> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.8ismeerdan1000.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# FIVE OLD MASTERS
- URL: https://www.8ismeerdan1000.com/five-old-masters/
- Published: 2026-07-28T16:09:36.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-05T17:37:00.000Z
- Description: chapter 14. #1
- Author: ACHTismeerdanDUIZEND
- Tags: The ‘Tree Time Chi Kung’ Papers, #lightbox

The camera follows Jan Kallenbach (1943–2021), a celebrated figure in the world of *Kyokushin* karate. During one of his stays in Japan, he meets Kenichi Sawai, the founder of *Taikiken.*

![](https://www.8ismeerdan1000.com/content/images/2026/08/5260a094-f15c-4d06-b0d3-5b3286f1abaf_1456x823-1.webp)

Cui Rui-BIn.

Kenichi Sawai had been stationed in Beijing as an army officer during the war and had heard of Wang Xiang-Zhai’s fame whilst there. The story goes that, for Sawai, the only way to make contact with Grandmaster Wang was to challenge him to a public duel.

![](https://www.8ismeerdan1000.com/content/images/2026/08/8385bb56-a6c0-4a7e-b127-3032fde9505f_1456x795-2.webp)

Kenichi Sawai.

Sawai, who held high ranks in *Judo* and *Kendo*, didn’t stand a chance and was so impressed that, until the end of the war, he studied Grandmaster Wang’s *I Chuan* and *zhan zhuang* through one of his top students. Upon his return to Japan, Kenichi Sawai named his style *Taikiken*, which was largely based on *I Chuan.*

![](https://www.8ismeerdan1000.com/content/images/2026/08/39564636-6f71-40bf-b7f5-538a4e62ea09_2446x1336-2.png)

Jan Kallenbach.

Eventually, Kenichi Sawai advises Jan Kallenbach to go to China to get closer to the source of *Taikiken* and *I Chuan*. Wang Xiang-Zhai has long since passed away by then, but Jan comes into contact with Li Jian-Yu in Beijing.

![](https://www.8ismeerdan1000.com/content/images/2026/08/45238c29-1029-4856-801d-915d5bbb68b2_2446x1382-2.png)

Li Jian-Yu.

Li Jian-Yu is a calligrapher by profession and trained and studied directly under Wang Xiang-Zhai. In the video, Li practices single and double pushing hands with Jan, which they manage remarkably well despite the significant difference in height.

![](https://www.8ismeerdan1000.com/content/images/2026/08/8ce9ca30-20d9-4837-828c-8eb87c0019fa_1456x823-2.webp)

Li Jian-Yu en Jan Kallenback.

Wang Yu-Feng, Grandmaster Wang’s daughter, then takes the floor. She briefly explains how difficult it had been to preserve I *Chuan* through the turbulent times following the Chinese Revolution.

In 1999, during a study trip with my former sifu and a group of colleagues, we met Mrs. Wang. It was clear to us that she had not emerged physically unscathed from those turbulent times, but during a spirited *Jian Wu* demonstration she gave, there was no sign whatsoever of any disability.

![](https://www.8ismeerdan1000.com/content/images/2026/08/5dbfc5bf-8556-4254-ab91-2788e55798f6_2446x1382-2.png)

Mevrouw Wang Yu-Feng.

Cui Rui-Bin, another prominent direct disciple of Wang Xiang-Zhai, then speaks passionately about the foundation of *I Chuan*: *Zhan Zhuang*, the practice of still postures.

![](https://www.8ismeerdan1000.com/content/images/2026/08/713f3974-3181-4989-b6ab-a4cb0070db17_2446x1382-2.png)

Cui Rui-Bin

The following clips are taken from the documentary *Eat Your Enemy* by filmmaker Eline Flipse.

---

****Thank you for reading!**  
  
****'Eight is More Than a Thousand'** is built using Ghost, an open-source writing platform. All contributions go directly to the writer.  
  
Some of the articles on 8ismeerdan1000 are freely accessible. Another section is available only to paying subscribers. By taking out a paid subscription – which can be for a month or a year – you help to support the progress of the ****Eight is More Than a Thousand project**!  
  
For those who would like to read all the posts but cannot currently afford to do so, a brief message is all it takes to gain access.

[SUBSCRIBE](#/portal/signup)

[![](https://www.8ismeerdan1000.com/content/images/2026/08/ko-fi-9.png)](https://ko-fi.com/8ismeerdan1000?ref=8ismeerdan1000.com)

for one-off contributions