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
Mrs. Hu Ruidi 1928 - 2023
Obituary
It is with great sadness we announce the death of Mrs. Hu Ruidi, the wife of Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo. She passed away peacefully and without illness in the early hours of June 7, 2023 in her home at the age of 96.
Mrs. Hu Ruidi was born in 1928. After marrying into the Yang family, she was very devoted to taking care of her family, helping her husband, teaching their sons, and raising her grandchildren. She was a very good wife, beautiful and wise, filial to her elders, and loving to her children, generous in words and deeds. She worked hard to take care of her family and was a great helper to the late master, Yang Zhenduo, all his life. Her funeral was held on June 9 at Luhe Hall of Longshan Funeral Home, China.
慈竹光风空有影，晚萱经雨仍留芳！
The gentle bamboo left only a swaying shadow in the wind; The lily at night lost its fragrance after the wind and rain!
Mrs. Hu Ruidi is survived by:
Sons: Yang Daofang (Wu Sumei) and Yang Defang
Grandsons: Yang Jun (Fang Hong), Yang Bin (Song Li), and Yang Yong (Zhang Juan)
Granddaughter: Yang Xueqin (Sun Hongwei)
Great Grandsons: Yang Yajie and Yang Yahao
Great Granddaughters: Yang Yaning (Zhou Xingzhang) and Yang Yaxian
Nephew: Sun Tiancheng
Tribute to Mrs. Hu Ruidi
Visit our YouTube channel to watch a beautiful tribute to Mrs. Hu Ruidi. (Video)
Remembering Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo
PLEASE MARK THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR
Celebration of Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo's birthday:
This year it will be on August 6. To commemorate his birthday, our members and students around the world will perform the 49 Form that he created. Start practicing the 49 Form for the event! There are no other formal plans for this event yet, so if you have any ideas on a new creative way to mark this occasion, please send them to pamboyde@yangfamilytaichi.com.
3rd anniversary of the Grandmaster's passing:
By Chinese tradition, this date will mark the end of the formal mourning period (filial mourning). Grandmaster Yang Zhenduo passed away on November 7, 2020. More information about this event will be available closer to the date.
Yang Family Tai Chi Park Opens in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
The official opening of the Yang Family Tai Chi Park in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria took place on April 22, 2023. Officiating at this special event was Mrs. Krassimira Chahova, Mayor of Stara Zagora, Mr. Petko Krumov, Head of the Stara Zagora sports department, and Mr. Tihomir Todorov, Director of the Yang Family Tai Chi Center in Stara Zagora who has promoted tai chi chuan in the city for over 35 years.
Special guests included Master Yang Jun, the 5th generation inheritor of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan and President of the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association. Also present were Mr. Stefan Kolev, President of the Bulgarian Wushu Federation and Vice President of the European Wushu Federation, Mr. Stanislav Bagalev, Director of the Yang Family Tai Chi Centers in Sofia and Plovdiv and Mr. Andrean Karavastev, Founder of the first Yang style tai chi group in Stara Zagora 45 years ago.
This Yang Family Tai Chi Park was initiated by the Yang Family Tai Chi Center in Stara Zagora and supported by the centers in Sofia and Plovdiv. The park will be used to promote Yang Family Tai Chi with free morning classes for the public with no age limit. “I wish that soon this place will be insufficient to host all that wish to practice tai chi!” said Mr. Krumov. “Doing sports is an investment in our health. Best Wishes!”
Stara Zagora has been a historical center in this part of the Balkans for the past 8000 years. At some point, the city was the capital of the Roman Empire for one year. The valleys of this area have been populated by the Trakian tribes for centuries. The area is rich with mineral spring waters with a variety of healing properties. The practice of Chinese martial arts in Bulgaria started in 1978 in Stara Zagora.
Jiaozuo, China
On May 19, Master Yang Jun performed Yang Family Tai Chi's Senior Form as a special guest for the 2023 National Tai Chi Chuan for Seniors Event. This event was held in Jiaozuo, Henan province, China. Master Yang also gave a lecture. His Senior Form demonstration from this event is on our YouTube channel.
Update on Seminars Taught by Academy, Senior, and Master Instructors
From the Training Standards Department:
1. All applications for Association Authorized Seminars should be submitted to the Training Standards Department and when approved, seminars will be posted on social media and the Yang Family Tai Chi website.
2. Certificates of attendance to these seminars will be issued by the Training Standards Department.
3. If the instructor is Teacher Academy Faculty, the appropriate number of Teacher Academy credit hours will be printed on the certificates.
Note: All applications for Teacher Academy events should be submitted directly to the Teacher Academy. The Teacher Academy will issue all certificates for these events.
Please contact our department at ts-dept@yangfamilytaichi.com for questions you may have or any documents you may need.
Instructor Certification Renewal
If the expiration date on your instructor certificate is June 30, 2023 or before, it’s time to renew! The Instructor Registry is being updated to show only instructors whose certification is current so please make sure to stay up-to-date.
Questions: ts-dept@yangfamilytaichi.com
Our YouTube Channel
Yang Family Tai Chi has a variety of great videos on its YouTube channel. Recently, Master Yang Jun uploaded his 7th video in the "Ask the Master" video series. You can view it here.
How to Update Your Email Address
From the Membership Department:
Having the current email address of all our members is important for us to maintain good communication with everyone. Please let the association know of any changes to your email address so that you will continue to receive any communication such as announcements or this newsletter from the association.
Members can contact Stefanie Russell, at members@yangfamilytaichi.com and she will be happy to make that change in the database for you.
Members can also change their information themselves by going to the Member Area, selecting "Membership Management" and logging in there. Under "My Membership Info" please find the option to Change Contact/Profile Info. Follow the prompts. (Please remember to have cookies enabled in your browser.)
New Instructors
Congratulations to new Associate Instructor Adina Todea of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and new Certified Instructor Ruiyu Li of California, USA.
Master Yang Jun's Seminar Schedule
Danbury, CT, USA
June 23 - 25: Traditional Hand Form
June 26 - 27: Push Hands
Taiyuan, Shanxi
July 7 - 9: 2nd Hand Form Intense Training, Part 1
Kunming, Yunnan
July 13 - 17: Master Yang's disciple and pre-disciple training
Kunming, Yunnan
July 21 - 25: 5th Instructor Training, Part 1
Kunming, Yunnan
July 29 - August 2: 4th Instructor Training, Part 2
Taiyuan, Shanxi
August 8 - 14: Hand Form Intense Training, Part 2
Wenxi, Shanxi
August 18 - 20: Hand Form
Taiyuan, Shanxi
August 25 - 27: Special Training for 5th generation of YFTCC
Yueyang, Hunan
September 4 - 8: Hand Form
Qijiang, Chongqing
September 15 - 17: Hand Form
Budapest, Hungary
September 22 - 24: Traditional Hand Form
September 25 - 26: Push Hands
Spain
September 30 - October 1: Traditional Hand Form
Rome, Italy
October 21 - 23: Instructor Seminar
Toulouse, France
October 27: Theory
October 28 - 30: Traditional Hand Form
October 31: Push Hands
Please visit our association's website for more information as it becomes available. For seminars in China please email Fang Hong: fanghong@yangfamilytaichi.com
Seminar in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
In April, Master Yang Jun taught seminars on the Senior Form and Push Hands in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Devoted tai chi chuan practitioners from Stara Zagora, Sofia, Plovdiv, Sopot, Burgas, Serbia, Hungary, and Madagascar enjoyed three days of in-depth training from Master Yang that included philosophy, practice methodology, and martial applications. This event was organized by Tihomir Todorov, Director of the Stara Zagora YFTC Center, and Stanislav Bagalev, Director of the Sofia and Plovdiv YFTC Centers.
Seminar in Paris, France
From April 29 - May 3, Master Yang Jun taught in Paris. Participants enjoyed seminars on the Traditional Hand Form, Push Hands, and Saber. The event was organized by Duc and Carole Nguyen Minh, Directors of the Paris YFTC Center.
Seminar in La Vallée de Joux, Switzerland
Master Yang Jun taught a seminar in La Vallée de Joux from May 27 - 29. This 3-day seminar focused on the Traditional Hand Form and was organized by Robert Irrausch, Director of the Lausanne YFTC Center.
Mexico YFTC Center Members Advance to National Team
In the last issue of this newsletter, members of the Mexico YFTC Center had success competing at the state level and were going to compete at the national tournament in March, where a national team would be chosen to represent Mexico in international tournaments in China and North America.
Congratulations to everyone who competed in the national tournament! Twelve people from the Mexico YFTC Center made the national team: ten in kungfu and two in tai chi chuan (Daniel Corona and Xóchitl Barrientos). Daniel and Xóchitl became the first man and the first woman to win gold in this national tournament with Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan. Congratulations to them on this wonderful achievement!
Daniel will compete internationally (tai chi and kungfu) at the 4th Pan American Kungfu and Taijiquan Championships August 3-7 in Unionville, Ontario, Canada. He will also compete at the 9th World Kungfu Championships August 23-28 in Emeishan, Sichuan, China. Daniel will perform YFTC's Essential Form at both tournaments.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
From April 7 - 9, Daniela Borrás, Director of Espacio Wu Ji, organized her school's first Tui Shou seminar in the city of Buenos Aires. She and her students greatly appreciated the support provided by Viviana Uliarte, Director of the Escuela Mendocina de Tai Chi Chuan, and her students. The seminar was taught by Instructor Leonardo Ratto.
Training Camp in the Mountains of Bulgaria
From May 6-8, students and instructors from the YFTC Centers in Sofia and Plovdiv attended an intensive training camp in the mountains of Bulgaria. The weather was beautiful and perfect for training outdoors. Participants trained in the Senior Form, Saber Form, Push Hands, and martial applications over 12 hours in three days. Dimitar Tonchev and Hafaliana Rarivo taught everyone from Plovdiv, Sofia, Montana, and Svilengrad. Training during the day was followed by evenings by the campfire, meeting friends, and sharing stories. The camp was an amazing experience enjoyed by all!
News from Eritrea
Alemseghed Goitom, a YFTC Association member in the country of Eritrea, is head of the Harmonious Taiji Association and a tai chi instructor at the Confucious Institute in the city of Asmara. On April 28, the Harmonious Taiji Association (in the Confucious Institute) in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Asmara held a freestyle tai chi competition to celebrate International Chinese Language Day (April 20). It was delightful that the competition was held on stage for the first time in five years. All the contestants were ages 14-19. Twelve boys and fourteen girls participated in this exciting, vibrant, and entertaining competition. Congratulations to everyone!
Individual Competition
1st: Mohammed Abdu
2nd: Senay Abraham and Rufael Tesfay
3rd: Asmait Amanuel, Abisolom Solomon, Ruth Simon, and Danait Ghirmay
Group Competition
1st: Delina, Harerta, Ruth, Nimrod, Fithi
2nd: Mohammed, Senay, Rufael
3rd: Saliem, Finas, Arsiema, Rania, Mieri
World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 2023
World Tai Chi and Qigong Day is held each year on the last Saturday in April. People in hundreds of cities in over 80 countries practice tai chi or qigong between 10 - 11 a.m. local time to help contribute to creating a healthier and calmer world and to educate people about the benefits of practicing these arts. This year World Tai Chi and Qigong Day took place on April 29. Many of our association's centers and schools participated. Some of them shared their photos:
Dortmund, Germany
Mendoza City, Argentina
Louisville, KY, USA
São Paulo, Brazil
Goiânia, Brazil
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Bothell, WA, USA
Royal Oak, MI, USA
São Paulo, Brazil
Sirio Libanes Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil
Stockton, CA, USA
Sofia, Bulgaria
Bogotá, Colombia
Tai Chi Cat
Journal Gem
"Looking Through the Lens of Science at Tai Chi Training Methods and Energy" by Holly Sweeney Hillman. Issue #47 (2021), pages 46-48.
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 September 2023. Please send any announcements to me at carolyn@yangfamilytaichi.com by August 15, 2023.
Carolyn Fung,
Editor
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