Grandmaster Ip and Robert Boyd in traditional Master/Disciple portrait.
Robert Boyd of South Hero, Vermont, was given the Chinese name Bao Tak Fai following his acceptance as Second Disciple of Grandmaster Ip Tai Tak of Hong Kong. The Bao Tak Fai Tai Chi Institute was founded to assist Master Boyd in preserving and passing down the teaching of the late Grandmaster Ip. Grandmaster Ip was First Disciple and male heir of Great Grandmaster Yang Sau Chung, fourth generation head of the famous Yang family.
Grandmaster Ip accepts tea from Robert Boyd during the Bai Shi ceremony, signifying the acceptance of Bao Tak Fai as his Disciple.
Bob began his martial arts training at the age of 18 – signing up for karate lessons at the first martial arts school to open in Vermont in March of 1968.
Bob went on to study Okinawan Uechi-Ryu Karate for the next 15 years. In 1973 he visited Okinawa and trained with Master Uechi and other Okinawan masters. After two months of intensive training, Bob was promoted to third degree black belt and came back to Vermont to open his first school in Essex Junction, Vermont.
In 1974, Bob was invited to participate in a series of seminars for teachers of the Uechi Karate system. At the first of these seminars, he met John Conroy of Providence, Rhode Island. John would be Bob’s mentor for the next 25 years.
John Conroy taught karate in the Providence area, but also began studying Tai Chi with Master Chu Gin Soon, the second Disciple of Yang Sau Chung of Hong Kong. Master Chu came to Boston in 1969 to teach authentic Yang Family Tai Chi. John became Master Chu’s first non-Chinese student, and went on to become his first Disciple in 1988.
In 1983, John began teaching Bob as a private ‘indoor’ student. One year later, he encouraged Bob to teach Tai Chi one night a week at his Karate school in Vermont. By 1985, Bob had retired from Karate and was teaching Tai Chi at the Burlington Tai Chi Club.
John Conroy brought Bob to Hong Kong in 1999 and introduced him to Master Ip Tai Tak. Bob became a Disciple of Master Ip in March of 2001. It is a testament to the character of John Conroy that he urged his longtime friend and student to become a Disciple and follow Master Ip’s teaching.
Robert Boyd died on June 21, 2024.
First disciple : Thierry Bae Hua Association
Although Thierry Bae is internationally renowned as a contemporary dancer and choreographer, he has also been a devoted practitioner and teacher of tai chi chuan for almost thirty years.
Upon being introduced to snake style tai chi, he recognized it to be the original “method” of the Yang family and committed to learning the entire system as taught by Grandmaster Ip Tai Tak.
His aptitude, character, integrity and devotion to the snake style led me to accept him as my First Disciple in May of 2011.
Bao Tak Fai (Bob Boyd)
Bao Tak Fai (Bob Boyd) and Thierry Bae
Second disciple : Orit Callcut
Third disciple : Marcel Friederichs
