YMAA Retreat Center Newsletter - Issue #1

Four Main Purposes of the Retreat Center

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming explains the four main purposes he has in mind of the YMAA Retreat Center:

1. To preserve Chinese arts to the same level as it was 50 years ago. From my experience of more than 35 years of teaching, I realized that in order to preserve Chinese martial arts to a profound level as in ancient times, a student must live in an environment similar to that of ancient times. Traditionally, a student would live and train together with a master for a minimum of 10 years in a single martial arts style. Back then, there were no TVs, no computers, no external distractions, no social pressure, and no luxurious lifestyles like today. Daily life was simple, and the heart of training was sincere. Students were thus able to concentrate their whole minds into their training. My plan is to take 15 students to a remote mountain environment for 10 years of training, nine months per year. With good discipline and instruction, I sincerely believe that I can raise the quality and depth of the arts to a standard as high as it was ancient times.
2. To prove that today's youth is capable of developing good self-discipline through traditional Chinese martial arts training, as they did in ancient times. At the Retreat Center, every student will be required to learn and sincerely exhibit a high level of self-discipline in order to persevere and succeed throughout the difficult training program.
3. To raise awareness of martial morality. Due to widely-spread commercialized martial arts, such as that which is found in Hollywood Kung Fu movies and popular culture, martial morality has been ignored or significantly downplayed in modern times. At the Retreat Center, a student must constantly strive to achieve a high level of martial morality, including:
   • Morality of Deed: Humility, Respect, Righteousness, Trust, and Loyalty
   • Morality of Mind: Will, Endurance, Perseverance, Patience, and Courage
4. To plant a seed for future Chinese martial arts development. It is my intention that through the Retreat Center, we will establish a model that demonstrates a solid structure and sound method for preserving the Chinese Arts, effectively planting the seed for future generations to continue the accurate and proper long-term development of the arts. It is my hope that this training method will continue to spread and become popular in youth training centers around the world.

Recent Supporters

This nonprofit project is made possible through the support of YMAA schools, students, grants, and private donations. It is made possible by the support of the community, family, and friends. Together, we can make this dream a reality.

Dr. Yang and the YMAA Retreat Center volunteer staff wish to extend our most sincere gratitude to recent donors and supporters.

The recent supporters of the YMAA Retreat Center are:

Join the Retreat Center community, and be a part of a project that will significantly impact the worldwide martial arts community forever. Help to preserve the traditional arts for future generations to come. Please consider contributing to this program and offering a tax-deductible donation.