Introduction

We are myself Alan McDonnell and my partner Lynn Sanderson. I am a full time teacher of Taijiquan. Lynn does not currently take any classes of her own but fills in for me at times.

I have been learning Taiji and Chinese martial arts since 1977, originally with Danny Connor in Manchester. My origins in martial arts were in Karate from 1969 in Yosokan style with Mike Newton, Seibukan style with Trevor Jones and Shotokan with Trevor Roberts, David Benson and others. I progressed to the grade of 4th Dan. In Taijiquan I have competed and won at national, international and world championship level as well as judging at competitions.

Lynn has studied with myself and Professor Li Deyin and is also a gold medallist in Taiji world championship competition.

My Taijiquan History

In the 1970s Danny Connor taught us 24 step Taiji and Chinese boxing at basic premises at 259 Deansgate in Manchester. He also had a martial arts shop at 18 Swan Street. Danny often advised us to try other teachers who were in or visiting Manchester, Many of whom he had brought in to visit.

Throughout the 80s I was learning Chinese martial arts in Manchester Chinatown, principally with Fa Da Chen. This included Numin Bagua, Shaolin Kungfu styles and traditional Yang style Taijiquan. This training was not just physical but also cultural and spiritual, Daoist rituals were a key element. During this time I started teaching Qi Gong (energy exercises), Shen Gong (spiritual exercises) and Shaolin Kungfu.

In the 90s my interests turned more to Taijiquan. Sifu Lo in Liverpool progressed my traditional Yang style. She was a student of Fu Zhong Wen, nephew of Yang Chengfu who was the grandson of Yang Lu Chan, the originator of Yang style.
Peter Warr arranged many seminars that I attended in Bletchley and Milton Keynes which is where I first met Professor Li Deyin. Professor Li taught me several of the contemporary Yang style forms as well as traditional Sun style. He is renowned throughout China and the world, being named as one of the top 100 martial artists in China. It was he at the 11th Asian Games in 1990 who staged the first massed taiji demonstration with 1500 students at the opening ceremony. Professor Li's uncle Li Tianji was the main architect of the ever popular 24 step routine.

From around 1992 into the mid-noughties Professor Li came to stay with me while he ran seminars I had arranged in places such as Atherton and Warrington. One of these was his first traditional Sun style seminar outside of China. I also trained with Professor Li and others on a number of trips to Beijing. At Renmin University I attended lessons on contemporary yang style, push hands and competition Sun style.
I took Chen style lessons with Zhao Rao Rao both in seminars and privately, arranged with her by Derek Frearson. She had been trained by Chen Xiao Wang. Later my friend Kam Lau brought Chen Xiao Wang to run seminars in Liverpool.

More recently I have taken to learning and teaching Zhao Bao Huleijia. I met Zhang Xiu Mu at a Taiji festival in Madrid in 2003. From him I learned the 22 step Yang style form which includes much more visualisation than any other styles and forms. Also he taught me Zhao Bao style. These lessons were in Barcelona where I still visit when I can to train with Zhang Man Hong and Zhang Sui Sheng in Zhao Bao Huleijia style.

I have taught many styles and forms, starting with traditional Yang style in 1989 at Howe Bridge in Atherton. A problem with these forms is that there are variations derived from different Yang family members and other Masters over the years. Too many students will insist that they know the 'true way' better because they have seen it done a bit differently in someone else's lesson. They don't, the truth is that there are valid variations for good reasons from different Masters, or even variations from the same Master. This led me to prefer teaching the contemporary forms which are well documented, the basics of these being the 24 Step and 32 Step Sword forms. Now teaching Zhao Bao Huleijia is a great challenge, especially as this is the first time it is being taught in the UK.

I no longer compete myself, it was a passing interest at the time anyway and not a major ambition. However, for the record, as well as other national and international achievements, in 1994 I attended the US National Chinese martial arts competition arranged by the USA Wushu Kungfu Federation and came third in the 42 Step contemporary Yang style. In 1997 in Orlando Florida I competed at the United World Kungfu Wushu Championship in the senior/advanced category. Here I came second in 42 step, second also in traditional Yang style with 85 step as well as second in the 48 step, another contemporary Yang style form. I won the Gold medal in the traditional Sun style category.

To be continued.