Inside Kung Fu called Grandmaster Dong 'the most famous and acclaimed modern practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan'. He is the grandson of Grandmaster Dong Yingjie who was the legendary disciple of Yang Chengfu, the founder of the Yang-style of Tai Chi. Grandmaster Dong used to live in Xintai, China, an area well-known for its martial artist community and continues to be the vice-chairman of the Wushu (martial arts) Association of Yongnian (the birthplace of Yang Chengfu). Grandmaster Dong's position within this heritage is recognized by some of the most distinguished traditionalists. His father Grandmaster Dong Hu Ling and brother Grandmaster Tung Kai Ying are also both renowned Tai Chi practitioners of the highest caliber. His son, Alex Da De, won three gold medals, two silver, and the award for the Most Outstanding Martial Spirit at the American National AAU Chinese Martial Arts Tournament, while representing the state of Hawaii in 1991.
Grandmaster Dong has a following of over 7000 people in China and Southeast Asia, with a growing following in England and in America. Grandmaster Dong currently lives in Hawaii and teaches at the Dong Taijichuan Academy there.
Grandmaster Dong visiting the Golden Flower school in Winston
Following is a short perspective on a visit by Grandmaster Dong to the Winston-Salem Golden Flower School. It was written by David Harold, one of our Instructors.
'Grandmaster Dong and his son Alex gave us a great gift with their teaching. The most meaningful part for me was their consistent and relaxed emphasis on mindfulness in every part of practice. Perhaps this is best exemplified in the first movement of the form. Beginning with a straight shoulder-width stance, the mind is quiet and the body still. This stillness at the beginning of practice had always been difficult for me to achieve. Their emphasis made it easier, and I found if I was truly still at the beginning, the whole practice became more mindful. Following the stillness, the spirit is intentionally raised with the arms and then we reassert our connection with the earth as the palms relax and then press down.
So much of what we do in Tai Chi is a matter of intention: "raise the spirit, sink the internal energy, relax, still the mind." All these are contained in the first movement as taught by Grandmaster Dong. His teaching is a clear reminder of mindfulness in our practice and of its best results.'
The Golden Flower School has included Grandmaster Dong's style of Tai Chi as the second level of teaching in the curriculum. It is our honor and privilege to be able to work with the Dong Family. Grandmaster Dong has started to visit our school regularly for special, intensive trainings, and we hope to have a long and happy relationship with him and his family.
The Dong Family school in Hawaii
