What he could do we can do. Just because we admire somebody doesn't mean that we should take everything that they say as the absolute truth. To return to my previous example, that of the yin yang cross-connection, I believe that this is not as important as making every part of the body into a small taiji ball. The student must rely on himself and must honestly and bravely check himself. You cannot rely on the teacher.
Many people train for decades but gain no results.
Too many people practising taijiquan are like shoppers in a supermarket. One minute they are attracted by this bargain, the next by that offer. They don't stop to think what they really want and then set out to get it. These people are stupid. Whatever experience you have you can use to improve.