Translations (译文)
Connections is available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Chinese. We are very grateful for our translators who volunteered to translate: Rubén Coirini, Daniela Famulari, Gennaro Ripa, Françoise Desagnat, Jean-Claude Miremont, Thilo Krienke, Milena Locci de Oliveira de Lazzari, and Li Mingyang. 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 Yang Family Tai Chi. 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.
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,
Yang Jun
President
China Adventure 2026 (October 15 - 28)
China Adventure 2026 (October 15-28) is a once-in-a-lifetime journey that blends world-class tai chi competition, deep cultural heritage, and unforgettable travel across China’s most iconic landscapes. Centered around the 3rd Yang Family Tai Chi International Elite Tournament at sacred Emei Mountain, this experience brings together practitioners from around the world to compete, connect, and celebrate the living tradition of Yang Family Tai Chi.
For tournament participants, the adventure begins in Chengdu and continues to Emei Mountain, where participants prepare through group rehearsals before the tournament’s opening ceremonies. Over several inspiring days, athletes take part in individual and group events, culminating in award ceremonies, master demonstrations, and international group performances. A ranking event will also be held.
For those who are not participating in the tournament, their adventure begins in Chengdu, where they explore the Sichuan Food Museum, learn to cook iconic dishes, sip local teas, and stroll historic streets while experiencing the city’s vibrant flavors. After, they journey to Emei Mountain with a memorable stop at the Leshan Giant Buddha.
A defining highlight is the Centennial Birthday Commemoration of Grand Master Yang Zhenduo, featuring scholarly presentations, personal remembrances, and a vibrant disciples’ celebration that honors lineage, excellence, and shared purpose.
China Adventure 2026 offers a perfect blend of cultural immersion, scenic beauty, and tai chi tradition, making it a memorable journey for many years to come.
More details including the 3 tour packages, schedules and fees can be found on YFTC's website.
Please note that a deposit for this trip is due on May 15, 2026. Completed tour package form and full payment is due by July 15, 2026. See registration form.
Training Standards Department
We are happy to welcome four new Yang Family Tai Chi Associate Instructors, all from Italy: Maria Alessandra Giuri, Claudio Baldo, Maria Milosavljevic, and Roberto Barontini. Congratulations!
1st International Taijiquan Day
In 2020, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named tai chi as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. In 2025, UNESCO again recognized the importance of tai chi in the world and officially designated March 21 as International Taijiquan Day. This important global recognition of tai chi was welcomed by tai chi communities worldwide.
Photo: Several classes of YFTC Center Michigan in multiple locations celebrated when UNESCO made the announcement of the 1st International Tai Chi Day.
UNESCO noted that tai chi emphasizes the balanced development of mental and physical strength and promotes philosophical ideas of balance, the pursuit of peace and harmony, mutual respect, health and well-being, and the overcoming of strength with softness. The practice of tai chi chuan is inclusive, not limited by age, gender, culture, physical condition, and can be practiced indoors or outdoors.
Tai chi chuan continues to gain visibility, reaching over 180 countries and regions, gaining wide participation and international recognition. UNESCO noted that tai chi chuan can even play a role in world peace. In an increasingly unstable world full of crises and conflicts, tai chi's ethics of peace, harmonious coexistence and respect among people from different countries and ethnic groups, and cultural exchanges are more important than ever.
Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo felt the same about tai chi's role in the world. He hoped that tai chi chuan could be used not only to improve peoples' health, but also used to bring people of different cultures and countries together. As he taught both within China and internationally, he noticed that despite different nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, and languages, tai chi practitioners were like one big family, creating new friendships because of their common love of tai chi chuan. He would have been so pleased to see UNESCO's recognition of tai chi chuan after dedicating his life to sharing the art worldwide.
Here are some photos from International Taijiquan Day from a few of our centers and schools in North America, South America, Europe, and China:
France
USA
Argentina
China
Madagascar
Italy
Germany
Brazil
Stefanie Russell (Head of Membership) Retirement
Dear Master Yang Jun and Master Fang Hong, Administrators, Directors, Instructors and Members,
It has been my honor and my pleasure to serve as Head of the Membership Department since 2020. During those years I was impressed with the way we were all able to navigate through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and then the reopening of our centers and schools. The legacy of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan was shared and strengthened through the combined efforts of us all. We benefited greatly from our continued practice during those difficult times.
New resources were made available as we shared tai chi chuan remotely. Change always comes and it is the resilience shown by Master Yang Jun and Master Fang Hong that made continuation possible. Online meetings and classes were developed and taught. An online class department was created to facilitate access to those trainings. Many of you rose to the occasion and met the challenges beautifully. I will never forget the courage everyone showed!
Since those days, new centers and schools have developed. New instructors have been certified. New members have joined the association. The future shows great promise!
Now the time has come for me to retire as Head of Membership and focus my energies on my own school here in the Greater Seattle area.
I have greatly enjoyed communicating with so many of you over the years, sending greetings from Seattle and receiving your greetings from around the world! I have great faith that the association and its members, will move forward in a most energetic and positive way during this Year of the Fire Horse!
I am deeply grateful to Master Yang Jun and Master Fang Hong for the trust they placed in me.
Please continue to direct your membership questions to:
members@yangfamilytaichi.com
Rather than say 'goodbye' I would like to say, let's keep in touch!
Greetings from West Seattle,
Stefanie Russell 杨雅诗, Academy Instructor
(Director, YFTC School Greater Seattle)
Master Yang Jun's Seminar Schedule
Paris, France
April 25-27: Traditional Hand Form (103)
April 28: Push Hands
April 29-30: Sword Form
Mexico City, Mexico
May 15-16: Essential Form
May 17: Saber Form
Taiyuan, China
July 22-26: 4th Push Hands Seminar, Part 1
July 30 - August 3: 1st Push Hands Seminar, Part 2
Kunming, China
August 7-11: 6th Instructor Seminar, Part 2
Royal Oak, Michigan, USA
August 20: Saber Form
August 21-22: Essential Form
August 23: Push Hands
Please visit our association's website for more information as it becomes available.
Master Yang Jun Becomes Committee Director
On March 13, 2026, the Guangdong Wushu Association Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Professional Committee was established. Master Yang Jun is the Director.
5th Generation Disciple Training
The 5th generation Yang Family disciple training was held March 17-18 in Pingdu, Qingdao, China.
Disciple and Pre-Disciple Training
The 7th Master Yang Jun disciple and pre-disciple training took place March 21-25 in Pingdu, Qingdao, China.
Seminar in Lisbon, Portugal with Angela Soci
The Portuguese Association of Yang Family Tai Chi held a Traditional Hand Form (103) and Push Hands seminar December 6-8 in Lisbon, with Professor Angela Soci (Yang Yajing). Angela is the Director of the YFTC Center São Paulo in Brazil and is a Senior Instructor with Yang Family Tai Chi. Eighteen participants from Portugal, Spain, and Italy attended the seminar.
Tai Chi Performance in Kronshagen, Germany / GHP Award
"Thilo's Seven Angels" seemed to be the motto for our performance at the Christmas market celebrating the opening of the town hall square in Kronshagen near Kiel. Eight of us were on stage, including association members Christine von Bülow, Sieghild Köplin, and Thilo Krienke. We performed the first part of our Traditional Form. The photo was taken by Martin Quetsche.
A welcome surprise was receiving the GHP Inclusive Martial Art Education Excellence Award 2026. (A list of all award winners can be found on the website.)
Thilo Krienke
Kiel, Germany
Jack Cornell Receives Award
Jack Cornell was surprised and honored to receive from the Honorable Bruno Molea, the 7th degree Black Belt in Kung Fu - Wu Shu for years of dedicating himself to learning and teaching Chinese martial arts and national/international competitions. The award was given to Jack in Rome, Italy at the National AICS/CONI Headquarters in December 2025. Jack is the director of YFTC Center Vicenza, Italy. Congratulations to you, Jack!
YFTC Center Michigan Tai Chi Performance
On December 12, 2025, YFTC Center Michigan performed at Detroit City Hall for Dragon Eagle TV Detroit China Day.
Workshop at YFTC School - Cherbourg, France
A workshop was held on November 29th and 30th, 2025 organized by Jean-Yves Foray, Director of the YFTC School Cherbourg. Guest instructors are often invited to this event and have previous included Duc and Carole N'Guyen Minh (YFTC Center Paris), Thierry Huguet (YFTC Center Toulouse) and Edyta Piatkowska (YFTC School Lyon). This year, our friend Serge Coux (Academy Instructor) along with his assistant student Alain Rigolet were invited. This was an exceptional event with several dedicated sessions designed to nurture all practitioners, from beginners to experienced practitioners.
Saturday morning was reserved for the five instructors (Patrick Pays, Amélie Chatin, Pascale Rivrin, Sarah Dubost, and Nadia Bothorel) trained by Jean-Yves Foray, the school's director, to further refine their practice and teaching methods. Saturday afternoon was a open to everyone, welcoming beginners. Sunday morning was for more advanced students who wanted to deepen their practice and Sunday afternoon was reserved for students wishing to take their ranking exams. A great success, the event brought together nearly 30 people over the two days, thanks to the generosity of Serge and Alain.
Director Bing Hui Honored for Service - Stockton, California, USA
On Saturday, January 17, the YFTC Center Stockton honored Bing Hui for his 20 years of dedicated service as Center Director. Dr. Ray Tom (Center Director Emeritus) presented Bing with a commemorative plaque in appreciation of his commitment to sharing the health, balance, and wellness benefits of tai chi with the Stockton community.
This year also marks the 43rd anniversary of Stockton’s Tai Chi Chuan Institute, which has served generations of students since its founding in 1983. The institute’s first instructor was Master Bing Ly, a refugee from Saigon’s Chinatown, with Ray Tom as his assistant. After Master Ly’s retirement in 1998, Ray assumed leadership and, with strong student support, guided the institute to become an official YFTC Center in 2002 following a seminar led by Master Yang Jun.
Since assuming the directorship in 2006, Bing Hui has expanded the YFTC Center’s reach, fostering an inclusive environment that welcomes beginners, seniors, and long-time practitioners alike. Through decades of teaching, the center has played an important role in promoting health, mindfulness, and community connection in Stockton, creating a lasting legacy that continues to benefit students today.
Seminar in Goiânia, Brazil
In January, Geraldo Alves (Associate Instructor) held a seminar in Goiânia, state of Goiás, Brazil.
Happy Lunar New Year!
From YFTC School Greater Seattle:
We wish Master Yang Jun and Master Fang Hong and all our brothers and sisters 新年快乐 from our YFTC School of Greater Seattle!
-Stefanie Russell (not in photo)
From YFTC Center Michigan:
Happy Chinese New Year to everyone!
From Cavalcante, Goiás State, Brazil:
Happy Chinese New Year!
- Geraldo Alves & Students
Journal Gem
"The Nature of Peng Energy: Master Yang Jun Interviewed" by Edward Moore. Issue #22 (2022), pages 4-8.
This article can be found in our Members-Only Area on our website.
Contribute to Our Journal
Volunteer Opportunities
Yang Family Tai Chi depends on volunteers who donate their time and talent to make our association a success. We currently need more volunteers to help our association as we move forward into the future. We have an immediate need for people with skills such as website updating and management, writing, translating, video editing, social media, and assisting our department heads and executive with various tasks. We also welcome volunteers in other areas.
Do you have any skills or knowledge you would like to share? If you would like to volunteer but aren't sure how you can help, please just send an email telling us you would like to help in some way and we will suggest some ways you could volunteer.
We are very grateful to all our volunteers who have helped make our association and its events successful. Building a strong group of new volunteers will help us improve our service to our members and also reach more people around the world! Please contact Pam Boyde (pamboyde@yangfamilytaichi.com) if you would like to volunteer.
Join Our Association
Become a member of Yang Family Tai Chi! For more information about membership benefits and how to apply, please visit our membership page on our website.
Posting to Yang Family Tai Chi's Social Media Pages
Want to post news on Yang Family Tai Chi's social media pages? Yang Family Tai Chi would like to keep its social media pages updated with current information from the association, centers, and schools. Ana Horta is managing Yang Family Tai Chi's social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. If you would like to share news on Yang Family Tai Chi's social media pages, please send an email to Ana at anamaghorta@gmail.com.
VISIT YANG FAMILY TAI CHI'S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES
Previous Issue
Did you miss the last issue of Connections? You can read it here.
Next Issue of Connections
Connections is published in March, June, September, and December. We publish association news and school news (upcoming events, recent past events, awards, other news) but not general school advertisements.
The next issue of Connections will be published in June 2026. Please send any announcements to me at carolyn@yangfamilytaichi.com by May 22, 2026.
Carolyn Fung,
Editor
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