- Wei Jim Lai
I’ve always held an interest with myths and legends. In my imagination I’ve waged countless wars, defeated villains, adventured in faraway lands. Therefore I was fascinated by the rich history and recounting of the Zhao Bao Tai Chi lineage. One story in particular is often recounted by the master: The story of our first generation Grandmaster, Jiang Fa, and how he came to study Tai Chi under the legendary Wong Zhong Yue.
Jiang Fa “Pinches a hare within a hundred steps”
When Wang Zhong Yue passed through Zhao Bao town on business, he was accompanied by a reknowned warrior named Gan, said to be the number one warrior under the sky at that time. As the warrior Gan watched some local young men training during their stay at a local inn, he asked Wang Zhong Yue “Revered master Wong, of all these young men, who do you think has the most promise?” Wang Zhong Yue, only wishing to conclude his business so he can move on, quickly commented: “Only that fellow in the purple cotton gown, he might be passable”. That young fellow was Jiang Fa, and he had been practicing diligently by himself while all the others were contesting each other. When this news passed to him, he sought Wang Zhong Yue out at the inn and begged to be accepted as a student. Wang Zhong Yue refused Jiang Fa several times and attempted to coax him into leaving, but Jiang Fa remained firmly anchored on his knees. Having no other choice, Wang Zhong Yue said to Jiang Fa: “Much is left to fate. I have some business to attend to at the moment and must depart. Wait for me at the river crossing one year from today, and if we are fated to be master and student then we shall meet again.” Wang Zhong Yue was once again testing Jiang Fa’s sincerity, for a year was a long time to wait and many people would forget such an arrangement and move on. Jiang Fa, perhaps not realizing Wang Zhong Yue’s ruse, responded “A gentleman’s word is his honor. I will await for you at the river crossing one year from today.”
A year passed and Jiang Fa carefully counted down the days to the arranged meeting. On the day, exactly one year from their first meeting, Jiang Fa waited for Wang Zhong Yue at the river crossing. In fact Wang Zhong Yue had already passed through the crossing several times over the course of the year on business, and did not expect the young man to keep faith. Jiang Fa waited at the crossing the entire day but did not meet Wang Zhong Yue. Worried that he might have gotten the date wrong, he stayed at the river crossing day and night without leaving. After three days, Wang Zhong Yue was informed by some people he had assigned to the task, that Jiang Fa had waited for him for three days. Deeply moved, Wang Zhong Yue came and collected Jiang Fa back to his home in Shan Xi.
At Wang Zhong Yue’s manor Jiang Fa trained diligently, with no other concerns. He trained for some say seven, some say eight years. During his training, his master imparted upon him the following instructions:
“You must not casually pass down the martial art, you must be completely sure your successor is a person of good character. Once you have found a worthy successor, you must teach him all you know, for to teach the unworthy is a disgrace, but to not teach the worthy would be a tragedy “(For the art would be lost).
At the end of his apprenticeship, he bid his master farewell and returned to Zhao Bao town. There he continued to train diligently and quietly reached a level of attainment. At that time very few people were aware there was such a martial arts master in the town, and it was only due to an extraordinary feat that people came to know of Jiang Fa. Known for his blinding speed, it was said that Jiang Fa was able to catch a wild hare with his bare hands within a hundred steps (the wild hare is able to reach speeds of up to 40 mph).
He therefore earned the epithet, Bai Bu Nie Tu, or “Pinches a hare within a hundred steps”.
This is just one story out of many (my favorite being that of 6th generation master Zhang Yan, said to have been the best swordsman of our Tai Chi lineage). Our history has a profound effect on the way we practice and treat Tai Chi. The first day a student formally enters the gates, they become a part of something greater. Zhao Bao Tai Chi is firmly rooted in tradition and history. Learning the art is not just an opportunity to improve your health or fighting skills, it is an opportunity to identify yourself and be part of a lineage.
I’ve always held an interest with myths and legends. In my imagination I’ve waged countless wars, defeated villains, adventured in faraway lands. Therefore I was fascinated by the rich history and recounting of the Zhao Bao Tai Chi lineage. One story in particular is often recounted by the master: The story of our first generation Grandmaster, Jiang Fa, and how he came to study Tai Chi under the legendary Wong Zhong Yue.
Jiang Fa “Pinches a hare within a hundred steps”
When Wang Zhong Yue passed through Zhao Bao town on business, he was accompanied by a reknowned warrior named Gan, said to be the number one warrior under the sky at that time. As the warrior Gan watched some local young men training during their stay at a local inn, he asked Wang Zhong Yue “Revered master Wong, of all these young men, who do you think has the most promise?” Wang Zhong Yue, only wishing to conclude his business so he can move on, quickly commented: “Only that fellow in the purple cotton gown, he might be passable”. That young fellow was Jiang Fa, and he had been practicing diligently by himself while all the others were contesting each other. When this news passed to him, he sought Wang Zhong Yue out at the inn and begged to be accepted as a student. Wang Zhong Yue refused Jiang Fa several times and attempted to coax him into leaving, but Jiang Fa remained firmly anchored on his knees. Having no other choice, Wang Zhong Yue said to Jiang Fa: “Much is left to fate. I have some business to attend to at the moment and must depart. Wait for me at the river crossing one year from today, and if we are fated to be master and student then we shall meet again.” Wang Zhong Yue was once again testing Jiang Fa’s sincerity, for a year was a long time to wait and many people would forget such an arrangement and move on. Jiang Fa, perhaps not realizing Wang Zhong Yue’s ruse, responded “A gentleman’s word is his honor. I will await for you at the river crossing one year from today.”
A year passed and Jiang Fa carefully counted down the days to the arranged meeting. On the day, exactly one year from their first meeting, Jiang Fa waited for Wang Zhong Yue at the river crossing. In fact Wang Zhong Yue had already passed through the crossing several times over the course of the year on business, and did not expect the young man to keep faith. Jiang Fa waited at the crossing the entire day but did not meet Wang Zhong Yue. Worried that he might have gotten the date wrong, he stayed at the river crossing day and night without leaving. After three days, Wang Zhong Yue was informed by some people he had assigned to the task, that Jiang Fa had waited for him for three days. Deeply moved, Wang Zhong Yue came and collected Jiang Fa back to his home in Shan Xi.
At Wang Zhong Yue’s manor Jiang Fa trained diligently, with no other concerns. He trained for some say seven, some say eight years. During his training, his master imparted upon him the following instructions:
“You must not casually pass down the martial art, you must be completely sure your successor is a person of good character. Once you have found a worthy successor, you must teach him all you know, for to teach the unworthy is a disgrace, but to not teach the worthy would be a tragedy “(For the art would be lost).
At the end of his apprenticeship, he bid his master farewell and returned to Zhao Bao town. There he continued to train diligently and quietly reached a level of attainment. At that time very few people were aware there was such a martial arts master in the town, and it was only due to an extraordinary feat that people came to know of Jiang Fa. Known for his blinding speed, it was said that Jiang Fa was able to catch a wild hare with his bare hands within a hundred steps (the wild hare is able to reach speeds of up to 40 mph).
He therefore earned the epithet, Bai Bu Nie Tu, or “Pinches a hare within a hundred steps”.
This is just one story out of many (my favorite being that of 6th generation master Zhang Yan, said to have been the best swordsman of our Tai Chi lineage). Our history has a profound effect on the way we practice and treat Tai Chi. The first day a student formally enters the gates, they become a part of something greater. Zhao Bao Tai Chi is firmly rooted in tradition and history. Learning the art is not just an opportunity to improve your health or fighting skills, it is an opportunity to identify yourself and be part of a lineage.
