Stephan Hagen
Stephan Hagen began in 1986 with Tai Chi Chuan. His first teachers were Frieder Anders, Ila Braun and Chu King-Hung. Later, he studied with Chu Gin-Soon, second disciple of Yang Shou Chung.
Since 2006 he studies Yang Taichi from Yeung Ma-Lee. In a short time, Yang Sifu changed his understanding of this art in a dramatic way.
Important in the education-program of this family is the creation of a natural, relaxed, elastic body (also called the total freedom of the body) in combination with a balanced flow of blood, energy, balanced nerve-system, and intellectual and emotional development. More importantly, there is a defined, practical way to achieve this.
The form is based on sophisticated and deep ideas, which once understood, can generate great power regardless of body or muscle mass.
The softening exercises contain the basic principles of tai chi chuan and without them, development cannot occur. Learning them involves repetition and evolvement.
Softening exercise
The softening exercises stimulate energy into areas of the body and then act as a softening agent to all the connecting tissue to all the bone joints starting with the spinal column. Through the softening exercises, also one learns the basic principles of body movement.