<title>Sam Masich</title>
Lineage
Sam Masich began training intensively in 1980 with Brien Gallagher, the first certified 'High-Class' Master student of Grandmaster Master Raymond Chung. This indoor apprenticeship would last seven years during which time Sam mastered the full Yang-style Taijiquan curriculum as taught by Gallagher from Master Chung. In 1985 Master Chung, in a two month long series of private sessions, checked, corrected and approved all Sam's forms and push-hands in preparation for his participation in the 'First World Wushu Invitationals' in Xian, China. While in China, Sam studied push-hands and taiji neigong privately and intensively with Master Men Huifeng in the Beijing Physical Culture Institute.
In 1985, still during his apprenticeship with Brien Gallagher, Sam began private studies with Master Shouyu Liang which included Chen-style Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan and various forms of weapons and external styles training. Also, in the mid-80s, he began studies with Dr. Yang Jwing Ming in various advanced aspects of Yang-style Taijiquan, including: bare-hand and sword applications, push-hands, neigong/qigong and qinna. Sam is a formal disciple (tudi 徒弟) of both Liang Shouyu and Yang Jwing Ming.
Sam also received much tutelage and guidance in Yang-style Taijiquan solo form, push-hands and principle, and in Daoist ritual ceremony, from Master Jou Tsung Hwa from 1988 until the time of his death in 1998.
In 1990 Sam began augmenting his yang-style training under the tutelage of Yang family members Master Yang Zhenduo and his grandson Master Yang Jun. He studied bare-hand form, sabre, sword and push-hands with these Yang masters in seminar format in the United States.