Taiyi You Long Gong is a Taoist internal martial art and also a fom of health and logevity exercise. It originated in the Wudang mountain region of China and was passed down as a family tradition within one chinese royal family. The art combines elements found in Qigong and Taiji Quan, and is considered to be a form of Taoist Yoga. The three main forms (taulu) of this martial art are Taiyi Swimming Dragon Quan, Taiyi Riding the Wind Sword, and Taiyi 72 Closed Hands (fighting application form). Its static Qigong practice is called Taiyi Tortoise Breathing Gong.
History
According to legend, Taiyi Swimming Dragon Quan was created by a Taoist master who was imprisoned for a long time. He had very little room to move in his prison cell and thus created a form that could be practised in a small area. The practise of the form gave him very good health and soon the prison authorities were wondering why his health was so much better than that of the other prisoners. It is said that ta high official heard of his skill, had him released and started learning the art from the Taoist master.
Li Yong Liang (Melbourne)
The art became a family tradition and was passed down in secret within a royal family. Master Yu Anren was the last person to receive the family art. Master Yu broke the family tradition in 1984 when he donated the style to the state and started to teach it openly. He compiled and structured the Taiyi Swimming Dragon Chuan, Taiyi Riding the Wind Sword and the other conventions of boxing and weaponry from the Taiyi Men family.
Yu Anren is from Guilin in Guangxi province. His family originated from Pingjiang county in Hunan province. Yu learned Taiyi Swimming Dragon Chuan techniques and principals from his grandfather Yu Shao, a famous general. When Yu Anren took part in the Changsha Regional Martial Arts Competition in 1984, he performed the Swimming Dragon Chuan for the first time and won first place for internal style martial art. Since then, his form has spread quickly and the number of followers has reached several thousands. Today it is taught in Hunan (China) by Zhu Mingyuan, Chen Cui’e and Tang Saixian; in Melbourne(Australia) by Li Yong Liang and in San Francisco(USA) by Liping Julia Zhu.
Characteristics
You Long Gong emphasizes both internal energy and external form practice. The movements of the Swimming Dragon Quan form are slow and follow a regular pace. It stretches all the tendons and ligaments and promotes the circulation of Qi (energy) and blood. With persistent practice, it will naturally improve flexibility, coordination, and balance, and complement any style of sitting meditation. This form is the external practice of the internal Taoist Qigong practice of Macro-cosmic Orbit (the big cosmic orbit which leads Qi through all your twelve meridians and eight extra meridians.)
The pace of the sword form and the 72 hands form varies. Slow flowing movements are punctuated by sudden bursts of explosive power (Fa-Jin) quite similar to Chen style Tai Chi in some respects. These forms are very rich in martial applications that include kicks, strikes, throws, joint manipulation and pressure point striking. The style emphasises strengthening of the legs and mobility of all the joints, especially the spine.
It follows the principals and characteristics of the slow moving animals like the python and the turtle. These animals conserve their energy and therefore live a very long time. But when the need arrises they can release power suddenly with remarkable speed.
Longevity and Health Benefits
Swimming Dragon is a powerful form of longevity training and it has been known to reverse the effects of ageing in many practitioners. For example, Yu Anren was imprisoned during the cultural revolution and in that time his hair went completely grey and he developed serious back problems. After his release he cured his back and hair condition with his health practise.
Another example of the healing efect of Swimming Dragon is my teacher, Li Yong Liang. Years ago in China, Master Li fell off a factory wall and broke his back. The doctors feared that he would never recover, but through great effort in his practise he restored his back. Today Li’s back is very strong and flexable.
The emphasis on low stances is for the improvement of leg strength, because it is known that when people get older the legs grow weak before the upper body. Ageing also stiffens the joints and the practise of loosening the joints counteracts the effect of ageing in a process that Master Li calls “retrograde motion”
Parts of the Swimming Dragon Taiyi Form ( the whole form is very long):
Master Li performs the Swimming Dragon 72 Closed Hand Form:
Hans practising Swimming Dragon first form, double speed:
You Long Gong Taiji 
You Long Gong emphasizes both internal energy and external form practice. The movements of the Swimming Dragon Quan form are slow and follow a regular pace. It stretches all the tendons and ligaments and promotes the circulation of Qi (energy) and blood. With persistent practice, it will naturally improve flexibility, coordination, and balance, and complement any style of sitting meditation. This form is the external practice of the internal Taoist Qigong practice of Macro-cosmic Orbit (the big cosmic orbit which leads Qi through all your twelve meridians and eight extra meridians.) 
