History

A NEW STYLE IS BORN

History of Wu-Yin Yan-Jing®  

  
  1974 - Ray Miles - Early Years

The martial art of Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® was developed over a period of approximately five years during the “Progressive Era” of American martial arts in the early and mid 1970’s. The United States has often been referred to as a “melting pot” in which many nationalities come together to form a new entity.  This melding of societies has affected everything in American culture from foods-to-commerce, from education-to-entertainment, from athletics-to-technology, and even the complexities of the martial arts.  Asian countries have long been credited for originating and developing the defensive use of feet and empty hands as lethal weapons.  As with many things “American”, the ancient traditions of martial arts have also been restructured, redesigned, and updated.  During the mid 1960’s and early 1970’s a transition in American martial arts began to occur as a result of open tournament competition.  Competitors were exposed to martial artists of differing styles and systems and began to incorporate techniques and concepts from other systems to enhance their own.  Prior to this time, the “Traditional Era” of American martial arts was dominated by traditional Asian systems in which individuality was lost for the sake of long standing rituals that may have been less effective.  The development of new styles of martial arts is not isolated to the United States. Japanese and Chinese traditional masters frequently combined several systems to create a new style. The same holds true in the development of Tae Kwon Do in Korea.   In the U.S., Ed Parker’s American Kenpo was developed in the mid 1950’s and Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do was developed in the 1960’s. It is from this historical perspective that the system of              Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® is presented.

                                                      

                                                Ray Miles with his cousin & "inspiration" Lum Lee in the mid 1970's
 

Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® was developed by Grand Master Ray A. Miles, Sr. (Lay Mai-launt) by combining concepts and techniques of numerous Chinese, Japanese and Korean systems into a unique American martial art. The full name of the style or system, is Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® Tao, and is of Mandarin Chinese origin and literally translated means “The Way of the deceptive eye”.  Grand Master Miles’ interest in the martial arts was first inspired in the late 1950's by his cousin by marriage the late Lum Lee of Toi Sun, Canton Province, China who explained and taught him many facets of Tai Chi Chuan Kung-Fu. Mr. Lee also taught him some of the toughening techniques for the hands, feet and other parts of the body in the Iron Hand system.  The base style of Chinese Kun Tao was blended with parts of such styles as Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi Chuan, Hung-gar, Wing Chun, Isshinryu, Judo and Jiu jitsu.  Grand Master Miles had received his Black Sash in Kun Tao in Olean, N.Y. under Alan Woodard who was a student of Grand Master Willem Reeders (Liu Seong) in the 1960’s.  Through exposure to Tae Kwon Do from Bill Egner, Isshinryu from Larry Modry, Hung Gar and Wing Chun from Bill Zais, Grand Master Miles was able to develop a practical and efficient art form.  It is a blend of both hard and soft styles so as to maintain the natural flow of kung-fu and also add the strength and penetration of the traditional hard styles of karate.  Kicks are done with more of a pivot, striking with either the heel or the outside blade of the foot depending on the circumstance.  More power and snap are used with the techniques of Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® and a greater emphasis is put on closed hand techniques. Because of the integration of these different concepts, Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® is not a style of Kun Tao, nor should it be considered specifically kung-fu or karate. 
Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® has the distinct identity as an American martial art style unto itself.  The unique blending of styles gives the practitioner the ability to adapt to different opponents; a vital tool when deception is key.
         
“I decided on "The Deceptive Eye", because I have always believed that one of the best ways to defeat an opponent is to make them feel they are in control. Give them a sense of security and then take it away by your own rules. You can tell a lot from someone's eyes. Let them see fear, pain, a lack of confidence or anything else to lead them to their own defeat.” - GM Miles, July 26, 2006    
    

With the guidance of Bill Zais, Grand Master Miles applied for formal recognition of Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® by the United States Professional Martial Arts Association (USPMAA).  After submitting documentation of his new ranking system, techniques, katas, theories and concepts, along with demonstrating the effectiveness of the system, Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® was accepted and recognized by the USPMAA in 1975.  Grand Master Miles had developed a ranking structure of White and Gold Belt as novice level, Orange and Green Belt as intermediate level, and Brown and Black Belt as advanced levels.  There were originally five degrees of Black Belt in Wu-Yin Yan-Jing®.  As originator and founder of the style, Grand Master Miles was advised by Mr. Zais, who was the president of the USPMAA, and by other leaders in the martial arts profession at the time, that he should hold a rank at least one degree above the highest rank in the system, and was therefore appointed the rank of 6th degree Black Belt.  During this time frame Grand Master Miles had been teaching Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® along with Kun Tao to his students.  In 1976 John C. Furey was the first student formally promoted to the rank of Black Belt in Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® (He was elected as the first Chief Executive Officer of the American Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® Federation thirty years later, and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors).   
 
Grand Master Miles had envisioned that eventually every instructor “would make the system their own”.  Maintaining the uniquely American concept of “use what works”, Grand Master Miles would routinely tell students, “I will teach the technique to you this way, and for test purposes do it like this”; however, understanding the individuality of each student’s ability and anatomy he would continue with, “now make the technique your own”.  This same revolutionary concept is evident as one of the requirements for the promotion to 5th degree Black Belt is to ‘Present a new training method or training kata. The system is one of the true "Free Styles".  GM Miles has stated “I believe that one of the most important and extremely valuable contributions persons holding and seeking these higher ranks (5th –9th degree) should do is to make his or her own methods a more permanent and solidified part of his own branch of the system.”
“Of course always keeping the original as pure as possible.”     
  
Through the mid 1970’s to the early 1990’s the system grew rapidly, producing five generations of nearly fifty Black Belts.  During that time numerous instructors had opened schools that would collaborate in public demonstrations and participate in inter-academy work-outs. In the early 1980’s the Miles Karate Fighting Team was formed out of these various schools and participated in team competitions at regional tournaments.  During the 1980’s and 1990’s many instructors had either moved from the western New York area, and/or studied other styles and received Black Belts in systems such as Tae Kwon Do, Kun Tao, Jiu jitsu, White Crane Kung-fu, Shotokan, Kenpo and Judo.  The exposure to other styles of martial arts reinforced the versatility, effectiveness, and practicality of Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® to many of the Black Belt instructors and would later serve to benefit the future development of the style.   
 
In early 2004 several Black Belt instructors began discussing the future of Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® and expressed the need for a formal organization.  Many of the Black Belts in the system were contacted to explore the potential need and possible support of such a national organization.  In early 2006, after numerous lengthy discussions and meetings, a temporary transition team of three instructors (John Furey, Dale Sullivan, and Barry Broughton) volunteered to lay the ground work for a governing body.  In June 2006 the “Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® Planning Seminar for ‘The Next Generation’” was held in Olean, N.Y.  In addition to two days of instruction and review of all techniques and katas, a business and planning meeting was held.  The vision for the new organization, along with draft bylaws, organizational structure, and strategies for the future were presented to those in attendance (information packets and absentee ballots were sent to those who were interested but could not attend).  By the conclusion of this pivotal meeting, the American Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® Federation (AWYF) was formed and a five member Board of Directors (BOD) was elected.   Members of the original Board of Directors included: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- John C. Furey, 6th degree, Chicago, IL; President- Dale Sullivan, 6th degree, Bradford, PA; Vice-President- Barry A. Broughton, 5th degree, Olean, NY; Logistics Officer- Robert Korody, 4th degree, New York City, NY; and Chief Financial Officer (CFO)- Bradley S. Monroe, 3rd degree, Allegany, NY.  All of the original members of the BOD hold advanced rank and Black Belts in other styles in addition to Wu-Yin Yan-Jing®, providing invaluable experience in guiding a dynamic organization with high ideals.       
 
On June 13, 2006, Grand Master Ray A. Miles, Sr. gave his approval of the Board of Directors and his endorsement to the American Wu-Yin Yan-Jing® Federation to advance the development of techniques and concepts of the style he originated.  To prepare for future expansion in the higher ranks, Grandmaster Miles' rank was elevated to 10th degree by the newly elected BOD, creating an opportunity for advancement in the black belt levels.   Since the formation of the AWYF, the BOD has been active in defining the vision of the organization; implementing new katas, techniques and new knife and gun defense for advanced ranks; developing new promotion requirements for advanced degrees of Black Belt up to 10th degree; designing new instructor tools and manuals;  developing improved communication by designing an interactive web site; and creating a well structured, high performance martial arts organization that continues to advance the principles of Peace, Brotherhood and Tranquility.