Our Founders
Our Late Grand Master Huang Sheng Shyan 黄性贤 (1910-1992)
Huang Sheng-Shyan (黄性贤）was born in 1910 in Minhou County of the Fujian province in Mainland China. At the age of 14 he began his life-long career into the ‘Martial Arts’ by learning Fujian/Fuzhou White Crane from Xie Zhong-Xiang （謝宗祥）, in which he first became renowned. In 1947 he resettled in Taiwan where he became a disciple of Cheng Man-Ching （郑曼青）. Yang Cheng-Fu （杨澄浦）as the grandson of the Yang style founder had been Cheng Man-Ching’s teacher. It was into this tradition that Master Huang committed himself for the next 45 years.
At Grand Master Cheng Man Ching’s injunction Master Huang immigrated to Singapore in 1956 and then in the 60’s moved to Malaysia with the expressed purpose of propagating the art of Taijiquan.
One of the late founders, Mr. Sia Mok Tai 谢沐泰 (1910 – 1992)
The Singapore Thai-Chi Society was formed on the 8th of April, 1959 after 2 years of untiring efforts of a group of Taijiquan enthusiasts including one Sia Mok Tai. Sia subsequently became the Society’s Head of Training with late Huang Sheng-Shyan as Chief Instructor. Under the leadership of the late Huang, the Society establishes its name both in Singapore martial arts circle as well as in some of the neighbouring countries.
The late Huang Sheng-Shyan specialized in the Yang Style Taijiquan, one of the many styles of Taijiquan. He learnt the art from Cheng Man Ching who acquired the technique from Yang Cheng Pu. Yang is also the grandson of Yang Lu Chan, the founder of Yang Style Taijiquan. Since its inception, the Singapore Thai Chi Society practises and promotes the Yang Style Taijiquan.
Master Cheng Man Ching(left) & Huang Sheng-Shyan(right)
学会的历程
新加坡太极学会成立于1959年4月8日，同年7月2日获得社团注册局正式批准。华族武术随着移民传播到新加坡，虽然在早期不能公开设馆传授，但是私底下习拳的活动却从未曾间断。自1922年，新加坡精武体育会成立之后，才开始掀起华族武术的公开传授风气，所传授之武术各有所宗，惟所属于阳刚的外家功夫。因此可以说，直至五十年代中期，新加坡人对太极拳还是很生疏的。
新加坡太极学会成立的缘起，离不开两位重要的人物：即谢沐泰老师（1910-1992）与黄性贤老师（1910-1992）。早在1956年，太极拳名家黄性贤老师受到新加坡中国新医新药学社潘仁愚社长及福州十邑同乡的盛情邀请，自台湾南下传授太极拳艺。抵达新加坡之后，黄老师每天上午任特约跌打骨伤专科医师，下午则在榕侨体育会教授太极拳，而谢沐泰老师是当时榕侨体育会的会长兼教务主任（谢老师那时已有三十年的武功根底，是星马和南洋一带的南拳好手）。在新加坡传授太极拳一两年之后，黄老师的精湛拳艺已不胫而走，慕名前来学习太极拳的，不仅福州乡亲，就连闽南、闽西；还有粤、桂等地的华人都参加到黄老师的太极拳班来。当时星马的商、政、文化界等社会名流如：李光前、陆佑夫人、连嬴洲、郭木松、洪实琳以及黄诗通等等，纷纷邀请黄老师上他们私人公馆授拳。这时候，随黄老师学拳的谢老师，已是黄老师的得力助手，协助班务的发展。
太极拳运动得到黄老师的弘扬，发展迅速！人们逐渐认识到太极拳对健身，防身的妙用，于是一股渴望学习太极拳的热潮悄然而来。可是，在那龙蛇混杂、鱼目混珠的年代与环境中，武林人士不易取信于主流社会。黄老师在李光前和陆运涛两位先生热诚的以自身的声誉推崇下，出任新加坡青年体育中心的委员兼太极拳教练。不久，华人基督教青年会接着开办了太极拳班，也礼聘黄老师为教练。当时，只有这两个单位，太极拳学生就有两千多人，概括了工、商、公、教、学各个阶层。有鉴于学拳的人数日益增加，而学员却分散在各个不同的团体，虽同习于一师，然而学生却难得有机会相互切磋武艺。因此，在1957-58年间，同时任教于青年体育中心的谢老师，便偕同数位太极拳爱好者，共同筹组一个以太极拳为主的武术社团。筹委会委员是：李国汉、谢沐泰、张国良、刘英先、黄学成、黄忠惠、黄儒桢和王宝泉等人。于1959年4月8日，一个以[新加坡太极学会]为名称的太极拳社团正式宣告成立，会址设在芽笼律433B(23巷口）；分练所也设在附近的芽笼35巷16号。首届会长黄曼士，副会长杨天球；名誉会长李光前，陆运涛；名誉理事连士升，李绍茂；总教练黄性贤；教务主任谢沐泰。担任正副会长、名誉会长和名誉理事的诸位先生，都是当时的社会名流。黄曼士（1890-1963年）会长是一位慈善家和书画收藏家，也是当时的佛教界闻人，是新加坡佛教居士林以及弥陀小学的创办人之一。本会设在芽笼35巷16号的练习场地，正式当时黄会长的寓所，也即是现在的南洋黄氏总会会址。
新加坡太极学会是黄性贤老师南来星马出任总教练的第一个太极学会，也可以说是黄系太极拳发展的开端。黄老师从十五岁开始，先后拜师白鹤拳与罗汉拳名家谢宗祥、陈世鼎与潘年桩。在尽得师传之后，又醉心于太极拳。于十九世纪四十年代末，东渡台湾师从[五绝老人] 郑曼青师祖（1901-1975），精心研学太极拳道，是郑师祖的得意入室弟子。正由于这个渊源与师承的关系，新加坡太极学会虽然沿着杨式太极拳的架式和理论发展，但是在教学的内容方面也就有所不同。新加坡太极学会的课程有：松身五法、短架、长架、推手、三丰快拳、散打、精简太极拳；器械方面有：剑、刀、棍、手杖、枪等等。
[松身五法]是黄老师所首创，是他数十年练拳经验的结晶。黄老师说：“松身五法是根据太极原理和综合太极拳基本动作而创立的。它通过转腰松胯；合气松身；摆臂松肩；弯腰松筋和坐腿松膝的五松，来解决学习太极拳最难解决的[松]与[柔]的问题”，它是学会的基础课程。[短架]是郑曼青师祖根据杨式太极拳传统套路而“削繁就简。由易而难。去其复式十之七。名之曰简易太极拳”，也称之为“郑子太极拳”；。[长架]即杨式太极拳传统套路一百零三式；推手则有定步基本八式，它们是：1.左右单手互推、2.左右马攻化双手互推、3.挤化相推、4.七动互推、5.承接发连环攻化、6.采按连环、7.按手化身、8.左右圆 推以及攻化一路、攻化二路等；[三丰快拳]和[一百零八散打]则是黄老师根据白鹤拳和二十八肖罗汉拳的精髓所创；而[精简太极拳]是以太极拳为主，揉合白鹤拳所编订，演练所需时间介于长、短架之间，这些课程是特别为有太极拳基础的会员而开设。（攻化一路、攻化二路为黄系太极联谊会总教练叶强所编）。
太极学会在成立的初期，除了芽笼23巷和35巷两个练习地点外，为满足需求，旋即开辟位于芽笼9巷的练习所（由邱宝玉居士资助），1986年租约期满后， 移往宏文学校体育场至1991年止。1982年5月，位于马里士他律大众大厦练习所正式启用。鉴于太极学会非以牟利为目的，仅仅依赖微薄的会员费和低廉的课程杂费不足以抵消会务活动经费的开支，为了开拓经费的来源，是故长期以来有着购置产业的构想(1976年的资产负债表已显示Building Fund有＄20，936)。直到1984年，这一愿望才终于实现，在理事会和全体会员慷慨解囊下，筹资十二万元购置一间位于大众大厦，价格为三十五万六千元的公寓单位。继后，又在江欧洲会长的发动下，得到商界朋友、社会名流以及新旧会员的再次热心资助（参阅[雪泥鸿爪]栏目之[筹募会所建业基金热心慨捐者芳名录]），于1989年，悉数还清产业贷款。自此，新加坡太极学会基本上达到收(租金)支(活动经费)的平衡。新加坡太极学会的购置产业纯然是为了支援会务活动和未来的发展，它在章程里清楚的列明，学会若解散则所有财产只能捐献予慈善机构。目前，产业信托人是曾福成、江欧洲、柯俊元和黄善德。
新加坡太极学会成立半个世纪，恪守立会的宗旨、秉承先师遗训，对发展太极拳事业不遗余力，既开展自身的教学，对外界的武术团体也保持友好的往来，对国家建设方面也尽心尽力。在1966年12月30日，新加坡武术界为响应李光耀总理的号召，于人民协会召开会议筹组全国武术总会，即席选出十五个团体成立筹备委员会，新加坡太极学会是当时的委员之一。新加坡武术界跨入八十年代时，发展迅速，先后崛起的武术团体共135间，尤其是属于内家功源流的养生术大行其道。由于客观因素的激发，太极拳运动成为重要选项，太极拳团体和各类太极拳训练班因应而生。邀请本会教授太极拳的私人俱乐部有：中华游泳会（1979 年）；World Trade Centre Club(1981年); Jurong Country Club(1984年)。由本会教练主持任教的民众联络所太极拳班先后计有：蒙巴登、勿洛南、亨德申、红山、麦波申、甘榜格南、惹兰勿杀罗威阁、布莱德岭、摩绵、汤申等等。社团则有慧严佛学会。
为求武艺精进、扬长补短，除日常班务外，太极学会未间断地举行内部观摩会，以及受邀参加观摩或比赛。
黄老师一生贡献予太极拳事业，自台湾南下发展至东西马全境乃至汶莱等，新加坡太极学会是他的起点，到了1983年，已相继成立二十四个分会，直接会员在万人以上。黄老师于1992年12月21日逝世于福州后，各地的弟子、学生鉴于师承同出一门，谊属一家兄弟，为了保持师门情谊以及切磋武艺，在1993年成 立黄系太极联谊会，此为两年一度黄系太极联谊会观摩赛的由来。新加坡太极学会是当然会员之一，教务组也因随着历届观摩赛的来临，额外地制定了常年的相应教学计划。 新加坡太极学会虽着重于太极拳的学习，也兼顾到会员的联系和聚集。每年至少有三次团聚，例如：（1）华人新年新春团拜/宴会/常年会员大会；（2）中元节；（3）中秋节联欢会/太极拳表演观摩会. 于2006年设立网站，方便讯息的传播与交流。
The journey of Singapore Thai-Chi Society
The Singapore Thai-Chi Society was founded on April 8th, 1959, and received official approval as a society from the Registry of Societies on July 2nd of the same year. Traditional Chinese martial arts spread to Singapore along with the influx of Chinese immigrants. Although public teaching wasn’t initially allowed in the early days, private gatherings for practicing martial arts continued uninterrupted. Since the establishment of the Singapore Chin Woo Athletic Association in 1922, there began a trend of openly teaching Chinese martial arts. Various martial arts were taught, each with its own characteristics, but most of them were of the vigorous external styles. Therefore, it can be said that until the mid-1950s, Singaporeans were still relatively unfamiliar with Taijiquan.
The founding of the Singapore Thai-Chi Society cannot be separated from two prominent persons: Master Sia Mok Tai (1910-1992) and Master Huang Sheng-Shyan (1910-1992). As early as 1956, Taiji master Huang Sheng-Shyan was invited by the president of the Chinese New Medicine Society of Singapore and fellow Fujian compatriots to come to Singapore from Taiwan to teach Taijiquan. After arriving in Singapore, Master Huang served as a special orthopedic physician in the morning and taught Taijiquan at the Yuen Kiew Physical Association in the evening. At that time, Master Sia Mok Tai was the president cum instructor of Yuen Kiew Physical Association (he already had a solid foundation in martial arts with thirty years of experience and was skilled in Southern-style boxing from the regions of Singapore, Malaysia, and Southeast Asia). Within two years of teaching Taiji, Master Huang’s exceptional skills spread like wild-fire, and people came from various regions to learn Taijiquan from him, not only fellow Fujian compatriots but also Chinese from Southern and western Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and other areas. Eminent figures from the business, political, and cultural sectors in Singapore and Malaysia, such as Lee Kong Chian, Mrs Lu You, Lien Ying Chow, Quek Buck Song, Hon Shi lin, and Huang Shitong, invited Master Huang to teach at their private estates. During this time, Master Sia, who was learning Taiji from Master Huang, was already his right-hand man assisting the development of the class affairs.
Under Master Huang’s guidance, the Taijiquan movement developed rapidly. People began to realize the health and self-defense benefits of Taijiquan, leading to a growing desire to learn. However, in an era of mixed and confusing martial arts, it was not easy for the martial arts community to gain trust in mainstream society. Mr. Huang was appointed as a member of Singapore Youth Sports Centre and a Taijiquan coach under the enthusiastic recommendations of Mr. Lee Kong Chian and Mr. Lu YunTao. Soon after, the Chinese YMCA also started Taiji classes and invited Master Huang as the instructor. At that time, there were only these two organizations offering Taijiquan classes, which attracted over two thousand students from all walks of life such as labour, business, government, education, and academia. The number of students learning Taiji continued to increase but were scattered across different groups. Although they learned under the same instructor, students had few opportunities to interact and exchange martial arts techniques. Therefore, between 1957 and 1958, Master Sia, who was also teaching at the Singapore Youth Sports Centre, collaborated with several Taiji enthusiasts to establish a martial arts association focused on Taiji. The committee members included Li Guohan, Sia Mok Tai, Zhang Guoliang, Liu Yingxian, Huang Xuecheng, Huang Zhonghui, Huang Ruzhen, and Wang Baoquan, among others. On April 8th, 1959, a Taiji association was officially established under the name “Singapore Thai-Chi Society”. The headquarter was located at Block 433B Geylang Road (at entrance of Lorong 23), and a branch training/practice location was set up nearby at 16 Lorong 35 Geylang. The first president was Huang Mun se, vice-president was Yeo Thian Kiew, honorary presidents were Lee Kong Chian and Lok Wan Thou, honorary advisors were Lian Shi Sheng and Li Shao Mao, Chief Instructor was Huang Sheng-Shyan, and Education Director was Sia Mok Tai. These founding office bearers were all well-known figures in society back then. President Huang Mun Se (1890-1963) was a philanthropist, painting collector and calligraphy and a notable figure in the Buddhist community. He was one of the founders of the Singapore Buddhist Lodge and the Mee Toh Primary School. The practice site of the association, located at 16 Lorong 35 Geylang, was originally the residence of President Huang and is now the address of the Nanyang Huang Shi Zong Hui Clan Association.
The Singapore Thai-Chi Society was the first Taiji organization where Master Huang Sheng-Shyan served as the head instructor upon arriving in Singapore from Southern Malaysia. It is also regarded as the beginning of the development of Huang-style Taijiquan. Master Huang started his martial arts training at the age of fifteen, studying under renowned masters of White Crane (Baihe) and Luohan, including Xie Zongxiang, Chen Shiding, and Pan Nianzhuang. After mastering these styles, he became deeply interested in Taiji. In the late 1940s, he moved to Taiwan to learn from Cheng Man Ching (1901-1975), a renowned Taiji master known as “The Old Man of the Five Excellences”. Master Huang absorbed the teachings of Cheng Man Ching and became his proud disciple. Due to this background and lineage, even though the Singapore Thai-Chi Society followed the framework and principles of Yang-style Taijiquan, there were differences in the content taught. The curriculum of the Singapore Thai-Chi Association included the Five Loosening Exercises (Song Shen Wu Fa), Short Form (Duan Jia), Long Form (Chang Jia), Push Hands (Tui Shou), Sanfeng Fast Fist (kuaiquan), Sanshou (Chinese martial arts sparring), and a simplified Taiji routine. In terms of weapons, they taught forms for the sword, knife, staff, cane, spear and so on.
The Five Loosening Exercises were created by Master Huang and represented crystallization of his decades of martial arts experience. According to him, “The Five Loosening Exercises were created based on the principles of Taiji and the integration of basic Taijiquan movements. It uses five types of looseness—waist-turning and hip-loosening, breath-harmonizing and body-loosening, arm-swinging and shoulder-loosening, waist-bending and tendon-loosening, and leg-sitting and knee-loosening—to address the challenging issues of ‘looseness’ and ‘softness’ in learning Taijiquan.”. These exercises formed the foundation of the curriculum. The Short Form was created by Cheng Man Ching based on traditional Yang-style Taijiquan, aiming to simplify the form and progressing from simple to complex. The Long Form referred to the traditional 103 movements of Yang-style Taijiquan. The Push Hands includes eight basic techniques: 1. left, right single-hand push, 2. left and right horse stance to neutralize double-hand pushes, 3. mutual compression leading to neutralization, 4. seven movements mutual pushing, 5. serial-attacking and neutralizing, 6. grappling and pressing in succession, 7. pressing leading to evade attacking push, and 8. Left and right circular pushing with attacking and neutralizing sequences. The Sanfeng Kuaiquan (fast fist) and 108 Sanda (boxing) were created by Master Huang based on the essence of White Crane (Baihe quan) and 28 Shaolin Luohan quan, respectively. The Simplified Taijiquan routine was a combination of Taijiquan and Baihe (white crane) Quan elements, with practice time falling between that of the Short and Long Forms. These courses were designed for members who already had a foundation in Taiji. (The attacking and neutralizing sequences, Gonghua No. 1 and Gonghua No. 2, were compiled by Ye Qiang, the Chief Instructor of the Huang-style Tai Chi Association.)
In its early days, apart from the practice locations at Lorong 23 and Lorong 35 Geylang, the Singapore Thai-Chi Society opened a new practice location at Lorong 9 Geylang to meet growing demand. After the lease expired in 1986, the practice site moved to the Hong Wen School Stadium until 1991. In May 1982, the practice site at the Balestier Road Public Mansion was officially inaugurated. As the Society was a non-profit organization and depended solely on modest membership fees and low course fees to cover expenses, the organization embarked on a long-term plan to acquire properties (a building fund was already shown on the 1976 balance sheet with a balance of $20,936). This aspiration was finally realized in 1984. With the generous contributions from the board of directors and all members, the organization raised $120,000 to purchase an apartment unit located at Public Mansion for $356,000. Subsequently, under the leadership of President Kang Au Chew, support from friends in the business community, notable figures, and both old and new members, the association managed to fully repaid the property loan by 1989. From then on, the Singapore Thai-Chi Association has basically achieved financial balance between rental income and operational expenditure. The purpose of purchasing properties for the association was purely to support its activities and future development. This intention is clearly stated in the constitution, which mandates that in the event of dissolution, all assets must be donated to charities. At present, the trustees of the property trust are Chan Hock Seng, Kang Auh Chew, Kuah Choon Guan, and Ng Siang Teck.
Over its existence of half-century, the Singapore Thai-Chi Society has remained committed to its founding principles, carrying forward the teachings of its masters. It has spared no effort in advancing the Taiji discipline, both by developing its own curriculum and fostering friendly exchanges with external martial arts groups. It has also contributed to national development efforts. In December 1966, responding to the call of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the martial arts community in Singapore convened a meeting at the People’s Association to establish the National Martial Arts Federation. Fifteen organizations were selected to form a preparatory committee, and the Singapore Thai-Chi Society was one of these members. As the martial arts community in Singapore entered the 1980s, it experienced rapid growth. A total of 135 martial arts organizations emerged, particularly those focused on internal arts and health cultivation. Due to various factors, Taijiquan became an important option, leading to the establishment of Taijiquan organizations and training classes. Private clubs that invited the association to teach Taijiquan included the Chinese Swimming Club (1979), the World Trade Centre Club (1981), and the Jurong Country Club (1984). The association’s instructors led Taijiquan classes at various Community Centres, including those in Bishan, Bukit Merah, Henderson, Ang Mo Kio, Red Hill, Geylang Serai, Jalan Besar, Braddell, Mohd Sultan, and Tanglin. The association was also affiliated with the Wisdom Compassion Buddhist Association.
To enhance their martial skills and learn from each other’s’ strength, in addition to regular classes, Singapore Thai-Chi Society has consistently held internal exchange sessions and participated in various demonstrations and competitions among the peer groups.
Throughout his life, Master Huang Sheng-Shyan dedicated himself to the promotion of Taijiquan. Starting from his base in Singapore and Southern Malaysia, he established twenty-four branches by 1983, and the direct membership of these branches totaled over ten thousand people. After Master Huang passed away in Fuzhou on December 21, 1992, his disciples and students recognized their shared lineage and mutual brotherhood. To maintain their connections and to exchange martial arts techniques, they established the Huang-style Tai Chi Fellowship in 1993. The Singapore Thai-Chi Society is a member of this Fellowship. In the following years, Huang-style Tai Chi Fellowship organized its the biennial friendly tournaments. As the tournaments approached, the Education Department of the Singapore Thai-Chi Society formulated corresponding annual teaching plans to preserve the cordial tradition while growing.
While the Singapore Thai-Chi Society places a strong emphasis on Taijiquan practice, it also promote fellowship among its members. The society holds at least three gatherings each year, including: 1. Chinese New Year celebration, 2. Hungry Ghost Festival, and 3. Mid-Autumn Festival celebration and Taiji performance demonstration. In step with time, the society put up a website to facilitate the communication and exchange of information in 2006.