traveled to Redmond, Washington to attend the Seattle Redmond YCF Center’s first seminar with Grand Master Yang Zhenduo and Grand Master Yang Jun.
She has been a member of the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association since 2002. She was on the organizing committee of the 2009 and 2014 Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Foundation international symposia on tai chi chuan and also participated in association trips to China, competitions and seminars. She was a staff member for the first North American Teachers Academy Teacher Training Methods Camp in 2016. Pam is an Academy Instructor. She co-heads the Ranking Department with Fernando de Lazzari, is the Vice-President of Operations and serves as Executive Manager for our association. In 2014, Pam was deeply honored by being accepted as Grand Master Yang Jun’s disciple. Her disciple name is Yang Yazhu.
Pam is also a founding member, head instructor and immediate past-president of her local tai chi chuan organization, Tai Chi Yukon, which recently had its 25th anniversary.
Pam enjoys selling tea, taking care of her 32 dogs (yes, it is true, 32), and canoeing. She and her husband, Jim, have paddled many of the Yukon’s wilderness rivers and have participated in over a dozen Yukon River Quests, the longest annual canoe and kayak race in the world (715 km/444 miles).
Kunming YCF Center, China
The new Kunming Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center and training base is completed and waiting to welcome everyone to its grand opening March 25, 2017. We hope you can be there! (A training base is a bigger YCF Center that can host bigger seminars.)
Tai Chi Chuan Presentation, Hong Ding Xiang Club, Hainan University, China
On Jan.1, 2017 Grand Master Yang Jun gave a presentation on tai chi chuan to the Hong Ding Xiang club at Hainan University in Haikou, China. The club is organized by businessman Mr. Weidong Yang. Each year the club starts the new year by getting together to study a topic. Grand Master Yang Jun was the club's first presenter in 2017.
April 22 & 23, 2017 TTM-1 Academic Program at Maron Hotel in Danbury, CT, USA
This one day and a half TTM-1 will offer in-depth study on Anatomy and Biomechanics, Chinese Language Basics, and Pedagogy, with lab time for students to master practical application of the material presented at each academic lecture. There will also be review of the 10 Movement Form. Academy members and candidates for the 10 Movement Trainer Certification will earn 18 credits at the end of this program. Also, in the afternoon of April 23rd, Trainer candidates will be able to complete Part A, B evaluation for the certification. For registration and information please contact Mari Lewis: mari@yangfamilytaichi.com.
Push Hands Training
The North American Teacher Academy Training Division will offer an ongoing push hands training program for Certified Instructors, Associate Instructors, and intermediate and beginner push hands students. The first of this training took place on February 18, 2017 at Bedminster/Montclair IYFTCCA Center in Pottersville NJ, USA. At this training, the focus was on the preparation of students for level 4 push hands ranking. Future schedule to be announced.
North American Teacher Academy Membership
All students and Associate Instructors aspiring to obtain Certified Instructor status through the North American Teacher Academy program are invited to enroll for membership.
All current Certified Instructors and above who would like to participate in the North American Teacher Academy continuing education program and earn credits to qualify for higher level, are invited to enroll for membership with a one-time registration fee.
The registration form is available on the IYFTCC Association website. For questions about the Teacher Academy, please contact Academy@yangfamilytaichi.com.
New YCF Center in Beijing, China
Beijing Yang Chengfu Center had its grand opening ceremony on December 22, 2016.
Center Director: Shumin Jia
New YCF Center Heyuan, Guangdong, China
A new Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center located in the city of Heyuan, Guangdong province had its grand opening ceremony on December 24, 2016. Center Director: Ruiyuan Chi
Grand Master Yang Jun's Seminar Schedule
First Seminar Held in Rosario, Argentina - November 2016
Grand Master Yang Jun taught a seminar in Rosario, Argentina November 26-28, 2016. This was the first time a seminar was held in Rosario. Many people attended and it was enjoyed by everyone. We were very proud to have Grand Master Yang Jun with us!
Affiliated School Director: Rubén Coirini
Flag Memorial in Rosario
Instructor Seminar in Brazil, November 2016
Photo from the Instructor Seminar held in São Paulo, Brazil November, 14 -16, 2016.
Seminar in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil - November 2016
Photos from Grand Master Yang Jun's Hand Form Seminar November 18-20 at the YCF Center in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Center Director: Fernando De Lazzari
Seminar in Mexico - February 2017
Grand Master Yang Jun taught a seminar (16 Hand Form and Sword) February 16-19, 2017 at the Benedictine Monastery in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. About 135 people attended the seminar. They came from all over Mexico, plus New Jersey, New York, Michigan and Colombia. Everyone loved the seminar and they were happy to learn from Grand Master Yang. The seminar was organized by the Mexico City YCF Center. Center Director: Daniel Corona
Pre-Disciple Training Seminar in Datong, China
Grand Master Yang Jun taught a pre-disciple training seminar from January 31 - February 4, 2017. The training took place at the Datong YCF Center. Center Director: Li Shengwu
Haikou YCF Center
On Jan 1, 2017, Yongfu Wei, (Director of Haikou Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center) and Donghua Li (General Manager of Hainan Slow Motion Sport LLC) signed an agreement to have tai chi classes in their gym.
Guangzhou, Guangdong Seminar - January 2017
In January 2017, Guangzhou Yang Chengfu Tai Chi Chuan Center hosted a hand form seminar led by Center Director Song Bin. About 80 people attended the seminar.
News from Lyon YCF Center, France
Center of Lyon-France to Montceau les Mines
Links are developing between the YCF Center of Lyon and the association Lumiere de Chine (“Light of China”) in Montceau-les-Mines. On January 7, 2017, Michel Croce welcomed Florence and Kea Suon of Lyon YCF Center for a workshop where participants showed their continuous passion for tai chi chuan!
Workshops June 2 - 5, 2017
Please note our next weekend workshops will take place from Friday, June 2 to Monday, June 5 in the beautiful Le Domaine du Taillé in the French Ardeche region. For registration, please go to www.taichiyangchengfulyon.com and www.facebook.com/centre.ycf.lyon.taichi.
Ranking on Saturday May 20, 2017
In order to prepare for ranking on Saturday May 20, 2017, you have the option to participate in our monthly workshops. For more information please go to: www.taichiyangchengfulyon.com and www.facebook.com/centre.ycf.lyon.taichi.
Bambou Balance Harmonie & Mouvement Presents Duc Nguyen Minh, March 4-5, 2017, Lyon, France
Bambou Balance Harmonie & Mouvement, an affiliated school in Lyon, France has invited Duc Nguyen Minh to give a seminar on "TAI CHI GONG IN 10 MOVEMENTS". Duc is the director of the YCF Center in Paris and the Academie de Formation France. He is a disciple of Grand Master Yang Jun.
Date: Saturday March 4, 2017 9h30 - 12h / 14h - 16h30
Sunday March 5, 2017 9h30 - 12h / 13h30 - 16h
Location: HALLE AUX FLEURS, 66 rue de Smith, Quartier Confluence, 69002, Lyon.
For information and registration contact:
Association Bambou Balance Harmonie & Mouvement
Email: bamboubalance@gmail.com
Website: www.bamboubalance.com
Tel: 06 26 02 52 91 - 06 20 59 42 62
RANKING EXAM: A ranking exam for Levels 1 & 2 will take place at the affiliated school (Bambou Balance) in Lyon (Director: Edyta Piatkowska-Wu) on Saturday March 4 at 5 PM. Duc Nguyen Minh will be the presiding judge.
June 2017 Seminar with Teo Mei Mei in Stockholm, Sweden
On June 15-18, 2017, Stockholm YCF Center Director Teo Mei Mei will hold a Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan 103 Hand Form and Push Hands seminar in Stockholm, Sweden. She is a disciple of Grand Master Yang Zhenduo.
Contact: meimei@yangfamilytaichi.com
Website: www.taiji-qigong.com
News from Bedminster/Montclair YCF Center
Twelve Bedminster/Montclair Center students earned ranking certificates and medals in 2016. The ten Copper Eagle recipients were Gang Huang, Richard Grzanka, Beverly Saadeh, Alex Somogyi, Donald Stigliano, Anthony DiPrimio, Michelle Gouin, Kerry McCauley, Larry Price, and James White. The two Copper Tiger recipients were Judith Rew and Nancy Thoman. The students were presented their certificates on January 21, 2017 at the Bedminster/Montclair Center. (Alex Somogyi and Gang Huang were unable to attend the award ceremony).
Peggy LaVake, a devoted traditional Yang family style tai chi student since 1997 and an active member of the Bedminster/Montclair Center was presented a certificate for her 20 year commitment to tai chi and the Moral Code of martial arts on January 9, 2017 at the Bedminster/Montclair Center by director Holly Sweeney-Hillman.
Tai Chi Chuan in São Paulo, Brazil
Paula Faro, Certified Instructor, brings Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan outdoors to the citizens of São Paulo, Brazil, a city of over 12 million people. Once a month, her students gather together to practice and invite people passing by to try the slow, peaceful movements of tai chi chuan and take a break from the fast pace and stress of life in the city. Last year they met with a group that practices Zazen on the streets, and now once a month they also meet up with them to practice YFTCC and Zazen in São Paulo's parks.
This outdoor practice is a beautiful experience for participants and a moment of pause and tranquility for people who stop to watch. Starting February 5, 2017, come and join them! More information: www.aartedenutriravida.blogspot.com
Happy New Year!
On January 29, Stefanie Russell (Academy Instructor) and many of her students from the Seattle, USA area YMCAs gathered at Coal Creek YMCA for their Annual Lunar New Year Celebration. After an exciting game of answering tai chi questions for points and prizes, everyone enjoyed practicing the long hand form together. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed tea served with delicious food and friendly conversation.
They extend their best wishes for a healthy and prosperous Year of the Fire Rooster to the Yang family, and to their taiji brothers and sisters everywhere! Xin Nian Kuai Le!
Journal Gem
Here is an excellent IYFTCCA journal article from 2001 on the importance of footwork in tai chi chuan:
The members-only area of our website holds all past journal issues dating back to 1999. Some have been translated into Portuguese and Spanish. Instructions for log-in to the members-only area and information about how to retrieve your username and password are on the website.
VISIT MEMBERS-ONLY AREA
Previous Connections Issue
Did you miss the last issue of Connections? You can read it here.
Next Connections Issue
Please send brief news announcements from your school. We prefer to keep the writing short and include a photo. Photos reach across languages and everyone can enjoy them. Announcements must be in English. Also, please understand that we publish school news (upcoming events, recent past events, awards, other news, etc.) but not general school advertisements.
Connections is published the first week of March, June, September, and December.
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