Does anyone know anything about Kwan Saihung. He is in Lenox, Massachusetts and also teaches sundays on boston common.
Thank you,
Walter

I know a well-known Tai Chi instructor that has known "Kwan" for a number of years and even taught him the Willam C.C. Chen form, some years ago (apparently this is one of the forms that Kwan claims now to have learned directly from Yang Cheng Fu). During a trip the two were both on, my instructor-acquaintance saw "Kwan's" passport and it read Frank Erik Kwai, born in NYC in 1946. It turns out that Kwan doesn't even really speak fluent Chinese.

I would suggest that whatever "Kwan" says should be taken with a salt mine.

Actually, I've heard Kwan Saihung have several conversations in Chinese. I spent a year in China and his Chinese sounded native to me.

I also know some instructors who have studied with him and found him to be very knowledgable. I like him, too, but I'm just a beginner.

How old is the man you are referring to?

There is a Kwan Saihung who is the main character of Deng Ming-Dao's 'Chronicles Of Tao'. The book is apparently based on Deng's teacher who lives in the states but should be later in his years.

John

John,
Thet are said to be one and the same.
Walter

Interesting. Rumor had it that he was no longer teaching. Has anyone here had any personal experience training with him?

thanks,
John

One of my friends went to Boston Common a few weeks ago on Sunday morning and he was still teaching there. Supposedly he is still teaching in the Lenox area I believe. If you are really interested I may still have his email address somewhere.
Walter

Hi,

is this he? The picture is said to have been taken in 1997. O, he should be the one in the yellow sweatshirt.
http://odin.prohosting.com/karlardo/kwansaihung.jpg

Best,
Steve James

The link wouldn't work for me.

Hi,

try this one:

http://odin.prohosting.com/karlardo/gallery.html

Steve James

Hi again,

I didn't intend to do a search on this person, but my curiosity led me to these photos. http://www.easternhealthpractices.org/biography.htm

Hth

I had never seen the first photo, but have seen the second. If thats the same guy, he sure has aged a bit in 12 years. I have never seen this person in public, but a friend of mine has, so i will try and have him take a look at the picture.

Are you in Massachusetts? If not, why the interest? I'm just curious.

Hi,

I used to be in Massachussetts, but I have no real interest in KSH. I don't know the difference between the fictional and actual man, whether they are one and the same or not, or whether either man studied with YCF or not. I just happened to see this thread after seeing the first set of photos I posted. I thought someone might confirm whether it was the same gentleman. Either way, I wish him well.
SJ

I have studied with sifu Kwan for 4 years.
I read his students books about him and then tracked him down. Found him doing seminars and joined. I met Kwan in 1991 He is a great guy and he is "the real thing". People often spread rumors about things they don't know and are afraid of. I have confronted some of these such rumors and they are that.

I studied internal and external martial arts, herbology, qigong and Taoist philosophy with Kwan from 1992-1997 before concentrating on Yin Fu Baguazhang and Yin Style healing methods more deeply with He Jinbao and the late Dr. Xie Peichi of Beijing. I used to drive Kwan 3 hrs one way from his home in Western MA to class in Allston, then later Harvard Sq. in Cambridge MA. Kwan exposed me to a stimulating and vast variety of meditation, martial and health-promoting techniques that I cross-referenced and found to be valid over the years. Whatever his true name and background is, his instruction was solid and has born out to be authentic, and he is martially impressive as well. I've had the privilege of working with lineage holders in Cheng and Yin Fu Bagua and of holding sparring mitts for the great martial artist and gentleman William C.C. Chen (I think I'm very fast-he's extremely faster, w/pinpoint accuracy!) and in reference to an earlier email, his ubiquitous "three nails concept" while pivoting was not apparent in Kwan's Tai Chi, which I learned. I too used to debate the "identity" of this man and I have current baguazhang brothers who studied in the 80's with him who know more about him than most but, through experience, I've come to appreciate the valuable information he imparted and how it left me so much better prepared structurally, experientially, physically for sure and emotionally for my future studies and even for dealing with toxic types on my demanding job. He is not some Merlin/wizard, he is a real person who has foibles and subjective preferences and favorite foods like the rest of us. It was worthwhile to study with him. I especially thank him for urging us to Fence for reaction and reflex improvement and then watching us learn classical old-style from a French master, an amazing experience and for simple things like dispersals after meditation. I'm amazed at how few people are aware of these sanity saving techniques! I recommend him highly, especially to those who are interested in learning aspects of the Chinese Martial/Internal arts that would be new to them.

Though I am not a face reader, he seems to have been born in America or came to US at young age.
His predominant diet appears to be an American one and he exhibits a more 'outgoing' personality when compare to his social milieu.
I did take a few of his weekend seminars about 20 or so years ago when he travelled in the Midwest.

He is very openminded.
fro all that this is worth.

Hello,I plan on training with Kwan Saihung in the near future and am quite sure he is the real thing,my friend has been teaching me Kung Fu for the past three years and trained with kwan for ten years,and if Kwan is as any bit as learned in the internal arts as my friend than he is definetly an amazing person,my friend can do things most people only dream of,I look forward to training with him soon.

does anyone know how I can contact Kwan saihung? Does he teach or give seminars in the NY area? Thank you.

I believe its: http://www.easternhealthpractices.org/

Last time I looked at that website, they hadn't updated it for a while. But it may have what you are looking for. I was always under the impression that he was retired now.

No wonder Mr. Kwan is so picky about who he teaches....