[1] Yang Luchan wanted to learn Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan but couldn't because you had to be a member of the Chen family to learn the art (and he was a member of the Yang family). So, to get into the house, Yang Luchan pretended to be an injured traveler seeking aide from the Chen family. They hired him on as a servant where, late at night, he would peer through the bamboo curtains at the family as they practiced. Through spying, he memorized the style and became exceptionally good at it. However, one night as he spied, he was caught. Instead of killing him straight off the bat, they had him fight their best. And he won. Impressed by his skills, the Chen family allowed him to keep his life.
[2] The second tales follows the first up until he was caught. After memorizing the Chen family's style of Tai Chi, Yang Luchan witnessed some members of the family showing off in the village. However, they were making mistakes. Yang Luchan corrected their mistakes and, furious, the family forced him to face their best fighters. A master of their style, he beat everyone who came at him thus winning back his life.
[3] The final tale is less thrilling but likely more accurate (this version was taught to Dr. Smiley by his master). Yang Luchan was a simple rice farmer who had a stall in the marketplace next to a member of the Chen family. One day, Yang Luchan saw a man causing trouble at Chen's stand. Chen threw the man back without causing him any harm and the man left the stand. Impressed, Yang Luchan went to Chen and asked to be taught the martial art that could protect without inflicting harm. But Chen said he could not pass the knowledge on--however, he could introduce Yang Luchan to someone who could help him. The person Chen spoke of was one of the daughters of the Chen family. So Yang Luchan married into the family and was granted permission to learn Chen Style Tai Chi.
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