Yangjia Michuan Taiji classes at the Westside YMCA

Posted on August 21, 2023 by Thomas W. Campbell

Updated June, 2026

A few notes about the classes at the YMCA and Taiji in general. And a small movie note…

Yangjia Michuan Taiji Classes at the West Side YMCA

Saturdays

9:00 AM – Beginners class (all are invited). We practice together the leg massages, basic exercises, and and begin to learn the 13 postures (Introductory form in the school). Takes place in the large Group Ex Studio.

10:00 AM – Intermediate class (all are invited). We currently do the entire 13 postures to begin the class, there is an introduction to the fifteen push hands exercises, then we practice the first duan of the long form together. Takes place in the small Mind/Body studio.

The two classes build on each other, with leg massages and the basic exercises in the first class providing preparation for the work in the second class.

Tuesdays

1:00 PM – Beginners class (all are invited). This is a basic beginners class in which we do the leg massages, basic exercises, and then we patiently review and learn movements and techniques of the 13 postures. Because of the increasing size of the class, beginning the week of June 22, it has moved to the larger Group Ex Studio.

About the classes

The YMT classes at the West Side YMCA were founded by Robert Politzer in 1994 and currently take place on Saturday mornings with a beginners class at 9:00 AM. A second beginner’s class was added on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 PM, in April of 2024.

We also find time to occasionally have a class banquet at Legend 72 and will generally have classes on holiday weekends.

I’ve been asked about Yangjia Michuan videos and other learning materials. For learning and to document history I will continue to post images, links and text about Yangjia Michuan on this site. Unlike when we began in the early 1990’s with Robert’s first class at the YMCA, there is now a great deal of information about Wang Yen-nien and Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan on the web. If you poke around a bit you will find a wealth of text, video, images etc.

Our teacher Robert still practices and joins us for our “banquet” gatherings. He is also interested in making a 13 postures video to help students better understand and practice the introductory form.

Lastly, I recently finished a film I shot in 2006 about the The Movie Place, a fixture of the video and DVD rental community on the Upper West Side. It took a while to complete – feel free to check it out at this link: Watch Movie Place Film.

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Mini Taiji Banquet – June 13, 2026

Posted on June 16, 2026 by Thomas W. Campbell

Because of a late announcement and other organizing snafus we had a mini gathering at Legend 72 on June 13 after the two taiji classes. Good conversation, good food and a surprisingly moderate bill was enjoyed by all.

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The Fifteen Tuishou (Push Hands) Exercises in the Yangjia Michuan Taiji School

Posted on June 6, 2026 by Thomas W. Campbell

We have begun to explore the Yangjia Michuan Taiji Tuishou (Push Hands) exercises in our Saturday intermediate class. Wang Yen-nien taught the complete set of 15 exercises at the NYCYMT sponsored 1996 Workshop, which took place at the West Side YMCA and at Mercy College in the Summer of 1996. With help from others, and Master Wang’s permission and encouragement, I was able to document the event and have made the videos available for those who wish to study and learn Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan. As we begin to practice each exercise I will post corresponding links for study.

We have recently finished publishing Mark Linett’s Tuishou notes from his time learning from Master Wang in Taiwan and thank him for allowing his important work to be available through the NYCYMT site. I am pairing a section about each of the 15 exercises from Mark’s notes with the corresponding video, which is the first time these to documentaries of Master Wang’s teachings have been presented together. Mark’s notes are a suitable companion to the video and together they will help students better understand the tuishou journey.

The crane in the logo is original art by Holly Leavy, whose work appears throughout the site. There will most likely be ads that come up before the videos play, which I have no relation or connection to, as these videos are on my YouTube channel. This blog/site will remain ad free.

Click here to go to Push Hands Exercise 1 (Part 1)

Click here to go to Push Hands Exercise 1 (Part 2)

Click here to go to Push Hands Exercise 2 (Part 1)

Click here to go to Push Hands Exercise 2 (Part 2)

Click here to go to Push Hands Exercise 3

Click here to go to Push Hands Exercise 4

Click here to go to Push Hands Exercise 5

Click here to go to Push Hands Exercise 6 (Part 1)

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A Year of Virtual Taiji (April 2020 to May 2021)

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Thomas W. Campbell

April 26, 2026
Here is the video of our last official virtual class together. The date on the video is wrong – it is May 8, 2021. It does not include leg massages. It does include Intros, Basic Exercises, 13 postures, First Duan, and some discussion of a section of the First Duan. I moved the First Duan discussion to the end so that 13 postures and First Duan flow together.

There may be a visit by Saphire, the lovely cat who always watched with mysterious interest…

A gracious thank you to; Robert Politzer and Master Wang Yen-nien for their teaching and inspiration, to our fellow teachers Arnold Baker, Gretchen MacLane, Ilana Shienman, and Lisa Birnbaum and to Bob Kinkel for all of his invaluable help. To all of the “West Side Y” Class – past and present – for being such a great group! And to all of the Yangjia Michuan Taiji family around the country and around the world who I have had the pleasure and honor to meet, to correspond with and to practice with.

Enjoy – feel free to contact me by clicking on the link below.

Thomas W. Campbell

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Suitable Space

Posted on June 26, 2025 by Thomas W. Campbell

We are pleased to republish this article from the Fall 2000 AYMTA Journal, which celebrated the life and Taiji of our teacher Wang Yen-nien. Peter Clifford, who studied for many years with Master Wang in Taiwan and at workshops across Europe, has taught Yangjia Michuan Taiji in London at the Tai Chi Centre since 1995. Refering to the article in a recent email Peter expressed “The memory of it gave me a good smile once again! How fortunate we were to have Wang Yen-nien as our teacher.” The original artwork is by Holly Leavy, who contributed much to the design and look of the Journals.

Back in the 1970’s when I started to study tai chi chuan with Wang Lao chr in Taipei, we used to go to his house in Shih Lin to practice; three times a week for push hands, and two mornings a week for form and sword. Entry to Lao chr’s house was on the busy Dadong Road, where it is now a shop. We would thread our way through the ground floor, up the stairs, through the kitchen, where Chr mou was always preparing the next meal, and then go upstairs again to the dao guan.

The dao guan was a dark and well-seasoned room, with rush tatami mats on the floor. Around the walls were vertically placed tatamis, some pictures, and a large Chinese altar. Beside the altar was a door to the toilet, inside which was a window, and a metal ladder, which went up to the roof space, where Lao chr cultivated rare and exotic plants.  The toilet door was usually kept open when the toilet was not in use. Space was at a premium, especially when there were several people practicing, and the open door gave more light and the impression of more space.

Practicing the form, in the mornings at Lao chr’s house was always a special occasion. One such occasion was on a Wednesday morning when Lao chr was practicing the form with us. Due to the lack of space when he got to the toilet door, as it was open, he carried on and moved completely into the toilet. It seemed as if he was in there for a very long time. He then re-emerged still practicing the form. When he came out it was very difficult not to roar with laughter. It happened again several times after that, and no doubt the message was that no obstacle is insurmountable, and no space is unsuitable. 

Peter Clifford, London 06 October 2000

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Some Learning Links for Students and Teachers of Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan – Thirteen Postures and First Duan

Posted on June 6, 2023 by Thomas W. Campbell

On this and other pages I will be updating and adding links to videos and other material that will help as you study and learn Yang Family Hidden Tradition Taiji. Also useful for those who teach and wish to review their practice. I’ll update this page as we go along. If you are studying in a class or with a teacher these links will be especially useful for you to review what you have learned so far.

Here is a link to the learning page I posted a while ago on this blog: Taiji Study aids.

Below is a list of the upper and lower body movements and positions and the basic movements of the Thirteen Postures:

Click on the image below for a video of Teacher Hervé Marest demonstrating the movements of the Thirteen Postures.

Below is a link to Nicole Henriod’s teaching video about the 13 postures.

Below is a video of Hervé Marest demonstrating the First Duan (Part one of the long form). Click on the image to watch the video.

Before practicing the taiji form (or weapon’s forms) we always do leg massages and a number of the basic exercises. The YMT form is challenging and being loose and limber before practicing is always the best way to go.

Below is a link to Master Wang Yen-nien, who taught for over fifty years, demonstrating the exercise “Bend forward from the waist”, one of the core basic exercises that we practice.

Click here for Bend Forward from the Waist video.

The Long Form of Yangjia Michuan is an hour long and is in three parts. Traditionally, after learning the Thirteen Postures, known as the Introductory Form, students will begin to learn part one (the first duan) of the long from. Part one takes about 10 minutes to do from start to finish.

Click on the picture of Master Wang to watch a video of him demonstrating the First Duan.

Click below to watch Wang Yen-nien Demonstrating the Second Duan of the Yangjia Michuan Taiji Form.

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Madison, Wisconsin Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan Workshop with Wang Yen-nien – 2002

Posted on February 8, 2025 by Thomas W. Campbell

Some of the New York Contingent takes a break with Master Wang Yen-nien

Front Row: Illana, Master Wang. Back Row: Charlotte, Robert, Unknown, John, Henry, Tom, Gretchen, George.

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Yangjia Michuan Taiji: Taipei Notes and Commentaries on Tuishou by Mark A. Linett

Posted on June 5, 2026 by Thomas W. Campbell

This page has links to all four of the excerpts from Mark Linett’s Tuishou notes from his time learning and practicing with Master Wang Yen-nien in Taipei during the early 1980’s, including part four which was recently published. We are honored that he is allowing the NYC Yangjia Michuan Taiji site to publish them in their entirety.

Mark is open to questions and feedback – you are welcome to leave a comment or your questions at the bottom of the page, which allows other readers to benefit from questions and answers. The journal pages also include a number of pictures from his time with Master Wang and numerous illustrations and artwork by the artist Holly Leavy, who’s work has appeared extensively in the pages of the AYMTA journal.

Below is a short note about Mark and his taiji journey.

Mark lives in Taipei with his wife Wendy. He began practicing Yang and Wu style T’ai Chi in New York in 1978, but was soon off to Asia to look for a teacher. 

After spending some time in India he set off for Taiwan where in late 1982 he began studying with Master Wang. He has taught Yangjia Michuan here in Taipei, as well in Germany and in the U.S and he presently continues researching, practicing and teaching Yang Jia Michuan Tai Chi Chuan.

Click here for Part 1 of Mark’s Taiji Journal

Click here for Part 2 of Mark’s Taiji Journal

Click here for Part 3 of Mark’s Taiji Journal

Click here for Part 4 of Mark’s Taiji Journal

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May 7 YMT Teacher’s Gathering in NYC

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Thomas W. Campbell

It was my birthday, which nicely coincided with a chance to gather with senior students and teachers for a lovely mini banquet. Banquet Bob already has plans for an early June banquet for the Taiji Group so looking forward to continuing the tradition with students and teachers.

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Taiji Fan at the Westside Y – December 2004

Posted on July 25, 2025 by Thomas W. Campbell

Robert Politzer taught the Yangjia Michuan Taiji Fan Form a number of times in class. Here are some images from a session on December 29, 2004. You can click through them using the arrows on the side of the images.

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