YMAA Mission
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YMAA seeks to preserve, develop, and refine traditional Kung Fu (Gongfu), Tai Chi (Taijiquan), and Qigong to an exceptionally high standard through an international, mutually-supportive community and network. We openly welcome, teach, learn from, and support all who share their knowledge about any related external or internal art. Our goal is to educate the world about this piece of culture, its history, and the YMAA training philosophy. At YMAA, our vision is to use Chinese culture and martial arts training to foster a global nation of like-minded people who help each other achieve their goals.
We aim to build students' confidence, physical health, mental focus, and self-discipline. YMAA provides an environment for students to succeed through a supportive yet demanding training program. Our school promotes traditional methods of practice, challenging ourselves and each other physically, mentally, and spiritually. We encourage creativity, attention to detail, and correctness in the arts. Throughout our training, we strive to embody martial morality: humility, respect, righteousness, trust, loyalty, will, endurance, patience, perseverance, and courage |
YMAA History
overview
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Yang's Martial Arts Association (YMAA) is an international martial arts organization and community that embraces traditional training, self-discipline, and martial morality. YMAA was conceptualized, established, and realized by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming. All around the world, YMAA offers classes, seminars, and instruction in Shaolin Long Fist, Shaolin White Crane, Taijiquan, and Qigong. Dr. Yang has over 40 years of martial arts experience and is a world-renowned teacher and author.
After almost 3 decades of overseeing and directing YMAA International, Dr. Yang officially passed down the YMAA school legacy to his younger son, Nicholas. As Dr. Yang continues his 10 year project at the YMAA California Retreat Center, Nicholas continues to manage YMAA International as the organization's President.
After almost 3 decades of overseeing and directing YMAA International, Dr. Yang officially passed down the YMAA school legacy to his younger son, Nicholas. As Dr. Yang continues his 10 year project at the YMAA California Retreat Center, Nicholas continues to manage YMAA International as the organization's President.
THE BEGINNINGS OF YMAA
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Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming has an extensive training background under many masters, namely: Master Cheng, Gin-Gsao, Master Li, Mao-Ching, and Master Gao, Tao. In 1974, Dr. Yang moved to the United States to study mechanical engineering at Purdue University. At the request of a few colleagues, he began to teach Gongfu, founding the Purdue University Chinese Gongfu Research Club in 1975. He also taught college-credited courses in Taijiquan. In May 1978, he was awarded a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering by Purdue University.
In 1980, Dr. Yang moved to Houston to work for Texas Instruments and also founded Yang's Shaolin Kung Fu Academy, now under the direction of his disciple Jeffery Bolt. In 1982, he moved to Boston and founded Yang's Martial Arts Academy. In 1984, he gave up his engineering career to devote his time to the research, writing, and teaching of Chinese martial arts. YMAA Publication Center was founded on January 1, 1984 with the goal of producing superior books and instructional videotapes on Qigong and Chinese martial arts. In 1986, Dr. Yang moved YMAA to the Jamaica Plain area of Boston and established this location as Yang's Martial Arts Association (YMAA) headquarters. YMAA became a division of Yang's Oriental Arts Association, Inc. (YOAA, Inc.) in 1989. |
YMAA International
With the intent of preserving traditional Chinese Kung Fu and Qigong, Dr. Yang began training students worldwide in the rigors of Shaolin Long Fist, Shaolin White Crane, and Yang Style Taijiquan. Through the YMAA Publication Center, Dr. Yang also undertook his life-long dream of teaching and researching the Chinese arts and introducing them to the West through many books, videos and DVDs. Dr. Yang continues to openly share his knowledge with the entire world.
YMAA has grown into an international organization that includes 60 schools spread across 19 countries. YMAA Publications books and videos, have been translated into French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Russian, Hungarian, and Farsi.
YMAA has grown into an international organization that includes 60 schools spread across 19 countries. YMAA Publications books and videos, have been translated into French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Russian, Hungarian, and Farsi.
YMAA California Retreat Center and International Headquarters
In 2005, Dr. Yang established the YMAA California Retreat Center, a dedicated training ground for a small committed group of selected students. Located in the mountainous regions of northern California, the center was formed to host a 10-year training program, directed and taught by Dr. Yang himself, beginning in September 2008. It is Dr. Yang's wish that through this effort, he will be able to preserve traditional Chinese martial arts to the same standards and quality of ancient times. He remains the chief supervisor of YMAA International and his younger son, Nicholas, became the succeeding president of YMAA in January 2008.
Our Lineage
MASTER YANG, JWING-MING
YMAA was founded in Boston by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming in 1982 to preserve his knowledge of Chinese martial arts and Qigong and share them with the world. He has realized a great part of this dream through YMAA. YMAA is best known for being a traditional martial arts school, with a strong focus on quality, refinement, and self-discipline.
After teaching for more than 30 years, Dr. Yang has qualified over 100 YMAA Instructors, Assistant Instructors, and Coach Instructors in the world today. Internationally, YMAA instructors and students share Dr. Yang's vision of bringing the art to a deeper level of practice and understanding.
Today, Dr. Yang resides in Northern California. Having overseen and directed operations at the YMAA California Retreat Center, where he lead a small group of students in an intense 10-year training program, he is now retired. Dr. Yang continues to study and write about all about the Chinese martial arts.
After teaching for more than 30 years, Dr. Yang has qualified over 100 YMAA Instructors, Assistant Instructors, and Coach Instructors in the world today. Internationally, YMAA instructors and students share Dr. Yang's vision of bringing the art to a deeper level of practice and understanding.
Today, Dr. Yang resides in Northern California. Having overseen and directed operations at the YMAA California Retreat Center, where he lead a small group of students in an intense 10-year training program, he is now retired. Dr. Yang continues to study and write about all about the Chinese martial arts.
"I want to lead Chinese martial artists in the West back to their roots and help them regain their original high level of skill and public respect. I also wish to bring Qigong training to the Western world and have it accepted by the Western medical society once and for all."
- Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
- Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
TRAINING BACKGROUND
Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming was born on August 11, 1946 in Xinzhu, Taiwan, Republic of China. He started his Wushu, or Gongfu, training at the age of 15 in Shaolin White Crane under Master Cheng, Gin-Gsao (1911-1976). As a child, Master Cheng learned Taizuquan from his grandfather, and after turning 15, he studied White Crane under Master Jin, Shao-Feng for 23 years. After 13 years of study (1961-1974) under Master Cheng, Dr. Yang became an expert in the White Crane style of Chinese martial arts, including barehand techniques and various weapons such as saber, staff, spear, trident, and two short rods. Under Master Cheng, Dr. Yang also studied White Crane Qigong, Qin Na, Tui Na and Dian Xue massage, and herbal treatment.
At 16, Dr. Yang began the study of Yang Style Taijiquan under Master Kao, Tao while attending high school in Hsinchu. Through the practice of Taijiquan under Grandmaster Kao, Dr. Yang was able to heal a chronic ulcer. Under Grandmaster Kao, Dr. Yang also began to explore the martial side of Taijiquan in-depth. He later continued his study of Taijiquan under several other masters and senior practitioners, such as Master Li, Mao-Ching and Mr. Wilson Chen in Taipei. Master Li learned Taijiquan from the well-known Master Han, Ching-Tang, and Mr. Chen learned from Master Zhang, Xiang-San. Under these masters, Dr. Yang was able to master the Taiji bare-hand sequence, the two-man fighting sequence, pushing hands, Taiji sword, Taiji saber, and Taiji Qigong.
See more about the YMAA Tai Chi Lineage here.
At 16, Dr. Yang began the study of Yang Style Taijiquan under Master Kao, Tao while attending high school in Hsinchu. Through the practice of Taijiquan under Grandmaster Kao, Dr. Yang was able to heal a chronic ulcer. Under Grandmaster Kao, Dr. Yang also began to explore the martial side of Taijiquan in-depth. He later continued his study of Taijiquan under several other masters and senior practitioners, such as Master Li, Mao-Ching and Mr. Wilson Chen in Taipei. Master Li learned Taijiquan from the well-known Master Han, Ching-Tang, and Mr. Chen learned from Master Zhang, Xiang-San. Under these masters, Dr. Yang was able to master the Taiji bare-hand sequence, the two-man fighting sequence, pushing hands, Taiji sword, Taiji saber, and Taiji Qigong.
See more about the YMAA Tai Chi Lineage here.
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WORLD RENOWNED MASTER, AUTHOR AND TEACHER
Dr. Yang has been involved in Chinese Wushu since 1961. Learning Shaolin White Crane, Shaolin Long Fist, and Taijiquan under several different masters. He has taught for more than 50 years: 7 years in Taiwan, 5 years at Purdue University, 2 years in Houston, 26 years in Boston, and 10 years at the YMAA Retreat Center. He has taught seminars all around the world, sharing his knowledge of Chinese martial arts and Qigong. Dr. Yang has traveled to Argentina, Austria, Barbados, Botswana, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, China, Chile, England, Egypt, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, and Venezuela. He has published over 30 books and 50 videos and DVDs on the martial arts and Qigong. His work has been translated into many foreign languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Hungarian, Dutch, Czech, Bulgarian and Russian. Dr. Yang was named by Inside Kung Fu Magazine as one of the people who has "made the greatest impact on martial arts in the past 100 years." In 2003, Black Belt Magazine named Dr. Yang as its 2003 "Kung Fu Artist of the Year." He was also named "Man of the Year" by Inside Kung-Fu in 2007.