Hand Forms - Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan • Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu
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Instruction
 
Tai Chi Chuan and Kung Fu Instructor (Sifu) David West has been in the martial arts over 20 years. He has taught Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan, Shaolin Five Animal Kung Fu and Shaolin Kempo Karate (an offshoot of Chinese Kara Ho and American Kempo) in New England for many years.

Sifu West has trained in Kung-Fu and Tai Chi Chuan, with experts such as Sifu Ron Mathews, Sifu Piero Piergentili, Sifu Joshua Grant & Sifu Yao Li of the Boston Kung Fu & Tai Chi Institute, Sifu Michael Coulon of the International Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association and Instructor Peter Picone of Yang's Martial Arts Association.

Sifu West trained in seminars with 6th Generation Yang Family Master, Yang Jun of the International Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association, Master John Loupos of Jade Forest Kung Fu-Tai Chi-Internal Arts, Master Wei Lun Huang, Professor Nick Cerio (Kempo), Master Robert Leidke (Aikido) and Superfoot Bill Wallace (Karate).

Sifu West has also studied Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan form with Sifu Michael Coulon, under Master Yang Zhen Duo and Master Yang Jun at the International Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association in Manchester, NH.

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Sifu West began his formal Shaolin studies with 4th degree black belt instructor Piero Piergentili, in Burlington MA, specializing in Shaolin Kung Fu Animal Forms. Sifu Piero was a big influence in Sifu West's continuing study, practice and teaching style of the Shaolin Five Animal Form.

Sifu West (center in photo) then studied for many years with one of Piero's instructors, Master Robert Nohelty (left in photo)... achieving two black belt ranks in Shaolin Kempo Karate (Shaolin Chuan Fa... an offshoot of Professor Chow's Chinese Kara Ho and American Kempo). Sifu West was prepared to test for his third black belt rank in Shaolin Kempo, when circumstances changed the direction of his life and martial arts practice, studies and teaching.

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In parallel with, and after his Shaolin Chuan studies, Sifu West also studied Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan and various kung-fu forms with Ron Mathews, Boston Kung Fu and Tai Chi, and others... later beginning studies with the International Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association.

Sifu West attributes most of his current teaching attributes to Sifu Ron Mathews. Sifu Mathews focused heavily on the intricate, internal details of the Tai Chi form movements... making sure that each movement was strong and structurally sound. Sifu Joshua Grant (of Boston Kung Fu & Tai Chi), Sifu Michael Coulon and Master Yang Jun (of the International Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association) have also been very influential in Sifu West's training.

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Sifu West no longer teaches Shaolin Kempo Karate, but has chosen to practice, perfect and teach the more traditional form of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. Below are his Black Belt Martial Arts Certifications.

Available for group classes, private instruction, seminars, clinics, on-location classes and more.

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The Lineage of Yang Cheng Fu's - Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan

Chen Chang Xing (Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan)
(1771-1853)
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Yang Lu Chan (AKA Yang Fu Kui)
(1799-1872)  
         |                                            
         |-------------------------->Wu Yu-Hsiang (1812-1880) --->Wu/Hao Style
         |                           
         |__________________________
         |                                                   |
         |                                                   |
Yang Jian Hou (1839-1917)       Yang Pan Hou (1837-1892) --->Wu Style
         |
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         |___________________________
         |                                                      |
         |                                                      |
         |                             Yang Shao Hao (1862-1929) --->Yang Small Frame
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Yang Cheng Fu (1883-1936) Large Frame (Yang Cheng Fu's well known students listed below)

-->Yang Zhao Peng (1872-1930)
-->Chen Wei Ming (1881-1958)
-->Tung Ying Chieh (1890-1964)
-->Li Yaxuan (1894-1976)
-->Zheng Man Qing (1902-1975)
-->Fu Zhongwen (1904-1994)
-->Yang Shou Zhong (Yang Zhen Ming) (1911-1986)
-->Yang Zheng Ji (1921- )
-->Yang Zhen Dou (1926- )
-->Yang Zhen Guo (1928- )

Sifu West has studied directly with the International Yang Style Association School (founded by Yang Zhen Duo), as well as a mixed influence through his other instructors and self study, in the styles Fu Zhongwen, Yang Shou Zhong, Yang Zhao Peng and Zheng Man Qing.

Due to the detailed documentation that exists, Sifu West uses Fu Zhongwen's Yang Style as a standard. Sifu West's form would best be categorized as his best attempt to emulate Fu Zhongwen's Yang Style Form.

Sifu West is a member of the International Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association. Due to his direct study in seminars with Yang Zhen Duo's grandson, Master Yang Jun, and his association's New Hampshire Center, there is a considerable influence from Yang Zhen Duo's form. Sifu West also uses Yang Cheng Fu's photographs as the final standard for each completed posture.

Contact us for more information or to schedule a seminar.

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Class Location: Sifu West's Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan, 10 Northern Blvd. Unit 18B, Amherst, NH 03031... Directions

Close to these New Hampshire locations: Amherst, Nashua, Merrimack, Hollis, Milford, Mt. Vernon and many more NH towns. Also not far from many Massachusetts towns.