This page features information
about my life and journey with Chinese Martial Arts, Chinese
Philosophy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. I hope this page will
provide you with valuable insight into my life and make your decision
to learn from me or visit me for treatment that much easier.
For more articles and information, please visit my blogs at http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/2017528141 and http://www.drstephenyan.blogspot.com
Dr. Stephen Yan , born Yan
Zhi Jun in Shanghai, is a well known and respected Chinese Martial Arts
teacher and practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor. Dr. Yan is
also a published author, writing under the pen name of Yan Zi Yuan. Stephen Yan and the Hon Peter Dunne (when Associate Minister for Health)
Early years
Shaolin Kung Fu
As a teenager in the 1970s
Stephen was faced with a situation many young men of the world face
each and every day. The neighboring bullies were making day-to-day life
miserable for Stephen and his friends. Stephen decided the best way to
resolve the daily conflict was to learn Martial Arts, so that he would
be able to protect his friends and family. At the young age of 13,
Stephen began learning Bei Shaolin Kung Fu
(Northern Shaolin) with Master Du Bao Kuen who was the top disciple of
Master Dong Zhong Yi. During these early years Stephen was also
privileged to study Kung Fu with Grand Master Lu Zheng Du.
Stephen also began to learn Shuao Jiao (Chinese Wrestling) with Master
Li Chung Xing and Er Mei Kung Fu with Grand Master
Tang Jing Yuan. These skills gave Stephen the tools to make life easier
for his friends and family when dealing with the neighboring bullies.
Stephen continued to study Kung Fu throughout High School.
Medical School
Upon completion of High School, Stephen was sent to the Shanghai Medical University, China’s
top western medical school. While other students struggled to find time
to study, Stephen was able to maintain the highest marks while still
practicing his Martial Arts. Stephen led the Shanghai University
Martial Arts team and was able to win various medals in competitions.
Stephen was also able to win the University English speech competition,
the University Classical song competition, all the while maintaining
his place as violist on the University orchestra and leading the
philosophy group of three top Universities under the tutelage of the
famous Chinese philosopher Li Xiao Ying. Stephen also was a member of
the University painting association and his watercolour paintings
featured on the University newspaper several times. To this day Stephen
still enjoys painting and commits his insights into life and Chinese
Culture in poems.
Stephen was awarded a
Bachelor of Western Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery from Shanghai
Medical University after 6 years of formal and dedicated study. During
his time at Shanghai Medical University, Stephen also began his studies
of Traditional Chinese Medicine from a famous Chinese Folk Doctor, Dr.
Wang Zhen, and Traditional Chinese Trauma Treatment
(Traumatology) from Master Ji Jin San, Master Lu Zhen Du, Master Li Zen
Si and Master Li Chen Xing. After leaving medical school, now Dr.Yan,
Stephen practiced medicine at Zhong Shan Hospital,in the General
Surgery Department which is a well known teaching Hospital. After
one year of practice Stephen was invited to New Zealand by the Open
Forum for Health Information and received support for this move from
Dr. Bob Boyd, the Head of the Department of Preventative Health in New
Zealand who was seeking a Doctor trained in both Western Medicine and
Traditional Chinese Medicine. Stephen took the opportunity to bring the
essence of Chinese Culture, Martial Arts and Medical practices to New
Zealand society for both cultures to enjoy and share the benefits.
Stephen moved to Wellington New Zealand in 1988.
Internal Martial Arts study
Since
the situation that led to Stephen learning Kung Fu had been resolved,
Stephen had become deeply attracted to the beauty of traditional
Chinese Martial Arts, he found another world. A world that contained
philosophy, medicine, longevity, literature, poetry, history,
unification of the body and mind, and the art of applying martial arts
for defense and offense. A world in which the goal was to reach a place
of peace and harmony within nature and within society.
This
attraction was strong enough to make Stephen feel that it was his
destiny to understand the body, both mind and soul. Later on, during in
depth research into various Internal Martial Arts systems, Chi Kung,
Western Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, philosophy, various
religions (including Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam,
Christianity; etc.), he felt that they were all serving his destiny,
and concluded this was meant to happen.
Stephen
has been very lucky to meet and study under various top masters of
Chinese Kung Fu and was entrusted with their knowledge and in time
becoming their top student. At that time the Chinese Cultural
revolution had ended. In the past and under old traditions you were
unable to become an indoor student or Disciple of more than one
teacher. Stephen became the exception to this rule and was able to
train under a variety of knowledgeable teachers.
If you wish to learn more about Stephen’s Martial Arts studies please click here.
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New Zealand
After arriving in New
Zealand, Stephen reached a point in his life where he realized the
Chinese
Traditional Martial Arts, not being supported by the Chinese
government, were beginning to lose the valuable knowledge of its top
Martial Arts Masters who were beginning to pass away. Fearing that this
precious knowledge would be lost forever, Stephen set his Western
medical practice aside and devoted his full attention to the challenge
of saving and documenting the
Traditional Martial Arts skills of China.
Since that time Stephen has published
volume one of seven volume series on Wu Style Taiji as taught to him by
Grand Master Ma Yueh Liang and Grand Master Wu Wing Hua. He has also
published a book titled, Xing Yi Wu-Xing Hieh Chuan Zhen (Xing Yi 5
Element Boxing and Weapons), which records the forms and history of
this closely held Martial Art.
In 1993, knowing that
Traditional Chinese Medicine had 2000 years of knowledge to be shared
with the west, Stephen began a joint venture with the Chinese
Government for the production of modern herbal formulated medicines in
Jiang Su province. These herbal formulations are sold as Chinza Health
Corporation products.
During 1994 Stephen was
invited to be the guest vice-principle of the Suzhou Ear, Eyes, Nose
and Throat Hospital. Stephen was pleased with the opportunity to
contribute both his knowledge of Western Medicine and Traditional
Chinese Medicine to this Hospital to increase the health of its
patients and share his knowledge with its staff.
Over
the years Stephen has sought out every opportunity to learn more about
Traditional chinese Martial Arts and has sought out the best Teachers
he could find. In August of 2000 Stephen took the opportunity to
participate in the National Xin Yi Liu He competition that was held in
Hernan. Stephen placed first in Open Handed Forms and also first place
in the Weaponry Forms.
While Stephen has resided in
Wellington, he has had the joy of bringing a number of Kung Fu, Tai
Chi, and Chi Kung Masters to New Zealand in order to share and record
their valuable knowledge. Stephen has also been asked to contribute his
Chinese Medical knowledge in articles published in the New Zealand
General Practitioners Magazine, and also by lecturing students at the
New Zealand School Of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
When writing and lecturing other Medical Doctors, Stephen is able to
teach
Traditional Chinese Medicine using modern Western Medical terms and
concepts.
Currently, Stephen is
practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine and teaching various Martial
Arts and Chi Kung here in Wellington where he holds the Chair of The
Wellington Chinese Martial Arts Association. Stephen is also an
Executive member of the Open Forum for Health Information, and an
Executive member of the Chinese National Bloodletting
Association which is a special form of Acupuncture.
Stephen enjoys sharing his Martial Arts`with those willing to put concentrated effort into learning. Stephen
has successfully coached David Stella to the 2005 Championship of both
the New Zealand and the Australasia Sanshou Championships. Any person
wishing to learn about or seeking the benefits of Chinese Culture,
Philosophy, Medicine or Martial Arts is welcome to contact Stephen for
more information about his classes and Medical practice.
I received the following recently from a vistor from the UK: "It was my great good fortune to have private classes
with Dr Stephen Yan, a martial artist and doctor of huge skill and a most kind,
open and humble man. These qualities are important especially in the world of
martial arts, where teachers, albeit ones possessing great skills become lost in
self importance and ego. Right from the start he was friendly towards me, and on
our first meeting bought me a beer. If that doesn't sound exceptional, I have 30
years of experience in the world of martial arts, and believe me, this approach
was refreshing in it's simplicity and openness What he taught me has become the
cornerstone of my practise, and I only wish I could have spent longer with him. I very much hope to visit him again, one day, until then I will continue to
treasure the sack of gold he has given me. Ewan Stewart."
Please visit my Chinese
Language page for my most recent work.
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The New Zealand Wu Tao Society
Wellington, New Zealand
Phone: Stephen Yan on (04) 471 1818
E-mail: NZ WU TAO
Wu Tao and all associated pagesİ2013 Stephen Yan Zi Yuan - All Rights Reserved
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