Master Yao Zongxun and the Development of Yiquan

By Lin Zhaolun & Cui Ruibin

I

Master Yao Zongxun (1917-1985), well-known martial artist of modern times, once the advisor of Beijing Martial Arts Association and President of Beijing Yiquan Research Institute, was the heir of Master Wang Xiangzhai, the founding master of Yiquan. He had mastered the essence of Master Wang's boxing skills, and accumulated the experience of several decades in real combats. On the basis of this, he widely absorbed the strong points of various boxing schools both home and abroad and integrated the research results of modern science into the development of Yiquan. As a result, Yiquan was able to make successive breakthroughs and gradually step towards perfection. Master Yao had played a great role in the development of Yiquan as well as in the history of Chinese martial arts.

With what he had learned from his teacher Master Wang Xiangzhai, Master Yao took over the responsibility to develop national fist arts. He dedicated all his life into the research of fist arts and never surrendered when confronted with difficulties and hardships, while caring nothing about his personal gains. In the Cultural Revolution, he was forced to move to Changping County in the west suburb of Beijing . But the harsh life of breeding livestock on desolated hills was not able to make him give up his lofty aspirations.

Though he was possessed of consummate skills, he didn't refuse to share with others. At any moment he was worried about whether Chinese martial arts, the national treasure, could be carried forward and thus bring benefit to people. Though his life path was rough and bumpy all along, he had never forgotten to pass down his skills to the next generation. In the harsh time during the Cultural Revolution, more than once, he had told us in sincerity and earnestness, ¡°Since our country is in trouble at present, you should press much harder to practice so as to master more theories and skills of boxing and understand more deeply about the theoretic system of training and the methods of it. Therefore, once the country calls for helps, we can send some qualified talents to serve the country as well to carry forward the national treasure of martial arts.¡± At that time, Master Yao and his whole family were still at loss about how to make a living, but what he was concerned all the time was the problem about the cultivation of successor of Chinese martial arts. Such lofty spirit really fills one with awe and admiration.

Master Yao was rigorous in his scholarly pursuit and strict with his students. He never forgot to remind his students of the importance of moral quality in martial arts. Repeatedly he admonished his students to learn to be a man before one learns boxing, since the essence of fist arts was the crystallization of mind, will, morality, knowledge, physique and skills. He was quite strict in choosing students, with a comprehensive view of every aspect. Among his students, there are: Zhao Xuquan, Bai Jinjia, Zhang Hongcheng, Bo Jiacong, Cui Ruibin, Liu Pulei, Wu Xiaonan, Lin Zhaolun, Peng Andi and his sons Yao Chengguang and Yao Chengrong. He had been an example for his students throughout his life, which really puts one gasping in admiration.

In January of 1985, unable to be cured, Master Yao left us forever. In the 6 th anniversary of his departure, in order to reminisce about him, we wrote this article as a consolation to his soul in the heaven.

Yiquan was founded by the great martial master Wang Xiangzhai in 1920s. During the period from 1940 to 1946, it was also called Dachengquan (All Achievement Boxing).

Master Wang Xiangzhai was born in Shenxian County in Hebei Province . In the yea

rs during the reign of Emperor Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, he learned Xingyiquan (shadow boxing) from Master Guo Yunshen, grasping all the essential points from his teacher. Then, he traveled through both sides of the Yangtze River and met many famous martial experts. With the exchange of views and skills with them, he greatly improved himself in boxing. In 1920s, the martial arts circle inclined to a performance-oriented fad of dazzling and fancy movements with sets of so called tactics and skills, but without practical use. In order to reveal its fault and explain the true essence of fist arts, on the basis of Xingyiquan, and widely taking over the cream of various boxing schools such as Shaolin, Taiji, Bagua as well as from the theories of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Medicine, Master Wang founded Yiquan (will boxing). The very name of Yiquan showed its emphasis on the guiding role of one's mind in the boxing training.

Yiquan is mainly composed of Zhan Zhuang (standing post), Shi Li (testing force), Shi Sheng (testing voice), Zoubu (practice with steps), Fa Li (exerting force), Tuishou (pushing hands), Sanshou (free fight) and so on. It is divided into two aspects: Jianshen (health cultivation) and Jiji (combat skills), without any fixed Taolu (sets of tactics and skills) or Zhaofa (methods). As the basic skill in Yiquan, Zhan Zhuang is divided into Jianshen Zhuang and Jiji Zhuang. Throughout the training of Yiquan, to control the body and limbs through mental induction is emphasized. By way of mental visualization, one seeks force in a non-force situation, and slight movements in a non-movements circumstance. One should seek movements in stillness, and one move would result in movements of every part. It is by this way that one is able to master the whole unit of training methods of Hunyun Li (universal force) and apply them into real combats.

In the summer of 1940, Master Wang Xiangzhai made a public announcement in the newspaper Shibao that he welcomed any martial friends to come to his place to exchange views and skills with him, so as to promote and illustrate the true essence of fist arts. For a period of time, visitors came one after another, including some marital experts from Japan . But all of them were subdued by the excellent boxing skills and profound theories on boxing.

Since it came into being in this world, with its unique training methods and excellent skills in real combats, Yiquan has gained fame not only in the martial arts circle in China, but also has expanded its influence in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asian countries and regions, as well as in Britain, US, Canada, Sweden, Australia and Argentina.

Among the many students of Master Wang, those most famous who were outstanding in Jiji were Zhao Daoxin, You Pengxi, Han Jiao, Pu Enfu, Zhang Entong, Zhao Fengyao and Yao Zongxun. Yao Zongxun was particularly favored by his teacher. From the mid 1930s, Yao had been a follower of Master Wang and never left him. He was the favorite student of Master Wang and was given the name ¡°Jixiang¡± (successor of Xiang) which indicated that Yao would be the heir of Yiquan.

Master Yao was born in Hangzhou , but was sent to Beijing from his childhood. He was a student in the Literature Department of Chinese University. When he was very young, he had already had a special attachment towards Western sports activities and Chinese traditional martial arts. At the age of 16, he came to Master Hong Lianshun, a well-known boxing instructor in Beijing , to learn Tantui (kicking) and internal boxing. Favored by Master Hong, he became his disciple. In the autumn of 1937, Master Hong visited Master Wang Xiangzhai, and was defeated every time in the three contests. Then, taking his students with him, including Yao Zongxun, Hong came to Master Wang to learn Yiquan. Engrossed in grasping fist arts, with industrious practice and profound study of boxing principles, it only took three years for Yao to become one of the best students of Master Wang. In the summer of 1940, Master Wang put a notice on the newspaper to invite people to come and exchange views and skills as well as make friends. In fact, it was Yao Zongxun and his fellow students who received most visitors, without losing a sin

gle contest. Therefore, Yiquan was held highly by some friends in the martial arts circle, and thus it was given the name ¡°Dachengquan¡± (All Achievement Boxing). At that time, a famous martial artist of Xingyiquan named Wu Peiqing from Shanxi Province was also in Beijing . He was the most favored student of Li Fuzheng, an outstanding disciple of Che Yizhai, a great master of Xingyiquan. It was said that Master Guo Yunshen once had a match with his elder fellow disciple Master Che Yizhai, and Guo was defeated. Later, after finishing his apprentice, Li Fuzhen had a contest with his teacher Che Yizhai and Che lost the match. Therefore, as the favorite student of Li Fuzhen, Wu Peiqing believed that he had grasped all the essence of Xingyiquan. On December 12 th , 1940, he claimed in Beijing 's Xinmin Post that his boxing was the orthodox school of Xingyiquan and he was willing to exchange skills with fellow martial artists.

Under the instruction of Master Wang Xiangzhai, Yao Zongxun went to meet Wu Peiqing. Seeing that Yao was only a young student in his early twenties, Wu thought he would certainly win the match. The sides agreed to have the contest in Wu's martial arts club¡ª Temple of the God of Fire in Chongwen Men in January of 1941.

On the day of the contest, Wu Peiqing also invited some 30 famous martial artists to come to liven up the circumstance. Among them were Xu Xiaoyu, associate president of Peking National Arts Club, Tang Fengting and Tang Fengtai, associate directors of No.1 National Arts Association in Daxing County , Dong Ziying and Hao Jiashan, renowned martial experts and so on. On the contest spot, Xu Xiaoyu, the outstanding student of Gao Yunxiang, a well-known master of Xingyiquan, was chosen to be the temporary notary. Other present martial artists and Wu's students stood on the two sides of the hall to watch the contest.

After making a greeting towards each other, with a snake footstep, Wu immediately jumped in front of Yao Zongxun like a flash lightening. Once his feet got there, his hand punched out, a right upward punch hitting towards Yao 's jaw. Yet just in a flashing second, warding off the other's right elbow with his left hand, Yao had pointed his left palm lightly to Wu's forehead. His swiftness made his movements almost the same time as Wu's. Frightened, Wu hurried to step back. It was just like what was said in the illustration charter of boxing: ¡°if the opponent doesn't move, I don't move either; if the opponent moves slightly, I should move before him¡±. Since it was only an exchange of skills, a slight touch would be enough. Once touching the opponent's forehead lightly, Yao stopped immediately. It was to indicate he had already been lenient and to wish the opponent to get a clear idea about the gap between the two parties' actual strengths, so that a fierce fight would be avoided and no body would be hurt. However, Wu didn't take it this way. He thought though Yao was very swift, he was not strong enough. Not convinced, Wu immediately chopped his right arm towards the chest of Yao . At the moment Wu's arm was about to get its target, Yao stepped slightly sideward and at the same time hit Wu's right arm with a Zuo Pianchui (left-inclined hammering). As if bumped into a spring, Wu's body soared into the sky and was thrown away obliquely backward. Fortunately, caught by his students standing there, he didn't fall down to the ground. At this moment, Wu had already known his opponent was possessed of a high level of martial skills and was not a person to be trifled with. But having lost face before so many famous martial artists and his students, Wu was somehow shamed into anger. After that, again he quickly issued out a right upwards punch directly towards Yao 's heart. Warding off the right elbow of the opponent, Yao stretched out his right hand, intending to hit Wu's left rib with a even hammering. When his hand was approaching, afraid to hurt the opponent badly, Yao had a second of hesitation. Just then, Wu had stepped away. But immediately he flung himself towards Yao with his unique skill ¡°Jinji Qiasu¡± (a golden cock clutches the crop of a bird), aiming to clutch the throat of Yao . Seeing Wu was so desperate and venomous, Yao knew he could not hesitate again. Hurriedly wrapping Wu's right wrist in his left hand, Yao drew back his jaw, twisted his body to the left and exerted force from the whole body with a heavy right downwards hammering. It hit Wu's face. With a thumping sound, Wu had already fallen to t

he ground, with blood spitting out and four teeth falling down, and fainted away right then. Those present martial artists were stupefied. Having not seen clearly how Yao made his move, they saw Wu was already on the ground. A roar of ¡°Bravo!¡± was burst out. Seeing Wu fall down, Yao quickly stooped down to help him up. Yet, to everyone's surprise, seeing Wu was fallen down, Shan Xiangling, who was invited by Wu Peiqing, jumped forward and sneaked a punch towards Yao 's head. Yao, who was intending to support Wu, feeling the wind of fist coming towards himself, instinctively stepped backward, with Shan's ¡°black punch¡± brushing pass the tip of his nose, almost hitting it. Han Jiao, who was in company of Yao Zongxun, flied into a rage and flung himself forward and hit Shan's back with both hands. Shan was thrown away to the wall one zhang (3.3 meters) away. At that moment, Wu's disciples were also about to stand out for a fight, and the atmosphere was very tense. Those present martial artists hurried to come out to make peace, and thus a fierce fight was avoided.

After the contest, when Master Wang was discussing with Yao Zongxun about how to solve the remaining problems of this contest, he said, ¡°A martial contest is just for the exchanges of skills, not to rob others of their life. Wu Peiqing shouldn't have stricken a vicious blow. You should also pay attention to this in the future, with a proper restraint of your strength. This time, let's think of a way to smooth the matter over.¡± Thus, to show sincerity, Xu Yusheng, in his capacity as the president of Peking National Arts Club, was asked to give a banquet in Xinluchun Restaurant in Xidan Area. Wu Peiqing and some other ten established martial artists in Beijing were invited to the dinner. During the dinner, Wu Peiqing showed his admiration towards Yao 's excellent boxing skills and lofty moral quality, and finally the two shook hands and become friends. After this incident, Xu Xiaoyu, associate president of Peking National Arts Club led his son Xu Ruhai to Yao Zongxun to learn Yiquan under Yao 's instruction.

During the years between 1940 and 1948, representing his teacher to attend contests, Yao Zongxun had successively defeated more than 80 famous martial artists both home and abroad, such as Watanabe. These victories won him a heavy fame in the capital city and he was titled as a young martial master. In the exchange of skills with other martial artists, Yao was polite and modest in attitude, calm and unhurried in bearing, swift in movements, appropriate in the control of combat force, and excellent in skills. These qualities always filled visitors with praises, awe and admirations. Many famous martial masters became close friends of Master Yao Zongxun after having exchanged skills with him. This was not matched by those who were merely daring and fond of fighting. After defeated, Watanabe, a boxing expert as well as an expert of Tae Kwon Do, said with admiration from the bottom of his heart, ¡°Even a master of eight or night Dan can not win me so neat and crisp.¡± Keniqi Takuike, a Japanese master of five Dan in Judo and four Dan in Kendo, had been defeated by Master Wang Xiangzhai. After that, he began to learn Yiquan, but was pointed to be under the instruction of Master Yao. Not convinced, Takuike had contests with or sneaked attacks towards Master Yao for more than twenty times, but was defeated every time. In the end he was completely convinced and began to learn Yiquan from Yao wholeheartedly. When he went back to Japan , he founded Taikiken, and was regarded the leading master of boxing.

Upright and honest, Master Yao detested all sorts of evil doings. In the mid 1940s, in order to uphold justice and protect the good and kind, he was often engaged in conflicts with some local hooligan gangs. The stories about the movements, in which he was the leader, of severely punishing Gao Yanwang and the gang named Thirty-six Friends were often told in Beijing at that time. On hearing the name of Yao Zongxun, hooligans in Beijing were so afraid that they would flee away immediately.

In all his life, Master Yao had attended martial contests and gave instructions under his teacher's name, and he had won acclaim from his fellow students of Yiquan. Master Wang Xiangzhai once wrote a poem for the purpose of giving a new nam

e to Master Yao, an open action indicating that the latter would be the heir to Yiquan in title and in reality. The main meaning of the poem goes like this:

I am ashamed that I have not attained the acme of boxing, and I could only extend my hopes to the next generation. Thus, I give student Yao the name Jixiang (successor of Xiang) to express this intention. He was poor and helpless in childhood, and I just assume to be his parent. This son of mine was a scholar originally, but with a different bearing from normal bookworms. Broad-minded, bold and uninhibited, he was one of the few elites among the entire world. Having such a student as Yao , I know our great cause will not decline. I wish he would make further efforts to fulfill this dream of our motherland. I wish he would dedicate himself into this cause so that common people will benefit from his fist arts. I wish more that he would possess such perseverance as to overcome a hundred hardships, holding persistently his lofty and noble aspirations. It is a secret pride I take in him, and it is such hatred to see mediocre people mixed into outstanding ones, just as monsters sneaking into the group of dragons. I believe one with such a lofty aspiration like my son is able to subdue a tiger, while more modest and amiable in disposition than a cat.

Up till then, Yao 's fame had been far-reaching. It was he who brought Yiquan into the arena of martial arts both home and abroad, and it was he who brought Yiquan into its prosperity.

Since the space is limited, the other half part of this article will be published next time. Its main content will be that on the basis of what he had taken over from his teacher Master Wang, Master Yao Zongxun widely absorbed the strong points of other boxing schools both home and abroad and carried forward Yiquan into a new age.

II

Though possessed of superb boxing skills and profound knowledge, Master Yao Zongxun had never been contented with what he had. In more than fifty years, he had persisted in diligent practice, had been stressing the importance of practice and had been dedicated in the probing research of fist arts. Plus his rich experience in real combats, finally be came such an outstanding boxing master that is rarely seen in modern times.

As for the research of fist arts, along with his unremitting down-to-earth efforts, Master Yao had all along believed in truth and science while detesting any abstruse theories. No one was able to impose influence on him in this respect. In order to carry forward Yiquan into a bright prospect, Master Yao had devoted all his life and energy into Yiquan. He was very strict in selecting disciples. Only those both excellent in morality and learning and tested qualified after a long period's observation could be accepted by him. If anyone was found fond of fame and profit, he was reprimanded severely and no longer regarded as Yao 's student. Master Yao often told his students, ¡°Fist art is also a discipline of science. If following the views of worldly mediocre people, one devoted oneself into seeking fame and profits by cheating others, the gain would be the mere benefit of one person, while the loss would be the essence of fist art as well as one's dignity as a human being. That could never be the conduct of a scholar of martial arts.¡± Till now, I still clearly remember his words, ¡°It is for the achievement of a scholar or a fist artist rather than just a fighter that you strive so hard to learn Yiquan.¡± Master Yao was rigorous in his scholarly pursuit and strict with his students. During his teaching, he was able to teach in accordance with the students' aptitude and draw inferences about other cases from one instance. It was a heuristic method he adopted, and more impressively, he never got tired with us. In several decades, he had brought up many excellent Yiquan talents of the younger

generation who are in all parts of the country. Any student who had been under the instruction of Master Yao, apart from an in-depth understanding of the truth of boxing, is possessed of a strong consciousness of boxing skills and is quite powerful in real combats.

By incorporating the core of Chinese excellent fist art schools, the essence of modern physical culture and sports and the boxing feature of both Oriental and Western fist arts into the training of Yiquan, Master Yao was able to achieve the acme of perfection in boxing. By applying the theories of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, modern sports, physiology, mechanics and neuro-medicine into the illustration of the book On Fist Art, he succeeded in scientifically explaining some parts in it which were not easy to understand, as well as verifying these parts with scientific methods. The sublime state of ¡°without expecting it, it comes; without knowing it, it is there¡± pointed out in On Fist Art was really hard to understand. Even a boxing master who had achieved such a state to some extent, he was not able to express it clearly and scientifically with words. Therefore, vague words like ¡°slightly¡± ¡°miraculously¡± dazzled people's eyes and made them feel mysterious anfathomable. Yet, Master Yao believed that ¡°the biological mechanism formed by physical sports skills and capabilities is established on the basis of correct conditional reflex. And only with a wholesome central nervous system can correct conditional reflex be intensified constantly and finally achieve the state of automation. It is by then can we say we have mastered a sports skill. The so-called advanced sublime state mentioned in On Dachengquan is the state of automation in essence. Therefore, it is not by mere movements of muscles can we master a sports skill, we should pay more attention to the controlling effect of nerves and will, so as to achieve the harmonious coordination between will and body movements, which is called ¡°Zheng¡± (whole) in fist art. The so-called sublime state actually is the harmonious coordination between mind, will and body, so that you can move as you wish. That is what is called ¡°every part of the body is under the control of mind¡±. This scientifically explains how the sublime state in fist art is developed.¡±

Punching force is the goal of most boxing practitioners during their training. But with a great cost of time and strength, some people are still not able to achieve the punching force in true sense. While some people get some understanding of it, but it is only a partial form which will not lead to fine and even punching force. Particularly, during the practice, these people's punching force would appear void sometimes, which provides chances for the opponent. Of course, they are far away from the state of ¡°the hand leaves traces every part it passes, without missing the smallest part. The whole body is vibrating. One move leads to movement of every part and the arguing force of the whole body is just proper¡±. Actually, Master Wang Xiangzhai had revealed the essence of punching force long before, ¡°the mind arrives, then the will, then Qi, and then the force¡±. The training method of punching force lies in the will. Based on this, Master Yao made a further exploration, ¡°The essence of punching force is decided by nerve's ability to control muscles and fibers. The stronger and the better this controlling ability is, the more powerful the explosion, and the fuller and the more effective the punching force. Since any movement of the muscles is under the control of nerves, while nerves are directly influenced by mind and will, the controlling role of the mind is the most important.¡± During the training of punching force in Yiquan, ¡°Yi¡± (will) is the most prominent fact throughout the process. It has already broken away from the traditional training of Taolu and has found its most scientific training method, that is, to implement the principle of ¡°will¡± from beginning to the end in the training of Zhan Zhuang, Shi Li and Fa Li, so that one is able to release forces in stillness, or slight movements or even strong movements, just in line with the rule of ¡°every part of the body acts like a spring¡±. Since this training method is clear in purpose, correct in knowledge, scientific in method, its training effect is far better than those with Taolu or Zhaofa. It is just because of the creativity and rationality of Yiquan's training method that our forefathers were able to achieve the sublime state of ¡°no law is every law¡±.

During the training of Yiquan, how to carry out the function of ¡°mental induction and mental visualization¡± and its function towards body movements? Master Yao had accumulated rich experiences in this respect. Since the training of will in Yiquan is not limited by time, place and space, it is easily coordinated, extensive and applicable, full of flexibility. What's more, it is able to integrate these features organically together so as to achieve the effect of wholeness. Therefore, it is convenient for the instructor to teach in accordance with student's aptitude, while avoid the formulism or those so-called Taolu. During the training of Yiquan, by incorporating the rational parts in both Oriental and Western boxing and in Chinese Jiji with the original essence of Yiquan, Master Yao innovatively developed the training method of Master Wang Xiangzhai. For example, the change of the degree of tightness and of actual strength in punching force is displayed specifically and ingeniously in the training of punching sandbags and punching cotton balls; while in the training of basic skills and Tuishou and Sanshou, practicability is highlighted, which makes the training more like the real combats; he also stressed the important role of swift and continuous punches and the comprehensive physical quality in combats in the modern sense.

Master Yao held that: apart from learning combat skills, a martial practitioner should pay more attention to cultivate the potentials of one body, to explore the sports biological mechanism of human body, and to study ways conducive to longevity. He inherited and developed Master Wang's Jianshen Zhuang and scored fruitful results in helping patients cure their diseases by teaching them to practice Zhan Zhuang. His efforts received positive comments from technique workers in medicine circle and greatly enriched the therapeutic treatment of modern medicine. Since it is simple and easy to learn, but effective in health cultivation and disease treatment with no side effects, Yiquan's Zhan Zhuang gained popularity quickly. Now, it has been absorbed into most course books of physical treatments as well as of Qigong. Meanwhile, it has also aroused great interest of some research workers in the field of ergonomics.

With the cooperation of Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Physical Science, Master Yao conducted a systematic research on Yiquan and its training methods, which greatly helped to popularize and improve Yiquan. With the joint efforts of Master Yao, the State Commission of Physical Culture and Sports and Beijing Municipal Commission of Physical Culture and Sports, the essential part of Yiquan's training methods was applied into the training of modern physical sports, such as swimming, weight lifting, tract and field, shooting and football, and has been proved to be effective. For example, during the training of shooting, through the application of Yiquan's principle of ¡°dilating the mental lever¡±, players were able to directly connect the barrel in his hand with the bull's eye so as to increase the percentage of hits. As a result, several players' skills were greatly improved and on the National Games they were among the top.

As a great master who carried forward Yiquan into a new age, Master Yao devoted his late life into writing so as to pass down this unique fist art to the offspring. His book Yiquan now has been published both in mainland and in Hong Kong . Master Yao had made outstanding contributions to the development of Yiquan. If we say it was Master Wang Xiangzhai who founded Yiquan and thus opened a new path for Chinese martial arts, then, we should say it was Master Yao Zongxun who carried forward Yiquan and built the great mansion of it. As the pride of Yiquan, both Master Wang and Master Yao are great figures in the history of Chinese martial arts.

Up till now, Yiquan has formed a complete theoretical system and training system of its own. It was on the basis of the combination of the essence of fist art and the development of modern science that Yiquan gained its development and improvement. At the same time, through constant getting rid of the obsolete and absorbing the new, Yiquan gradually steps towards a well-built discipline. As any other divisions of science, from the very beginning, Yiquan has been treating itse

lf with a dialectical point of view. It will never stand still at what it has gained and refuse to make further progress. Constant development and innovation is the lifeblood for Yiquan. It has no other unique ways. As long as practitioners could get a clear knowledge about the essence of fist art and practice with a proper training method, their skills would certainly be improved day by day, without a final limit. On the problem that Yiquan was once called Dachengquan (All Achievement Boxing), Master Wang once instructed his students, ¡°There's no limit for any martial arts. So, there's no sense in the name of Dacheng.¡± Thus, the name of Yiquan was picked up again.

As an organic integration of various marital arts schools and many disciplines of science, Yiquan also plays a positive role in the development of these disciplines. The social value of Yiquan has far surpassed the field of fist art itself, which point has aroused the attention of many learned men in the present era.

Unfortunately, while Yiquan is flourishing and developing, much more prosperous than any period in its history, due to his overwork and fatal disease, Master left us forever. His departure was not only a great loss to the cause of Yiquan, but also a great loss to us¡ªwe lost our great teacher whom we would never forget in our lifetime. Though he has passed away, Master Yao's contribution to the cause of our national fist art is imprinted in our mind forever. With his lifetime devotion and achievements, as a great man of action and innovation with foresight and sagacity, Master Yao Zongxun will be held in high esteem by numerous fist artists and boxing fans forever