Taiwan Tour Eventful and Successful

Dr. Yang also took students to Wulai Mountain, home of a Taiwanese native aborigine tribe, and to Danshui, where Dr. Yang studied Physics and first began training Long Fist under Grandmaster Li, Mao-Ching at Tamkang College. At Wulai, students watched a dance performance by the natives there and hiked the mountain paths in rainy weather. When they visited Tamkang College in Danshui, Dr. Yang took students to the classroom where he sparred with his classmate who introduced him to Grandmaster Li.

Students also paid a visit to Grandmaster Li, Mao-Ching (Dr. Yang's Long Fist master) and met Grandmaster Kao, Tao for the first time. Grandmaster Li and Grandmaster Kao were happy to see Dr. Yang and his students. Both of them came by to watch the competition proceedings during the weekend as well.

Although now 77 years old, Grandmaster Kao was filled with very lively, humorous, and youthful energy. Able to speak in English, some French, and Chinese, he was very talkative, casual and friendly, often introducing himself as "Christopher" instead of "Master Kao". During the sightseeing trip to Hsinchu, Grandmaster Kao even brought along his ukulele and led sing-alongs on the bus ride. On many nights, Grandmaster Kao took YMAA students out to eat and hang out in the city. Some students also had the opportunity to attend a Tai Chi class taught by him in Taipei.

Grandmaster Li, now 82 years old, is also in good health and was full of smiles when he saw Dr. Yang and the YMAA crew. On two separate occasions, the YMAA team visited Grandmaster Li at his home, where Grandmaster Li served tea, showed his calligraphy works, told stories, and answered questions about his past. He also shared many old photos of his masters and his training days, when he was in the Chinese military, where he served for 23 years and 1 month.

Before the competition during the weekend, students also participated and helped in Dr. Yang's seminars, which included topics in Qin-Na, Pushing Hands, and Embryonic Breathing. There was a mix of students from around the world, including participants from as far away as Germany and Argentina. Many of them, learning Qin-Na and Pushing Hands for the first time, had an enjoyable, fun, and educational experience. During the Embryonic Breathing seminar, Dr. Yang lectured in both Chinese and English on the complex topic material. Seminar participants were intrigued by the knowledge that Dr. Yang had to offer and many of them expressed much interest in inviting Dr. Yang back for future seminars.