Yang Kun (1912-2004) – was a student of Yin Fu’s disciple Zhang Shouhong. He began his Baguazhang training at the age of 14. His teacher was hired, along with Gao Ziying’s father as an employee in Yin Fu’s bodyguard business. Yin would sometimes hire strong men to work as bodyguards and residence guards and train them in Baguazhang after they began working for him. Yang Kun’s teacher was with Yin for nine years studying Bagua and working as a bodyguard. Like most of Yin’s students, Zhang Shouhong did not teach many people. Yang states that his teacher only had three students.Yang Kun began his Bagua training with the circle walk practice while holding static upper body postures. His teacher emphasized practicing at all three levels, or basins to gain a strong foundation. His teacher taught eight palm changes at a pace of one or two per year. Yang was required to study each palm change thoroughly and stated that his philosophy is “learn a few simple things and do them well.” He stated that once one palm change is studied completely at all three levels, “that will be enough to defeat many people.”In keeping with the Yin Fu tradition, Yang Kun himself has not taught many students. He stated that his emphasis in teaching is on Qi development and this development takes a long time. He stated that today students are interested in techniques and so they get bored with the Qi development aspects, which he stresses, consequently he does not keep many students. It should also be noted that Yang Kun trained with Dr. Xie Peiqi. Likewise, He Jinbao, the inheritor of Dr. Xie’s system and lineage holder of Yin Style Baguazhang, trained with Yang Kun as well. Yang Kun passed away in Beijing in 2004
Yang Kun demonstrating Bagua
Yang Kun's student Xu Xiaodong explains some Bagua basics
part 1, part 2 , part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9