Yang Yutan, the martial arts master, was highly respected in the martial arts community. I’ve heard many stories about Master Yang from my teachers Wang Peisheng, Zheng Shimin, my martial uncles Li Bingci, Weng Fuqi, as well as senior fellow students Gao Zhuangfei and Chen Xingbo. The most memorable aspect to me was his “Three Principles”: “Not afraid of criticism regarding martial skills”, “Do not argue about martial theory”, and “Do not compete for fame and gain”. These “Three Principles” were the guiding principles for Master Yang’s martial arts practice and personal conduct.
- Not afraid of criticism regarding martial skills Mr. Yang Yutan had a broad-minded attitude and never boasted about his own strengths or criticized others’ weaknesses. He was particularly tolerant of others, never holding grudges against those who spoke ill of him. In the past, scholars looked down upon martial artists, and vice versa, which was a societal problem leading to disunity. However, Master Yang often taught his disciples, “Do not fear criticism about your martial skills, and do not get upset over it.” My teacher, Mr. Wang Peisheng, recounted a story about how Master Yang treated criticism with kindness and eventually gained friends: Once, two gentlemen from the Beijing martial arts community were discussing matters in the martial arts world and had some disparaging remarks about Master Yang. One of them casually said, “Regarding martial skills, what’s so special about Yang San’er’s (referring to Yang Yutan, the third son in his family) kung fu? I could slap him and send him flying onto the roof!” Not long after, I (Wang Peisheng) heard about this incident and became very angry. I gathered some fellow students to confront that gentleman and teach him a lesson. However, when Master learned about this, he immediately sent someone to stop us and severely criticized me. I was still indignant and replied, “Someone spoke ill of you, so we wanted to stand up for you.” Master taught me, “Wang Peisheng, you are already a teacher yourself, yet you lack manners. Unable to tolerate a slightly offensive remark and resorting to violence! In practicing Tai Chi, we should focus on skills, but more importantly, on cultivating our character. Through practicing martial arts, we should cultivate virtues and broaden our minds. Do not fear criticism about your martial skills; as long as you have the skills, let others say what they want. Learn to be tolerant, and remember, only by accommodating others can you make friends. There’s an old saying, ‘Harbor no narrow-mindedness, for that is the way to make friends.’ ” Seeing that I still didn’t understand, Master jokingly said, “Alright then, you can ask someone to send a message to that gentleman saying that on the sixth day of next month, I’ll be repairing my house, and I’ll be waiting for him to come and slap me onto the roof, saving me the trouble of renting a ladder.” Everyone burst into laughter at Master’s words. Later, that gentleman realized his mistake and apologized to Master Yang. Eventually, they became good friends. Mr. Wang Peisheng recalled that Master Yang practiced what he preached, and decades later, the scene of that incident remained vivid in his memory.
- Do not argue about martial theory I heard from my teachers and martial uncles that Master Yang was highly skilled. He excelled in Xingyi, Bagua, and Sparring from an early age, and later specialized in Tai Chi Chuan under the tutelage of the Tai Chi master, Wang Maozhai, during the early Republican era. He emphasized theoretical cultivation and was adept at summarizing experiences. As early as 1924, he compiled his insights and teaching experiences into a book called “Tai Chi Chuan Lectures,” which prescribed the basic steps of Tai Chi Chuan, defined the starting and ending routes of each movement, categorized the movements into odd and even numbers, and explained the principles of Tai Chi Chuan’s virtual reality changes and bending/stretching principles. Mr. Wang Maozhai highly praised it, saying, “This is very well-written. Teaching like this in the future will be easier for both teachers and students, giving learners a guideline.” By 1942, Mr. Yang revised the book, adding circular degrees and mental activities. From 1956 to 1958, he made a third major revision and completed “Tai Chi Chuan Action Commentary” in 1961, which was circulated internally. Master Yang made significant contributions to martial arts theory, but he always insisted that the study of martial arts theory should seek common ground while reserving differences and not engage in unnecessary arguments. Why avoid arguments? Master Yang said, “The understanding of martial arts is very subjective. If someone hasn’t reached that level, they won’t understand no matter how much you explain. If they haven’t reached that level, there’s no need to argue forcefully; let them remain confused. When they reach that level, the truth will be self-evident, and they will be convinced without the need for us to argue. Furthermore, we should also admit that there are times when we are inferior to others. What’s the point of arguing arrogantly?” Master Yang often cited examples of great martial artists to illustrate that martial arts theory is constantly evolving in people’s understanding. “Yesterday’s truth may not be today’s truth,” meaning that martial artists often self-deny their past theoretical beliefs. Progress is made through continuous self-refutation. Therefore, seeking common ground while reserving differences and refraining from arguments about martial arts theory fosters friendly relations and friendships. Mr. Wang Peisheng recalled that he often argued about martial arts theory, offending people and losing things. Master Yang admonished him, saying, “Don’t argue about martial arts theory with others. Right and wrong will be tested by time and practice. At a certain point, the truth will become self-evident. Moreover, martial arts are practiced on the body, and what’s written on paper may not convey the true meaning. Sometimes, understanding can only be grasped through experience. What’s the point of arguing?”
- Do not compete for fame and gain Master Yang was modest and content, placing little importance on fame and status. He quietly worked in the martial arts community for over seventy years, never pursuing fame or profit. Whenever there were opportunities for recognition, he would step back and give way to others. Towards his juniors, he was always kind and supportive. In the old society, there were strict boundaries between martial arts schools. If a disciple studied under one master and then sought to learn from another, it often led to disputes between schools, causing disunity. However, Master Yang did not conform to this norm. He always respected the strengths of various schools and cared little for personal fame or gain. When some students came seeking instruction, and he learned that they had previously trained in other styles, he would actively recommend more suitable teachers for them. Among his disciples, some became well-known after years of training under him. When they went to learn Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan, Master Yang supported them wholeheartedly, without any prejudice or selfishness. Martial Uncle Li Bingci recounted a story about Master Yang’s guidance in selecting teachers for his students: In the late 1940s, Li Zijiu, only seventeen years old, was studying
