Master Zhang Youngliang

1920–2020

** Note: Information translated from a local student/ visitor.

Master Zhang Youngliang, was born in 1920.
He started his martial arts training at age of 5, until 14.

His family ran a shoe factory at the time. Since 14 he joined the family business and needed to ship the handmade soles from Tongzhou to the City.

On the way he had to cross a river on foot and carried his bicycles/soles on his shoulder. The cold water hurt his legs over the years and he had to stop when he was 25.

He began Ba Gua training from his second master by then, and practiced the art for 17 years.

In 1962, 4 years before the Culture Revolution, he started his Taichi training from his third master. In fact, he had been practicing in the park where his Taichi master had met him, and observed him for quite some time.

Master Zhang, and his Taichi master had a contest to compare skills. Master Zhang, lost in such a way that he knew that this was what he was looking for in his own martial path, Master Zhang, decided to follow his Taichi Master right after the match.

At first the master did not want to teach him, but after awhile agreed when he saw the sincerity of Master Zhang, He agreed to teach him with the following conditions:

For 4 years he studied Taiji until his master was nowhere to be found when the Culture Revolution had disturbed the society and the daily life of everyone. Master Zhang secretly practised Taiji by himself during this hard time.

In 1980 he started teaching. Master Zhang to this day has kept his promise to tell no one his teacher’s name. His master had passed a code to him: to teach but not for money.

The true meaning of Taiji and Chinese Kung fu is manifested in him and his teaching and his followers.

 

 

张永良大师，1920年出生，5岁、14岁开始习武，当时家里有一家鞋厂。 他14岁加入家族企业，负责将手工鞋底从通州运到城里。 在路上，他不得不背着自行车/鞋底徒步过河。

长年冻水伤了他的腿，25岁时他被迫停止工作。那时，他开始接受二师傅的八卦掌训练，持续修炼了17年。 1962年，文化大革命前四年，他开始跟随三爷学习太极拳。 事实上，他一直在公园里看到他的太极拳老师在练功，这在他之前观察了很长时间。

张师傅和他的太极拳师傅比武，张师傅输了。 比赛结束后，张师傅立即决定跟随他的太极师傅，因为他知道那是他在自己的武术道路上一直在寻找的东西。 起初师父不想教他，但师父见他诚意，便同意教他，条件是：

1. 不要告诉任何人我是你的上师。
2、不练其他武术。 如果你练习，我会知道。
3、三年不与任何人推手。

他跟随师父练了四年太极拳，直到文化大革命，扰乱了社会和每个人的生活，使他找不到师父。 在那段艰难的时期，张师傅依然自己偷偷练习太极拳。

1980年，张师傅开始教授拳击。 他仍然信守诺言，不告诉任何人他主人的名字。 他的师傅教他一个规矩：为教而教，不为钱而教。

太极和中国功夫的真谛体现在张大师、他的教义和他的追随者身上。