New Hampshire Yang Family Tai Chi Center

Laoshi Michael Coulon (Yang YaHua) is the Center Director of the New Hampshire Yang Family Tai Chi Center. He is certified as an Academy Instructor by the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association to teach Traditional Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan. Laoshi Coulon was a student of Master Yang Zhenduo (1926-2020), fourth generation Yang family master. He is a student and disciple of Master Yang Jun, sixth generation Yang family master and fifth generation lineage successor.

EDUCATION

1984-1988   Saint Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire                      May 1988     Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, and Certificate, Fine Arts                    Recipient, Dr. Joseph B. McDonald Award in Philosophy

TAI CHI CHUAN STUDIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

- Began studying with Master Yang Zhenduo and Master Yang Jun in July 1998. Member of the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association since October 1999, and named Center Director of the Manchester New Hampshire Yang Family Tai Chi Center, April 2001. Tested for rank July 2010 at the NY Yang Family Tai Chi Center (Danbury, CT) and attained Level 6, Gold Tiger. Certified as an Academy Instructor, October 2014. Accepted as a disciple of Master Yang Jun May 28, 2019 (given name Yang YaHua).

- July 17-30, 2002. Competed in the 2^nd International Invitational Tournament while attending the 20^th Anniversary Celebration of the Shanxi Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association, July 20-23, 2002, Taiyuan (Shanxi Province), P.R. China. Studied with Master Yang Zhenduo and Master Yang Jun while touring Shanghai (Shanghai municipality), Wuxi (Jiangsu Province), Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province), and Beijing (Hebei Province), P.R. China.

- Hosted 5 weekend seminars at the New Hampshire Tai Chi Chuan Center with Master Yang Jun from 2004 to 2008. Manchester, NH.

- February 25-27, 2005 attended ranking/judges training with Pat Rice (held at the Montreal Center). February 27, 2013 attended ranking/judges training with Pat Rice ( held at the Redmond Center). Continues to support the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association ranking system by administering and judging at rankings at the New Hampshire and other Yang Family Tai Chi Centers.

- July 2-3, 2005. "USA All-Taijiquan Championships" 2005 A Taste of China, Scoring Judge (Yang style division), Winchester, Virginia. Participated in the judges' group demonstration at the "Friendship Demonstration",  July 2, 2005.

- July 23 to August 1, 2005. Attended 80^th birthday celebration of Master Yang Zhenduo in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, P.R. China. Studied with Master Yang Zhenduo and Master Yang Jun in Wutai Shan (Shanxi Province), P.R. China.

- July 11-20, 2007. Competed in the 3^rd International Invitational Tournament in Taiyuan (Shanxi Province), P.R. China earning three silver medals (demonstration hand form, traditional sword form, and saber form). Studied with Master Yang Zhenduo and Master Yang Jun while in Taiyuan (Shanxi Province), and Beijing (Hebei Province), P.R. China.

- July 5-10, 2009. Deputy Director of the vendor area (Silk Road Bazaar) at the International Tai Chi Chuan Symposium on Health, Education and Culture Exchange, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. Attended workshops and/or practice sessions with Master Chen Zhenglei, Master Yang Zhenduo, Master Wu Wenhan, Master Ma Hailong, and Master Sun Yongtian. Attended several academic workshops on health benefits of Tai Chi Chuan and attended the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association 10^th Year Anniversary Celebration, July 6, 2009. Participated in the opening performance (Center Director group demonstration) for the Grand Showcase and Masters Demonstration, July 9, 2009.

- May 25-29, 2019. Attended the International Tai Chi Chuan Symposium on Health, Education and culture Exchange in Selvino, Italy. Attended practice sessions with Master Chen Zhenglei, Master Yang Jun, Master Wu Kwongyu, Master Zhong Zhenshan, Master Sun Yongtian, Master He Youlu. Attended several academic workshops on health benefits of tai chi chuan. Saturday, May 26, Scoring Judge for Arena 2 at the inaugural Yang Family Tai Chi Cup (tournament). Presiding Judge for Level 4 push hands ranking tests and corrected the ranking written exams (English). Tuesday, May 28, 2019 accepted as a disciple of Master Yang Jun.

OTHER MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

- September 1994 - June 1997. Previously studied a variation of Yang style tai chi chuan at Robert Fleming's Martial Arts Academy, Manchester, NH. Learned the '108 posture long form', several sword forms, and appropriate warm up exercises. Assisted with teaching tai chi July 1995 - June 1997.

- October 1995 to August 1997. Trained in Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu at Robert Fleming's Martial Arts Academy, Manchester, NH. Attained green sash with red stripe May 1997.

- August 1997 to September 2005. Trained in Combative Concepts and Sayoc Kali at the Bujinkan Dojo, Manchester, NH under Steven Lefebvre. Combative Concepts is a modern, eclectic self defense program that emphasizes realistic self protection skills in both armed and unarmed training techniques. Attended seminars with Tom Sotis, Tuhon Chris Sayoc, and Raymond Floro.

Mr. DeSimone began studying tai chi chuan with Laoshi Michael Coulon in 2001. He is a member of the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association since 2001. Mr. DeSimone has been assisting in teaching Traditional Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan classes at the New Hampshire Tai Chi Chuan Center since September 2011. In July 2013 Mr. DeSimone was accepted as a Certified Instructor by the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association.

- Seminars attended with Master Yang Jun:

• Traditional Hand Form, New Hampshire Center, 2004

• Demonstration Form and push hands, New Hampshire Center, 2005

• Traditional Hand Form and push hands, New Hampshire Center, 2006

• Traditional Hand Form, 3^rd section and push hands, New Hampshire Center, 2008

- Tested for rank August 2006 at the NY Yang Family Tai Chi Center (Danbury, CT) and attained Level 3, Gold Eagle. Tested for rank October 2012 at the NH Yang Family Tai Chi Center (Manchester, NH) and attained Level 4, Copper Tiger.

Other martial arts experience:

- 1963 - 1968, attended George Mattson Academy of Uechi ryu Karate where he received Shodan (black belt) level.

-  1999, tai chi chuan with Shihan Leon Drucker (Milford NH).

-  2002,  Combative Concepts and Sayoc Kali under Sensei Steve Lefebvre at the Bujinkan Dojo (Manchester NH).

- 2003, seminars on Kali (blade and stick defense) presented by Tuhon Chris Sayoc and Prof. Tom Sotio.

- 2009 - 2016, Kickboxing and Jujitsu at Terry Dow Martial Arts Academy (Manchester NH).

Mr. Weiss began studying tai chi chuan with Laoshi Michael Coulon in 1997. He is a member of the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association since 1999. Mr. Weiss has been assisting in teaching Traditional Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan classes at the New Hampshire Tai Chi Chuan Center since September 2001. In March 2011 Mr. Weiss was accepted as a Certified Instructor by the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association.

- Seminars attended with Master Yang Zhenduo and Master Yang Jun:

• Traditional Hand Form, New York Center, 1999
• Traditional Hand Form and Traditional Sword Form, Montreal Center, 2000
• Traditional Hand Form, Traditional Sword Form and Saber Form, New York Center, 2001

- Seminars attended with Master Yang Jun:

• Traditional Hand Form and saber form, New York Center, 2003
• Traditional Hand Form, New Hampshire Center, 2004
• Demonstration Form and push hands, New Hampshire Center, 2005
• Traditional Hand Form and push hands, New Hampshire Center, 2006
• Demonstration Form and push hands, New Hampshire Center, 2007
• Traditional Hand Form, 3^rd section, New Hampshire Center, 2008
• Traditional Hand Form and push hands, New York Center, 2015
• Director/Instructor Seminar, Redmond, WA, 2018
• Director/Instructor Seminar, Redmond, WA, 2019

- Tested for rank August 2006 at the NY Yang Family Tai Chi Center (Danbury, CT) and attained Level 3, Golden Eagle. Tested for rank November 2010 at the Montreal Yang Famly Tai Chi Center (Montreal, Quebec Canada) and attained Level 4, Copper Tiger.

- July 11-20, 2007. Competed in the 3^rd International Invitational Tournament in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, P.R. China earning a silver medal (Saber Form) and two bronze medals (Demonstration Form and Traditional Sword Form). Studied with Master Yang Zhenduo and Master Yang Jun while in Taiyuan (Shanxi Province), and Beijing (Hebei Province), P.R. China.

 - Previously studied Karate earning a brown belt and Shoalin Kung Fu earning a black belt.