内家

Internal Martial Arts

I started training in internal martial arts in 2004 and later became a lineal member of Yin Cheng Gong Fa North America under Zhang Yun laoshi. Yuèshān guǎn [ 月山館 ] is the name of my ongoing training activity in traditional internal martial arts.

YCGF Seminar Photos

I practice Bagua, Xingyi, and Taiji:

1. Yin style Bagua Zhang ( 尹派八卦掌 ) is known for its smooth and fluid nature, giving practitioners the ability to change spontaneously in response to an opponent's actions.
2. Hebei Xingyi Quan ( 河北形意拳 ) is known for its stability, giving practitioners an ability to express sudden and explosive power.
3. Wú style Taiji Quan ( 吳氏太极拳 ) is known for its relaxed character, giving practitioners the ability to off-balance an opponent at first touch by borrowing their force.

The Taiji, Bagua, and Xingyi taught as part of Yin Cheng Gong Fa includes an extensive curriculum of jian (sword), dao (saber), and qiang (spear). I place special attention to that curriculum in my own practice.

Where To Train

Related practices in North America include:

• YCGF Group List contains pointers to many of Zhang Yun's senior disciples.
• YCGF Pittsburgh is an activity continuing internal martial arts practce in Pittsburgh.
• Impact Martial arts in Bellingham, WA is led by my senior colleague Rives Thornton.

From time to time, I have worked with martial artists in Seattle interested in traditional approaches to internal martial arts training.

Resources

Below I collate some content from the Inner Dharma project that is related to my internal martial arts practice:

1. Recommended Reading, January 2024:

   Written reference material concerning classical and traditional martial arts I have found both inspiring and informative over the years.

2. YCGF Weapons Practices, January 2020:

   The Taiji, Bagua, and Xingyi taught as part of Yin Cheng Gong Fa includes an extensive curriculum of jian (sword), dao (saber), and qiang (spear).

3. Taiji Classics Seminar, June 2017:

   Attending a seminar detailing excerpts from the Taiji classics.

4. Princeton Bagua and Taiji Seminar, August 2015:

   At the end of summer, I traveled to Princeton for a seminar in Bagua and Taiji and was accepted as a formal lineal student by my teacher, Zhang Yun.

5. Cultivating Skill in Internal Arts, May 2011:

   A brief discussion of power generation in internal martial arts.

6. Early Influences, March 2008:

   In the 1990's, I had several friends in NYC who trained in Chinese martial arts. I always told myself that at some point I would learn an art like Bagua or Baji. A single question at a Japanese martial arts festival led to my beginning to train in internal martial arts.