questionnaire - Ray Hayward

A Questionnaire on the Occasion of Master Liang's 100th Birthday in the year 2000

What is your name?

Ray Hayward

When and where did you study with Master Liang or one of his students?

1977 to the present at the following locations: Boston, St. Cloud, MN, Tampa, Los Angeles, St. Paul, Andover, NJ

Describe his studio.

I studied in four different studios so I will describe some common qualities. There were mattresses on the wall for Pushing-Hands practice, weapons and weapons racks, calligraphy on the walls, and the combined smell of incense, Tiger Balm and food. Except for his house, I was given keys by Master Liang to all of the studios and I felt they were sacred practice halls, imbued with the Master's energy, whether he was present or not.

Describe his teaching style.

Studying with Master Liang was an experience I have never been able to duplicate. Master Liang had so many teaching methods and techniques that it was like studying with Yoda, Lao-tse, Don Juan Matus, Bilbo Baggins, Bob Hope, Blind Master Po, Andrew Dice Clay, Yang Lu-chan, and the Buddha all wrapped up into one person. No one, and I repeat, no one knew Professor Cheng Man-ching as well or as deeply as Master Liang. Professor Cheng was the consummate Confucian-very concerned with rank, status, hierarchy and lineage. Cheng bestowed upon Master Liang the rank of Da Hsih-Hsiung (Big Older Brother) which showed that Master Liang was Cheng's successor and had crossed a line of intimacy that no student before or after has ever achieved. Master Liang was Cheng's assistant, translator, co-author, and confidant. When Master Liang passed Cheng's teachings to us, it was as if the Professor was just in the other room. Master Liang's knowledge of Chinese History, Literature, and Language, as well as British and American History, Literature and Language, gave many opportunities to draw parallels and make connections for his Western students. Master Liang used direct and indirect teaching methods, commands, intimidations, and used the "old-man" or "dear old grandfather" persona to the fullest advantage. For me personally, I only wanted to study Martial Arts. Master Liang introduced me to more concepts, principles, and methods than any other teacher I have ever had. Only later in my studies did I find out what a great teacher of healing, meditation, philosophy, and life he could be. Above all, time has shown that Master Liang's teachings are multileveled. Some of his lessons are like ripe fruit, ready to eat and be digested. Others are like a tree or plant that still needs time to bear fruit. And I'm recently discovering his lessons which were planted in my heart like seeds and are just starting to sprout. To sum up-although Master Liang could and did use explanations, he also had an uncanny ability to teach through example, which reminds me of a quote from the Tao Te Ching which says, "Teaching without words is understood by the very few."

How many other students were in class?

Group classes were anywhere from 8 to 15. Private classes were usually just myself or 1 or 2 others.

How long did you study with Master Liang?

July 29, 1977 to the present. I always learn from him-every time I'm in his presence.

Describe a typical class.

Depending upon the subject, we would do 5 warm-ups, 2 ch'i-kungs and one round of the long form. Then Master Liang would get out his notes and materials and he would begin correcting, teaching and reviewing. In private classes he was my partner for all the 2-person training (a touch is worth a thousand words). We always took a tea break in the middle and here is where the old Master would talk, answer questions and tell stories and history that would hold us spellbound. Then he would look up at the clock and say, "Oh, I've taken so much of your class time talking about rubbish, so we will go over time."

Please recount a story that has lasting memory for you.

At one point my relationship with Master Liang had gone from outsider to insider, from student to assistant, from superficial to intimate. One time, after I had made some mistakes, which I won't discuss here, Master Liang scolded me, saying, "You have disappointed me." I felt the very depth of shame at that moment. Then he said something which shocked me. He said, "But I know I've disappointed you too. What did you expect? Now we can go on." As I grow older this has been the definition of a functioning student-teacher relationship for me.

What is his distinctive contribution to T'ai Chi?

Master Liang made the bridges between East and West, Chinese and English, old-age and youth, sickness and health, mystery and attainment, and past, present and future.

What T'ai Chi lesson has stuck with you?

Growing up in the Boston area it seemed everyone had a scam or a con. When people would ask Master Liang for advice on a physical problem, a worry or concern, or some trouble in their personal life, Master Liang always told them, "Try to relax it." I used to think that was his scam answer to get people to stop bugging him, myself included. I realize now it wasn't a scam, it was simply that he had distilled the essences of T'ai-Chi, meditation, religion, philosophy, and healing into one short useful sentence.

How would you describe Master Liang?

I can only describe Master Liang from my personal view and understanding and experience. Master Liang is my teacher, my father, my hero, and my inspiration. He not only taught me T'ai-Chi, he taught me how to learn, how to teach, and how to live life. He introduced me to the friends I have to this day and the lessons I know give to others. He has truly touched every aspect of my life. In India there is a saying, "You can have many teachers in this life, but you can only have one master." I have had many teachers in Martial Arts, meditation, religion, and healing. Liang Tung-tsai is my Master.

What forms did you learn from Master Liang?

Besides the Complete Yang Style system of T'ai-Chi Ch'uan I learned two forms and 25 knock-down techniques from 8-Step Praying Mantis. I also learned Shaolin Ch'in-na and various solo and 2-person weapon routines. Master Liang introduced me to other teachers to learn such styles as: Hsing-Yi, Pa-Kua, 7-Star Praying Mantis, Northern Shaolin, and Eagle Claw. When I met a teacher of Liu Ho Pa Fa and I-Ch'uan Master Liang said these were excellent styles and encouraged me to pursue them.

Do you remember the use of music or chants in class?

Master Liang used exact counts for doing the postures and forms. He felt this kept everyone uniform for demonstrations. He also said, "When the form becomes consistent, the mind will relax." For the 2-person routines the count let you know when was the attack and when was the defense. Only after mastering the counts did he encourage us to not use the music and rely on internal timing.

Describe the set of warm-up exercises and stretches you did with Master Liang.

Master Liang only taught 5 warm-ups and 2 ch'i-kung exercises. The 5 warm-ups are: 1. Forward arm swings, 2. Rub the kidneys 49 times, 3. Horizontal arm swings, 4. Waist rotation, 5. Toe raises and Push the Sky. The ch'i-kungs are: 1. Walking Du-na, 2. "Cross Hands." Master Liang told us to stretch as much as possible, but he didn't show us any specific methods. He felt the form was stretching and more, so he used the form as part of the warm-ups for the advanced classes.

How did he influence your T'ai Chi - specific examples?

Master Liang very rarely just told us what to do without any explanations. He would always give us theory, principles, and examples from the T'ai-Chi Classics. One time I was given an old book on T'ai-Chi and I tried imitating the way the postures were done, which were an old style, quite different from the way Master Liang did the postures. Instead of telling me not to do them that way, he explained why he practiced the way he did and how the postures were modified and improved upon by the time he received them. He usually presented his case with examples from the Classics, his many teachers and his own conclusions and then left us to choose for ourselves. From these kinds of experiences came a natural inquisitiveness and analysis that gave us personal freedom as students. Instead of becoming robots, we became researchers. Many times Master Liang said, "Followers are dead. Only rebels can get something." This taught us to learn, study and research from teachers, but in the end make it our own way. Many times he pointed out that the different members of the Yangs family each had their own way of practicing T'ai-Chi and that his teacher, Cheng Man-ching differed from his own teacher, Yang Cheng-fu. Master Liang taught us that the Classics, theories and principles are constant and unchangeable, but what you did with them and how you executed them were personal.

What written sources do you know that features or mentions Master Liang?

T'ai-Chi Ch'uan for Health and Self Defense, by Master T.T. Liang
Drawing Silk: A Training Manual for T'ai-Chi, by Paul B. Gallagher
Imagination Becomes Reality, compiled by Stuart Olsen
The Wind Sweeps the Plum Blossoms, compiled by Stuart Olsen
T'ai-Chi, by Cheng Man-ch'ing and Robert W. Smith
T'ai-Chi Ch'uan: A Simplified Method of Calisthenics for Health and Self-Defense, by Cheng Man-ch'ing
Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods, by Robert W. Smith
Martial Musings, by Robert W. Smith
Shao-lin Temple Boxing, by Robert W. Smith
T'ai-Chi Sword, Sabre and Staff, compiled by Stuart Olsen
Fundamentals of T'ai-Chi Ch'uan, by Wen-shan Huang
T'ai-Chi: The Supreme Ultimate, by Lawrence Galante
T'ai-Chi Ch'uan: Lessons with Master T.T. Liang, by Ray Hayward

Do you know of, or do you have, any unpublished photos or videos of Master Liang?

Yes

Do you know of, or do you have any audio tapes of Master Liang?

Yes

What would you want to ask him?

At age 100, what is the happiest memory and why?

What is the one thing we should remember about Master Liang?

His 10 Daily Theorems, because they are the essence of the T'ai-Chi Master Liang Tung-tsai in his perfection (listed on p. 12 of his book, T'ai-Chi Ch'uan for Health and Self Defense.)

Please add other stories here, while you have the chance.

Chapter 9 in my book T'ai-Chi Ch'uan: Lessons with Master T.T. Liang. Also, there are three songs which whenever I hear them immediately remind me of Master Liang. They are: 1. Old Man, by Neil Young, 2. To Sir with Love, by LuLu, and 3. Teacher, by Jethro Tull. Anytime I hear these I am immediately transported back to my teens, soaking up the wisdom of the Master.

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