Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming | YMAA

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Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming

Quick Facts

  • Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming was born on August 11, 1946
  • He started his wushu or kung fu training at the age of fifteen
  • In thirteen years of study (1961–1974) he became an expert in the White Crane style of Chinese martial arts
  • At age sixteen, he began the study of Yang Style Taijiquan
  • He attended Tamkang College in Taipei to study physics
  • He studied Shaolin Long Fist in college (1964–1968)
  • He served in the Chinese Air Force from (1971–1972)
  • He taught physics and studied Long Fist at Tamkang College (1972–1974)
  • He studied mechanical engineering at Purdue University, USA (1974 –1978)
  • He was awarded a PhD in mechanical engineering May 1978
  • He founded Yang’s Martial Arts Academy in Boston on October 1, 1982
  • He quit his engineering career to focus on writing and teaching in January 1984
  • He began the nonprofit YMAA California Retreat Center in 2008
  • Dr. Yang guides more than fifty YMAA affiliated schools around the world
  • Dr. Yang has written thirty-six books and five novels
  • Dr. Yang has filmed forty-nine videos
YMAA Publication Center was established so that Westerners could access the profound Oriental developments of qi, martial arts, and spiritual cultivation. As one of the pioneers in this exchange, YMAA will continue to mark the path between East and West. It is our hope that this path will help lead to a new, benevolent society.
Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming (楊俊敏博士) started his Gongfu (Kung Fu) training at the age of fifteen under the Shaolin White Crane (Bai He) Master Cheng, Gin Gsao (曾金灶). In thirteen years of study (1961-1974) under Master Cheng, Dr. Yang became an expert in the White Crane style of Chinese martial arts, which includes both the use of bare hands and of various weapons such as saber, staff, spear, trident, two short rods, and many others. With the same master he also studied White Crane Qin Na (or Chin Na), Tui Na and Dian Xue massages, and herbal treatment.

At the age of sixteen, Dr. Yang began the study of Taijiquan (Yang Style) under Master Kao, Tao (高濤). Dr. Yang's tai chi can be traced back to the Yang family through Master Kao's teacher Yue, Huanzhi (樂奐之), an indoor disciple of Yang, Chengfu (楊澄甫). After learning from Master Kao, Dr. Yang continued his study and research of Taijiquan with Master Li, Mao-Ching (李茂 清) and training partner Mr. Wilson Chen in Taipei. Master Li learned his Taijiquan from the well-known Master Han, Ching-Tang, and Mr. Chen learned his Taijiquan from Master Chang, Xiang-San. Dr. Yang has mastered the Taiji barehand sequence, pushing hands, the two-man fighting sequence, Taiji sword, Taiji saber, and Taiji Qigong.

Becoming a Teacher

When Dr. Yang was eighteen years old he entered Tamkang College in Taipei Xian to study Physics and also began the study of traditional Shaolin Long Fist (Changquan or Chang Chuan) with Master Li, Mao-Ching at the Tamkang College Guoshu Club (1964-1968). He eventually became an assistant instructor under Master Li. In 1971 he completed his M.S. degree in Physics at the National Taiwan University and then served in the Chinese Air Force of the Republic of China from 1971 to 1972. In the service, Dr. Yang taught Physics at the Junior Academy of the Chinese Air Force while also teaching Wushu. After being honorably discharged in 1972, he returned to Tamkang College to teach Physics and resumed study under Master Li, Mao-Ching. From Master Li, Dr. Yang learned Northern style Gongfu, which includes both barehand techniques, especially kicking, and numerous weapons.

Ph.D in 1978

In 1974, Dr. Yang came to the United States to study Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University. At the request of a few students, Dr. Yang began to teach Gongfu (Kung Fu), which resulted in the foundation of the Purdue University Chinese Kung Fu Research Club in the spring of 1975. While at Purdue, Dr. Yang also taught college-credited courses in Taijiquan. In May, 1978 he was awarded a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering by Purdue.

Yang's Martial Arts Association was established in Boston, MA in 1982. With the intent of preserving traditional Chinese Kung Fu and Qigong , Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming began training students in the rigors of Shaolin Long Fist and White Crane Gongfu as well as Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. Currently, YMAA is an international organization, including 56 schools in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, France, Holland, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In the early 80's, Dr. Yang wrote several books, published by Unique Publications. In 1984, Dr. Yang retired from his engineering career, to undertake his life-long dream of teaching and researching the Chinese arts and introducing them to the West through many books, videos and DVDs.

Becoming an Author

Founded in 1984, YMAA Publication Center has published many of Dr. Yang's groundbreaking books and videos, and is a pioneer in the cultural exchange between the East and West. While the West has successfully developed the material sciences, the East is celebrated for its levels of spiritual cultivation. During this ongoing period of exchange, the building of bridges is critical for the successful integration of the achievements of both societies. His books and videos have been translated into French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Dutch, Bulgarian, Russian, Hungarian, Portuguese, Croatian, German, and Farsi.

In summary, Dr. Yang has been involved in Chinese Gongfu since 1961. During this time, he has spent 13 years learning Shaolin White Crane (Bai He), Shaolin Long Fist (Changquan), and Taijiquan. Dr. Yang has more than thirty years of instructional experience: seven years in Taiwan, five years at Purdue University, two years in Houston, TX, and 24 years in Boston, MA. On November 29, 2005, Dr. Yang conferred the title of Taiji Master to one of his senior students (Roger Whidden)for the first time, which by tradition bestows the honorable title of Grandmaster upon Dr. Yang.

Worldwide Acclaim

Throughout the year, Dr. Yang travels between YMAA International Branch and Provisional schools worldwide. He also frequently travels within America and around the world presenting lectures and seminars on Chinese martial arts and Qigong. He has visited Argentina, Austria, Barbados, Botswana, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, China, Chile, England, Egypt, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, and Venezuela. Dr. Yang has published over 40 books and more than 60 videos on the martial arts and Qigong.

Beginning in 2004, Dr. Yang developed the nonprofit YMAA Retreat Center, a training facility in Humboldt County, CA, where he trained a group of disciples in a comprehensive 10-year program. These YMAA master instructors graduated in 2018 at the completion of the program. In 2021, Dr. Yang moved home with his family, and continues to teach online and in seminars around the world. Visit Dr. Yang's new website Dr. YangJwingMing.com

Offices

  • President of Yangs Martial Arts Association, YMAA International.
  • Board of Directors of YMAA Publication Center
  • Vice President of the International Wushu-San Shou Dao Association
  • Co-Leader of the 1994 North American Martial Arts Demo Team
  • Honorary Member of the American Shiatsu Association
  • Honorary Advisor of the Martial Arts of China Historical Society
  • Honorable Appointee to the Eastern U.S. Kung-Fu Federation

Awards

  • Prix Bushido, French Book Award, 1st Place, 1997
  • Inside Kung Fu Magazine - Man of the Year 1990
  • Black Belt Magazine - Kung Fu Artist of the Year 2003
  • Inside Kung Fu Magazine - Man of the Year 2007
  • Martial Arts Publisher of the Year 2008 by the 11th World Congress on Qigong and TCM, Dr. Effie Chow and the American Qigong Association
  • Martial Arts History Museum - Hall of Fame inductee 2020


  1. Quelling War - Ceasing Aggression, February 5, 2024
  2. Yin-Yang Theory of Movement and Stillness in Taijiquan , January 22, 2024
  3. Good Retribution of a Kind Heart , November 20, 2023
  4. Reaching Enlightenment, November 6, 2023
  5. Importance of Regulating the Emotional Mind in Taijiquan, August 28, 2023
  6. Feed Your Xīn-Monkey Mind a Banana, July 10, 2023
  7. Theory of Using the Yi to Lead the Qi, June 26, 2023
  8. Practicing Procedures of Taijiquan, May 15, 2023
  9. What are the Two Major Categories in Qigong Practice?, March 20, 2023
  10. What is Muscle/Tendon Changing Grand Circulation Qigong?, February 13, 2023

2023: DAOI Talks, Bill Bentley, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming - DAOI Talks - Experts Series Ep 011

2023: Somatic Primer Podcast, Bryson Newell, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming: Neigong & Gongfu

2022: KungFuMagazine.com, Gene Ching, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming on 40 Years of YMAA

2022: KungFuMagazine.com, Gene Ching, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming and Grand Qigong Circulation

2021: Black Belt Magazine, Noel Plaugher, Dr. Yang, Jing-Ming Conquering The Self Part 1

2021: Black Belt Magazine, Noel Plaugher, Dr. Yang, Jing-Ming Conquering The Self Part 2

2020: Culture Chat Podcast, Mimi Chan, Sifu Mimi Chan interviews Dr. Yang Jwing Ming on tai chi chuan

2020: WhistleKick Podcast, Jeremy Lesniak, Episode 560 - Dr. Jwing-Ming Yang

2020: Kung Fu Tea Blog, Ben Judkins, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming on the Development of the TCMA in North America

2010: Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine, Gene Ching, A Commitment to Preserve the Art


Books by the Author


DVDs by the Author