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Tai Chi is well known worldwide for its many benefits. It  can be categorized into three primary aspects; health, meditation and martial. Just searching on Google for any information on Tai Chi you will come up with endless articles and stories of its uses and the significant impact it has made in the health community. Tai chi is highly recommended by many health professionals for all around health and wellness.

However I wanted to share a unique story of the impact Tai Chi has made on one young man’s life. I am honored to know him personally and train with him at my martial school the Lohan School of Shaolin in Las Vegas, Nevada. His name is Jason Ymson.

Jason was involved in an unfortunate incident that he calls, “being in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong people.” He was barely 16 years old at the time of the incident. He was seriously injured from a gun shot that tore through his abdomen and severed his sciatic nerve in his right leg.  The doctor told him and his father that he had severe nerve damage to the right leg and that he recommended an amputation. The medical opinion at the time suggested little hope of a recovery and that he would be crippled for the rest of his life.

This news from the doctor almost devastated Jason and his father. Jason had already been heavily involved in other martial art forms from the age of 4 he had started out with Taekwondo. He didn’t take it seriously until the age of 12 when he studied Shotokan Karate. At age 14 he had progressed on into Muay Thai and at 16 Jujitsu and Judo. Martial arts was a major part of his life.

Jason and his father were determined to do all they could to prove the doctors diagnosis to be wrong. Jason’s father looked into natural healing methods like Chinese herbology and other holistic remedies to restore his health. He refused to have his son take any pharmaceutical drugs like heavy pain killers that would cause him to have other health issues and possibly lead to drug dependency.

In a short time, Jason was told by the doctor that he had a chance of saving his right leg. The doctor discovered that there was a hairline piece of the sciatic nerve still attached. He had further suggested it would take 2-3 years for him to possibly regain any mobility in the leg. That was all Jason and his father needed to hear.

During the interim Jason was undergoing intense physical therapy he was so desperate to return to any form of martial arts. At this time he had come across an article on Tai Chi and read of its ability to vastly improve health. He poured himself into research to learn all he could about the internal art form. It resurrected a buried memory that had resurfaced from one year  earlier about a local school who taught the form he was interested in learning. He couldn’t remember the name of the school at the time nor the source of where he had heard about it. He became determined and inspired. This new resurgence of hope fueled his pursuit of finding this school.

He had recovered enough of his health to walk again but not without assistance and then eventually  enough to drive. It was exactly four months later after remembering about the local school as he was driving down Spring Mountain right past Decatur, he saw it. He came upon the Lohan School of  Shaolin by chance. An intense overwhelming sensation had come over him he was so excited he felt like he had finally found the right place. He walked in slowly with his cane and met the Grandmasters son Sifu Raul Baugh. He was so intent on learning he came prepared with many questions Sifu Raul was impressed with this young mans determination. He recommended that he speak directly with his father Grandmaster Steven Baugh the following day and suggested the best hours for Jason to return to meet him.

The following day he walked into the school and met his Grandmaster Sifu Steven Baugh it was April of 2003, Jason was 19 years old.  At first appearance they stood before each other and Grandmaster peered deeply into Jason’s eyes. An overwhelming feeling came over Jason, he felt that his Grandmaster was vaguely and curiously familiar as if they already knew each other.  Furthermore the impression Jason felt was peculiar as if his Grandmaster recognized him and was expecting him.  After several moments of silence had passed his Grandmaster smiled and proceeded to tell him that he was,  “supposed to be a teacher here in this school.”  He was startled by the words and laughed in disbelief, he thought his Grandmaster was, “out of his mind!” How could this be possible when he could barely walk, didn’t even practice the Tai Chi forms let alone teach them. Jason had a difficult time accepting his Grandmasters words.  His Grandmaster politely ignored Jason’s skeptical expression and proceeded to explain about the forms of Tai Chi they taught there and when he could begin class.

So began Jason’s  training in Tai Chi. It was grueling. Every day was  extremely difficult. He could only hold some of the postures for short periods of time. All his weight was placed on his left leg since he had very little strength in the muscles in his right leg.  He would take frequent breaks as his left knee and foot would swell from the pressure. The beginning of his training was arduous, challenging and painful.  It was extremely difficult standing without support. He didn’t give up he was determined to regain full mobility of his right leg. He attended class as frequently as he could during the week then while at  home he would train 3 hours in his backyard every day. Each day that passed he became stronger and the practice of his forms became easier and easier. When he wasn’t physically training he would lie in his bed at night doing at least the hand motions still practicing his forms. After one month had passed he learned in full the Tai Chi Yang 48 form and Straight Sword. From daily practice he developed enough stamina, strength, fluidity in movement to add more forms to his daily routine. For the next 3-4 months his daily routine involved practicing at least 7-8 times per day. He made a schedule for himself to practice Tai Chi Yang 48, Straight Sword and Bagua 8 Mother Palm form walking the full circle, 1-2 hours in the morning, then 2-3 hours in the afternoon and one hour before bed.

By the 5th -6th month Jason had added more forms to his practice, Dragon Phoenix Sword, Snowflake Saber, and 5 Elements of Xing Yi Chuan. He had to wear a knee brace on  his right leg during the practice of these forms for added support. At this time his Grandmaster had told him he was strong enough from all his diligent practice to begin training in the Northern Shaolin Kung Fu classes.  He had worn his knee brace in class for about the first two months then one day his Grandmaster told him to take it off and the rest is history.  Jason set the record of qualifying for his blue sash which is considered a senior student in the school in just 9 short months. It normally takes a student two years to attain this level. His grandmaster advised Jason it would be best for him to test for his blue sash at least six months later to be fair to the other students who were training. He had to go to each of the blue sash senior students to test all his forms and seek their approval as well. Some didn’t want to allow him to test to get his blue sash and they felt it was too quick for him to have learned all the forms that soon. They were tough on him and disapproved of it. But Jason humbly accepted their stern opinions of him and feels it has made him a better student and teacher of the martial arts.

Today as a second generation Lohan, he is fondly called “Buddha Jay!” He earned this title from participating in the Lion Dance team as the Dancing Buddha. His enthusiasm, incredible drive and spirit he displayed while performing inspired many to take to heart their performance on the team. He still remains an inspiration to the newer generations of Lohans who train under his tutelage to be the best they can be in the true spirit of a Lohan warrior on the training floor in our  school or while out in public performing the Lion Dance demonstrations.

The original title “Buddha” was given to him by his grandmaster. Jason became inspired from watching our schools Lion Dance team train for their performances around the city. He wanted to be a part of the team and found his opening performing as the dancing Buddha. At the time the one Lohan student who performed this position was no longer at the school for some months. He asked his grandmaster to be the Dancing Buddha. His grandmaster agreed excitedly and said, “we will call you Buddha!” Shortly after the name “Buddha” had morphed into “Buddha Jay” by all the other Lohan students. This was attributed to Buddha Jay’s infectious spirit in his performance. He puts his heart into every thing he does. The newer generations of Lohan students look up to and admire Buddha Jay’s example and guidance as a teacher of all the forms and instructor for the younger Lion Dance team members.

This incredible young man has left an indelible impression upon many and his story is worth sharing with others. His determination has forged a mark in history within the Lohan School of Shaolin that will touch many lives for years to come. Tai Chi is a very powerful healing modality to restore health and wellness in the body. Yet in this young man’s life it was a powerful tool that he used as a catalyst to propel him forward to experience much success in virtually every aspect of his life. He recently participated in the ICMAC 2010 Kung Fu Tournament and came away with two gold medals. He is pictured to the far right, front row. To look at Buddha Jay today and watch him perform any of his forms or participate in the Lion Dance demonstrations you wouldn’t know that he ever experienced any trauma to his right leg at all thanks to the healing power of  Tai Chi. I commend you with great honor Buddha for your inspiring example to us all that with enough determination you can achieve anything!

Sabrina Cruz The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination!

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