YMAA Retreat Center Newsletter - Issue #8

November 2008

• The Disciple Ceremony, First Semester, and Other Recent News
• Dr. Yang Reunited with his First Taijiquan Master in Taiwan
• Now Accepting Applications for Five More Students for the 10-Year Program
• Do You Know That Donating to a Nonprofit Can Save You Money?
• Online Registration is Available for Summer Seminars in California 2009
• New YMAA 25-Year Anniversary 2-DVD Set

The Disciple Ceremony, First Semester, and Other Recent News

Enjoy the All-New Retreat Center Website The website has been revised with a new design, including photos of the students and seminar attendees, student blogs, and recent news:

• August 30, 2008: Dr. Yang officially accepted five disciples: Jonathan Chang, Ricardo Tonet, Patrick Manriquez, Mike DiMeglio, and Tom Dudkiewicz. There was a formal ceremony with special guests, including Mrs. Mei-Ling Yang, Kathy Yang, Nick Gracenin, Pat Rice, and Jose Johnson. The five disciples now begin their 10-year journey towards mastering the Chinese arts, together as brothers.
• September 20th, 2008: Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming was recently awarded "Martial Arts Publisher of the Year 2008" by the Eleventh World Congress on Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Franscisco.
• October 23, 2008: YMAA Retreat Center disciple Jonathan Chang and YMAA School Director Milan Vigil both won first place in the Taijiquan Barehand competition during the recent World Cup Tai Chi Chuan Championship in Taiwan.

» Latest News/Events

Dr. Yang Reunited with his First Taijiquan Master in Taiwan

After searching for 40 years, Dr. Yang recently located Taijiquan Master Gao, Tao (高濤), his first Taijiquan teacher at age 16. A reunion took place in October during a recent trip to Taiwan.

It had been over 40 years since Dr. Yang last met with Grandmaster Kao. Much of YMAA's internal foundation and theory can be attributed to the root and lineage learned from him. We are all extremely elated to know that Grandmaster Kao is well and continuing to teach Taijiquan.

Dr. Yang has said many times in past interviews that he feels very fortunate to have started learning Taijiquan under Grandmaster Kao, who is a rare teacher that emphasized the martial aspects of Taijiquan.

» About Grandmaster Gao, Tao

Now Accepting Applications for Five More Students for the 10-Year Program

It is time now for the second and final student recruiting. Five more students will be accepted for the semester starting September 1, 2009. All interested students aged between 17-22, please visit the Student Application link below.

In addition, if you know of anybody else who may be interested in this program, please pass this message to them. Applications will be accepted from now until February 2009. During the months of March - May 2009, prospective students who apply will undergo their testing and interview periods.

The final decision of the next 5 candidate students will be announced at the end of May 2009.

» Download the Application