Last updated 2010-3-21
2010 is a year of many changes for European and English Daoyin Yangsheng Gong. First came the news that Professor Zhang's appearance In Biarritz would be his last. Then Mark Atkinson announced that he would be stepping down as President of the English Association. When Mark came to give his seminar in February he told us that the International Institute had effectively shut down but that the club which organised it would still be running seminars with Professor Zhang's nephew and that Professor Zhang would be there this October.
This website is in the process of being updated to keep up to date with the changes. In the mean time, read on to find out about some of them...
The English DYYSG Association website has been revamped for 2010.
As well as being more colourful we hope the new menu will make the site easier to navigate.
Despite the new appearance we believe in substance before style. All the useful information from the old site is still included, along with some new material and we hope to add more in the future.
The way the site is constructed is designed to keep the size of the pages small so that they will download quicly even if you happen to have a slow connection.
We hope you enjoy the new-look site and if you have any suggestions for additional content please do not hesitate to contact Erik
Please forgive me for "blowing my own trumpet", but I am pleased to announce that I have successfully completed the series of seminars given by Professor Zhang Guangde over the last three years in Biarritz, and in April of this year was awarded the Diploma of Daoyin Yangsheng Gong and Yangsheng Taiji of the International Institute of Daoyin Yangsheng Gong.
This is a proud achievement for me. The seminars were given in two weeks "stages" twice a year -- Easter and October --, with teaching in practice and theory taking place every day for between three and six hours. During the period between each stage participants were expected to follow an intensive training and teaching programme in order to prepare for the rigorous (and nerve wracking!) exam waiting for us at the next stage.
As I had already been awarded the status of "Senior" Judge of DYYSG in 1995, I was invited to sit on the judging panel with Professor Zhang, his nephew Zhang Jian, and Dr André Perret, the director of the International Institute when the other students who were also following the diploma course were examined. Although the official assessment was carried out completely by Professor Zhang himself, it was extremely helpful and enlightening for me to compare my judgments with his. This experience however, was only a "stay of execution" for André and me, as in our turn we were examined by the Professor and his nephew, on one occasion for three hours without a break!
Anyway, the whole experience was the most enriching and valuable one in my Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong "career", and I'm now able to say that I have studied the theory and practice of: -
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entirely with professor Zhang Guangde himself, and was examined by him exclusively, making it a unique experience that I am very proud to have been a part of.
The teaching combination of the Professor's wealth of theoretical knowledge and practical experience coupled with his nephew's outstanding physical ability is a remarkable one, and the organisation and facilities provided by the International Institute made the most of the opportunity.
Of course, to take part in the experience yourself, it is not necessary to subscribe to the 3 year course. In fact, the vast majority of participants come for only one or two units - weekend perhaps, or combine a holiday in France with a week's training. For those who take this option there are no exams! However, for already accredited teachers of the English DYYSG Association, attendance on these course brings automatic further accreditation in the forms studied.
BUT- if you want to take advantage of these opportunities, you need to move fast (See accompanying article).
At the closing of the recent Diploma ceremony in Biarritz (see article above), Professor Zhang announced that his visit in April 2010 would - except for very special occasions - be his last to Biarritz, and probably to Europe.
The announcement, though saddening, was not entirely surprising. Next year Professor Zhang will be 80, a reasonable age to retire by anyone's standard, and he had always said that he would commit himself for the first three year course, and after that hand over to his nephew, Zhang Jian.
In the event, the Professor has continued for more than a year beyond his intended departure which is a tribute to the esteem in which he holds the Institute as well as his understandable reluctance finally to let go of the reins.
So if you want to take part in what may be the last courses given by Professor Zhang in Europe, go to the website of the International DYYSG Institute at dyysg.free.fr for all the information you need (in English), and I hope I'll see you there!
Everyone connected with the English Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong Association offers their warmest congratulations to our Vice President Richard Watson who was recently honoured by Professor Zhang Guangde with the award of the status of Ru Shi Di Zi ("close and outstanding disciple") in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the promotion and development of Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong in England. The ceremony took place during the Longfei Tajiquan Association's visit to China this spring.
At the same time, Richard was also awarded the level of 6th Duan Practitioner of Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong by the Beijing Sports University and the Dao Yin Centre founded there in 1999 By Professor Zhang and his 'disciples' at that time. Simon, Richard's son, Principal Instructor of the English DYYSG Association and celebrated international teacher and practitioner of Taijiquan and DYYSG also received the award of 6th Duan, and we offer him too our heartiest congratulations.
Without Richard and Simon there is no doubt that DYYSG would be far less well known in the U.K., than it is, and the receipt of these prestigious awards is a well deserved and fitting recognition of their contribution.
Well done both!
Read more about the Longfei China trip and the awards in the Longfei Newsletter.
