Has anyone heard of Sifu Bob Boyd?

[Sri Hanuman]

Recently in what little free time I have to myself these days, I found myself doing a quick search for any new Taijiquan material that may have made itself available online. Never one to disappoint, Comrade Amazon.com brought up this on first page:

http://www.amazon.com/Snake-Style-Ta...+style+tai+chi

Now, my question is this: has anyone heard of Bob Boyd or trained with him? The reason I ask, is that any information directly related to his "Snake Style Tai Chi" can only be found on his webstie, or websites affiliated with him.

These include:
http://www.ipfamilytaichi.org/

Mr. Boy'd lineage claim is as follows:

Grandmaster Ip Tai Tak was taken as Master Yang’s male heir and adopted son (Disciple) in 1958. He was then taught the Yang Family’s Snake System and became Master Yang’s practice partner for the next 28 years

Master Ip told me that Yang Chen Fu taught the snake style only to his eldest son, Yang Sau Chung, and that Yang Sau Chung passed on this system only to him. Master Ip taught me snake style system after I became his Disciple in 2001.

Master Ip was an innovator, adding exercises, drills and martial variations to the body of knowledge passed on to him by his Master. He researched many different martial systems and worked with his Master to develop a more complete system of Zhan Zhong. Master Yang also gave Master Ip permission to personalize the Yang Family Long Boxing and weapons forms to suit Master Ip’s martial interests and beliefs.

Before his death, Master Ip gave me permission to teach his Snake Style openly and encouraged me to pass on this teaching throughout the world. This has become my mission as his Disciple.

On the flip side, I saw some convincing arguements for why this gentleman's claims may not be legitimate:

http://www.nytaichi.com/onsnakestyle.htm
http://www.nytaichi.com/critique.htm

http://www.yangfamilytaichi.com/phpB....php?f=4&t=481

Now normally, if this was a mere matter of someone combining Snake Fist and Taijiquan, I wouldnt bat an eye. But Mr. Boyd is claiming this as the authentic and "secret" style of the Yang Family Taijiquan, the one they kept secret until recently, so naturally I'm curious.

Thoughts? Personal experience? Anyone read the book?

[Kobayashi]

I don't have any vested interest in this and haven't met the person in question, but I would suggest you look at some of Bob Boyd's footage on youtube and then decide. You know what good taiji should look like...

[Sri Hanuman]

Good form is not really relevant in this case. I'm more curious about the claims being made about a rumen Yang family art. To be more specific, I'm wondering if this is being presented as a Yang family style >>>modified<<< to suit Ip Tai Tak's stylistic preferences, and passed down, or if what is actively being taught is being presented as the rumen art of the Yang family.

If anyone attented the classes, I am curious what is being said and taught.

[It is Fake]

I actually talked to him a while back when I was researching Shaolin-Do. I do not have the emails, but he was straight forward in the emails. I never got the impression, again it is the written word, that he was hiding anything.

IIRC the Snake has to do with a variation more than "snake style" kung fu tai chi. I want to say it has more to with deeper stances, slightly different applications and other minor things. When we ended contact, I got the strong impression it was a family style yang form..

[Sri Hanuman]

Thanks comrade.
I'm seeing a whole lot of different opinions on the matter. Maybe if I'm lucky, I can get ahold of someone from the school directly if time allows.

You know what they say about curiosity.
Something about cats, stir fry, and Chairman Mao championing glory across the land.

[It is Fake]

Right, but remember the last part "satisfaction brought him back."

[Sri Hanuman]

Right, but remember the last part "satisfaction brought him back."

In truth, Chairman Mao never left.
He is always with us. In the smile of every little comrade.
In the brick of every factory. In the mass unmarked graves of every village.

[Resonance10]

Interesting.

There are/were a group of people in London who train with Mary Yang in Hong Kong. Whilst out there they also trained at the same time with Ip Tai Tak. The representative in London is Jim Uglow who I trained Hung Gar with for a while. You've prob read them already but here are some links to MAP and MartialTalk discussions which seem at least partially relevant..

http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/sho...-Tai-Chi-Chuan

http://www.martialartsplanet.com/for...ad.php?t=61100

Steve Rowe states he knows Boyd and seems positive about him.There is a 'Yang family statement' as the thread opener implying different teachings depending on either being Family, Disciple or student. I have no idea how 'legit' all this is.

(Bit of a derail here?) John Ding was apparently '1st disciple' and he also had classes in London. I met some of his students who were like cult members, not that unusual perhaps except in degree...lots of nonsense anecdotes of no touch abilities and suchlike. He also teaches 'snake style'.

http://www.jdiatcc.com/content/blogcategory/41/60/

If other 'Yang family' disciples from branches other than Yang Sau Chung also teach a Snake style that would lend credence, but the claim is only Chung learned it. It seems like another convoluted lineage war to me. I don't know Yang style but it just looks like another slightly tweaked version of the form, don't see anything that profound imo.

[Sri Hanuman]

I would venture a guess that it wouldn't be stylistically different, but more likely than not would have subtly different stance/application/grip/empahsis during technique application. Maybe conditioning drills, etc.

I figure once I have more time, I'll see if I can get ahold of someone on the Yang family forum who can speak with some authority. Thanks for the info though. Every little bit is helpful.

[Mor Sao]

Sifu Boyd trained for years with Chu Gin Soon and Ip Tai Tak.

Have never heard anything bad about his hand.