Presented to Mike Nolan by Grand Master, Sifu Johnny Jang,
Presented to Mike Nolan by Master Qui Huifang at The Belt and Road China Tai Chi Culture World Tour on February 7th, 2019, at the Royal Palace in Fremont, California.
Mike Nolan’s Red Cross First Aid Certificate (Issued Sept. 23, 2025 – PDF)
Schedule a 60-Minute Private Lesson
Schedule a 30-Minute Introductory Lesson for $29
with Mike Nolan
Saturday Morning Tai Chi
at the Oakland Asain Cultural Center
with Sifu Johnny Jang & Mike Nolan
8:30 am to 10 am
Tai Chi
Yang-style tai chi, one of the five primary styles, is known for its slow, gentle, and continuous movements and is the most popular style of tai chi practiced worldwide. [1, 2, 3]
Yang-style Tai Chi: Popularity and History
Yang style is the most widely practiced style of Tai Chi, second in terms of seniority after Chen style. [2]
Movement Characteristics
It’s characterized by slow, continuous, soft, and circular movements in a flowing form. [2, 4]
Health Benefits
Yang-style tai chi can improve flexibility, strength, balance, and internal energy in a safe manner. [5, 6]
Forms
Yang style has many variations, and the number of forms can range from 85, 88, 103, to 108, depending on how they are counted. [3, 7]
Practice
It can be practiced indoors or outdoors, alone or in a group, and requires no special equipment or clothing. [6]
Benefits for Chronic Pain
Research shows that practicing Tai Chi Long Form Yang Style can be effective in managing chronic pain, particularly in older adults. [6]
Yang-style Tai Chi is a good way to improve both physical and mental health. [6]
Yang style focuses on the same movements and sequences as Chen, but each movement is expressed in a very yin manner. Everything is soft, the speed is uniform throughout the form. [2]
The Yang style form is usually executed much slower than the Chen Style. [2]
- Master Qiu Huifang performs Bafa Wubu (13 postures: 8 methods, 5 Steps)
https://youtu.be/13-Form - https://yangfamilytaichi.com/
- https://tamamartialarts.com/chen-style-yang-style-whats-the-difference/
- https://davidbao.com/2021/02/08/0verview-tai-chi-forms/
- http://www.everydaytaichi.org/yang-style-24-movements-short-form1.html
- https://www.taichi.ca/2019/01/what-is-yang-style-tai-chi/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-pxH51dWSs
- https://shorelinetaichi.com/yang-style-taijiquan-postures-list/
- https://tamamartialarts.com/chen-style-yang-style-whats-the-difference/
- Yang 24 (Back) Sifu Johnny Jang
https://youtu.be/Ei4RK8FJnQs?si=E5EyW9C7trcnIuGQ
Qigong
Qigong is an ancient Chinese practice that combines meditation, controlled breathing, and gentle movement to cultivate and enhance the body’s vital energy, or “qi,” promoting overall health and well-being. [1, 2]
Here’s a more detailed look at Qigong: [1, 2]
What is Qigong? [1, 2]
- Etymology: “Qi” translates to “vital life force,” while “gong” means “mastery” or “cultivation”. [1, 2]
- Practice: Qigong involves slow, deliberate movements, often performed standing or seated, with a focus on breathing and mindfulness. [1, 3, 4]
- Purpose: The practice aims to promote health, relieve stress, improve flexibility and strength, and enhance mental clarity and overall well-being. [2, 5, 6]
- Types of Qigong: [7]
Benefits of Qigong: [5]
- Improved Flexibility and Strength: Slow, deliberate movements enhance muscle tone and joint flexibility. [5]
- Enhanced Circulation: Qigong exercises stimulate blood flow, which can help improve cardiovascular health. [5]
- Stress Reduction: Qigong can help calm the mind and reduce stress. [5]
- Enhanced Mental Clarity: The practice can promote a sense of focus and concentration. [5]
- Inner Peace: Qigong can foster a sense of calm and well-being. [5]
- Connection to Self: Qigong can help practitioners connect with their bodies and minds. [5]
- Other benefits: Qigong can also improve balance, posture, and cardiopulmonary function. [6]
Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): [2]
- In TCM, poor health is believed to result from blocked energy flow, or qi, through the body’s meridians.
- Qigong aims to promote health by allowing qi to flow freely through the body. [2]
Qigong vs. Tai Chi: [1, 8]
- While Tai Chi is a form of Qigong, Qigong encompasses a wider range of practices, including those focused on meditation, self-cultivation, and martial arts. [1, 8]
- Tai Chi is often considered a more physically demanding form of Qigong, while Qigong practices can be gentle and accessible for beginners. [3, 8]
-
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/qigong-meditation
- https://movementformodernlife.com/blog/qigong-for-beginners/
- https://www.verywellmind.com/qigong-for-mental-health-8605825
- https://thechi.ca/exploring-the-benefits-of-qigong-and-mindfulness/
- https://www.ediblesandiego.com/articles/the-healing-powers-of-qigong-and-tai-chi
- https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/qigong
- https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/qigong-what-you-need-to-know
Waterboxing
“Water boxing,” also known as Liu He Ba Fa, is a unique internal martial art style characterized by fluid, adaptable movements, resembling flowing water, and is often associated with tai chi and other internal kung fu styles. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Here’s a more detailed explanation: [1, 3]
What it is:
Liu He Ba Fa, or “Water Boxing,” is a Chinese internal martial art style that is known for its flowing, adaptable movements, much like the nature of water. [1, 3]
Origin
The style is often attributed to Chen Tuan, a Song dynasty Taoist sage, who is also credited with the creation of Tai Chi Ruler exercises, chi gung and nei gung systems. [1, 2]
Key Characteristics [1, 3]
Fluid and Adaptable
The movements are designed to be smooth, adaptable, and capable of transitioning between soft and powerful actions, much like water. [1, 3]
Internal Focus
As an internal martial art, Liu He Ba Fa emphasizes the mind-body connection, with movements initiated by the mind, followed by the body. [3]
Health Benefits
Beyond self-defense, Liu He Ba Fa is also practiced for its health benefits, including strengthening the body, improving circulation, and promoting longevity. [3]
Routines
There are two main routines: [3, 5]
Liu He Ba Fa Fist
This routine includes Qigong and martial applications, consisting of 66 postures. [3, 5]
San Pan Shi Er Shi
This routine is a foundation training routine for developing reaction skills for combat. [3, 5]
Relationship to Tai Chi
While not a direct style of Tai Chi, Liu He Ba Fa shares similarities with Tai Chi and other internal martial arts, such as Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, and Yiquan. [2]
Other Names
Liu He Ba Fa is also known as “Xinyi Liu He Ba Fa” (Mind and Intent Six Harmonies Eight Methods) and “Hua Yue Xin Yi Liu He Ba Fa Quan” (Hua mountain heart/mind and intent six harmonies eight methods boxing). [1, 3]