Sifu Tony Dove
Sifu Dove had the privilege of being a student of Grand
Master Lam for almost 30 years. He started teaching Tai Chi in
1995 and Qi Gong in 2000. He taught Choy Li Fut for the first
time in 2016.
His experience included the healing, martial and meditative
aspects of these arts.
In 2000, Tony was asked to develop Falls Prevention classes
of Tai Chi and Zhan Zhuang for a Primary Care Trust and Social
Services, to over 50s. The benefits were scientifically measured, and the group as a whole improved out of the ‘at risk of falling’ category within a few months. He then worked for more NHS Primary Care Trusts delivering accessible exercise to older clients.
Established in the West Country, Tony developed regular classes for the community, inviting everyone, regardless of age or ability. He continued to develop his speciality in teaching classes for the over 50s, those with Parkinson’s and for those with chronic & acute medical conditions and was a qualified acupuncturist. He also delivered a full curriculum for those wishing to explore the deeper aspects of the Arts .
Sifu Lam Tin Yu
Born in London, Sifu Lam was educated there and in Hong Kong. After university he work for several years in the financial sector in both London
and Hong Kong.
Now married, he has settled in London, and in the tradition of the
chinese family is following in his father’s footsteps, teaching these arts at
the Lam Association.
His deep interest in philosophy has also led him to teach Daoist meditation and chinese philosophy.
Grand Master Lam Kam Chuen
Born in Hong Kong shortly after the second
world war, Master Lam began his training in
the martial and healing arts at the age of 11.
He went on to open his own martial arts school
and clinic, specialising in herbalism and bone-
setting. He also studied other classic Chinese
Arts including Feng Shui, Astrology and the
I Ching.
Master Lam’s meeting, and subsequent
training, with Professor Yu had a profound
effect. He recalls: ‘After this I changed
everything, using the forms I already knew,
but with a new power that gave my martial
arts new life.’ (from: The Way Of Power, by
Master Lam Kam Chuen).
In 1976, Master Lam moved to London, and became the first teacher of Tai Chi for the Inner London Education Authority. In 1987, Master Lam gave the first public demonstration of Da Cheng Chuan in the West, and has progressively and gently introduced this art to the West.
Master Lam has written books on Zhan Zhuang, Tai Chi, Feng Shui and on Chinese tea culture. Master Lam continues to research and teach his arts across the world. Further information can be found on his website.
Professor Yu Yong Nian (1920 – 2013)
Born near Beijing in February 1920, after completing his initial
schooling, Professor Yu was sent for specialist medical
education in Japan. Fully trained in contemporary Western
medicine, and having qualified as a dentist, he returned to
China, and began work at the Beijing Railway General Hospital.
Three years later, finding himself exhausted from the constant
long hours of dental practice, he began training under
Grandmaster Wang Xiang Zhai. After nine years of training,
Professor Yu introduced aspects of Zhan Zhuang as treatment for internal diseases at the hospital. His initial successes led to a major medical conference in 1956, at the Beijing Shoudong San Hospital, that introduced the Zhan Zhuang system to hospitals throughout China.
Professor Yu then began teaching Zhan Zhuang publicly, in the mornings in Yun Tan Park, Beijing. Ever since, he continually promoted Zhan Zhuang for health inside and outside of China.
Professor Yu wrote numerous books, and was a member of China’s National Chi Kung Research Council, and consultant to the American-Chinese Chi Kung Research Group and to the Da Cheng Chuan Zhan Zhuang Chi Kung Research Groups (Europe).
In April 2009, at his 90th birthday party in Beijing, Professor Yu said: “I practice Zhan Zhuang, I am healthy. I practice Zhan Zhuang, I am happy. I practice Zhan Zhuang, I have a long life.”
When Sifu Dove asked Great Grandmaster Yu, “You have worked so hard and suffered so much to develop and teach this art to the world, how can we ever repay you?” Professor Yu replied “Train harder!”
Wang Xiang Zhai (1886 – 1963)
Suffering from chronic poor health, the young
Wang Xiang Zhai began studying Zhan Zhuang
(‘standing like a pillar’, i.e. standing still) under his
uncle, Guo Yun Shan. With practice, Wang Xiang
Zhai developed robust good health and
formidable skills in martial arts. After Guo Yun
Shan’s death, Wang Xiang Zhai travelled
throughout China, meeting and studying with the
other great martial arts masters of his day. By
the mid-1940’s, Wang Xiang Zhai had developed
a new style of boxing, widely hailed as supremely
effective for both health and self-defense.
The foundation practice of this boxing was Zhan Zhuang, the practice of simply standing still. Wang Xiang Zhai’s system is known by two names today: Yi Chuan (‘Mind Boxing’), and Da Cheng Chuan (‘The Great Achievement Boxing’).