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Qin Na Wizard: Master Zhao Da Yuan
I first met Master Zhao Da Yuan in 1996, but did not get a really chance to study with him until 2012, when I brought a group of IAI instructors to Beijing to train intensively
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Articles & Videos
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Mother Palms of Ba Gua Zhang – Part 1
The Eight Mother Palms of Ba Gua Zhang are an essential part of Ba Gua training and the primary foundational Nei Gong exercise. develops both the footwork and the internal strength that are critical to
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Treating Overstretched Ligaments & Tendons with Chinese Medicine Part 2 by Tom Bisio
In Treating Overstretched Ligaments & Tendons with Chinese Medicine Part 1, we discussed the use of Liniments, Soaks, and Gao (Poultices) in treating these kinds of injuries. Continuing our multi-modality approach to treatment, this article
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Lao Ba Zhang & Kai-He (Open Close)
Kai – He 開合 (Open-Close) One way to summarize the synergy between the circular expression of the Eight Palms (Lao Ba Zhang) and their various linear expressions is to understand the meaning of Kai He.
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The 3 Stages Of Healing Sinew (Soft Tissue) Injuries: Stage 2 – Sub-Acute
Post-Acute Stage 2 Injuries If your injury was treated correctly when it first happened, there may be no Stage 2 symptoms and you can quickly return to your normal activities. However, if the injury
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Treating Overstretched Ligaments & Tendons with Chinese Medicine: Part 3 by Tom Bisio
In Treating Overstretched Ligaments & Tendons with Chinese Medicine Part 1 and Part 2, we discussed the use of Liniments, Soaks, Gao (Poultices), moxibustion and exercise in treating these kinds of injuries. Continuing our multi-modality
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Lao Ba Zhang: Eight Palms, Eight Linear Forms and 64 Hands
Wang Shi Tong’s Lao Ba Zhang is inextricably linked to the Eight Palm methods, the Eight Linear Forms and the 64 Hands. Understanding how these forms and methods relate to and combine with the Eight
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Zen And the Art of Standing by IAI Instructor MG Kriger
Zen And the Art of Standing As a student of both the Dharma and the internal arts, I must preface everything to come with a brief disclaimer. This article represents my beginners (always beginning) understanding
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The 3 Stages Of Healing Sinew (Soft Tissue) Injuries: Stage 1 – Acute
Sinew injuries, or soft tissue injuries, are not only the most common type of sports injury, they also plague many of us who don’t play sports but perform repetitive tasks, like typing at
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Martial Art Great: Fu Shu Yun
Fu Shu Yun was born in 1916 in Tianjin, China. She began training in martial arts in junior high school. Her skill developed quickly and she was soon called upon to give demonstrations at sports
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Don’t Let Tendonitis Keep you from Training and Competing by Tom Bisio
Rigorous physical training can lead to chronic injuries which can affect performance or curtail training altogether. One chronic injury that can be particularly frustrating and debilitating is tendonitis. While tendonitis can be caused by a
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Wang Shi Tong’s Old Eight Palms (Lao Ba Zhang): The Four Complimentary Forces
This article builds on last month’s article on Lao Ba Zhang: Opening the Form. The Four Forces All of the movements in Lao Ba Zhang incorporate four essential, oppositional yet complimentary movements, that act together
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The Impact of Internal Arts on Clinical Practice by Kathy Taromina
The Impact of Internal Arts on Clinical Practice I entered my 20th year of clinical practice in 2018 and I have been reflecting on the journey. I have considered what I would say to myself as
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Wang Shi Tong’s Old Eight Palms (Lao Ba Zhang): Introduction
Almost every style of Ba Gua Zhang has a version of Lao Ba Zhang, or “The Old Eight Palms.” These palms are sometimes referred to as the Eight Palm Changes. In Liang Style Ba
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TTM Gong Fu Sports Medicine 1 w/ Tom Bisio – Feb. 1-2, 2020
This intensive seminar is based on Tom Bisio’s popular book, A Tooth From the Tiger’s Mouth. Students directly experience the power and effectiveness of Chinese Medicine by learning sophisticated multi-modality methods of treating and rehabilitating
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A Tribute to Ba Gua Zhang Master Wang Shi Tong by Tom Bisio
Master Wang Shi Tong was one Beijing’s great Ba Gua Zhang practitioners. He generously passed on many of the classical Ba Gua Zhang fighting forms and weapons forms that IAI teaches today. Wang Shi Tong
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IAI Instructor Ba Gua Instructor Eric Deutsch Wins 2nd Place in Tournament
On May 26th, 2019, IAI Instructor Ba Gua Zhang Instructor Eric Deutsch won 2nd place at the Los Angeles International Chinese Martial Arts Competition. Eric performed the Ba Gua Zhang Slicing Rotating Saber Form (Ba
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Why I Practice Ba Gua by IAI Instructor Mark Greenfield
Which Martial Art? Which martial art is the best? It depends. If you are interested in beginning martial arts or considering switching to a different style, the more relevant question is “which martial art is
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The Athlete’s Nemesis: Pulled Muscles and Muscle Strains by Tom Bisio
Muscle injuries are very common complaints in orthopedic practice, occurring both among athletes and among non-athletes. We regularly read about top athletes in almost any sport who are sidelined for weeks due to a strained,
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Arthritis & the Athlete by Tom Bisio
For the the sports enthusiast or workout addict, a diagnosis of arthritis can be devastating. Although the term “arthritis” is often employed incorrectly and is frequently misdiagnosed, to most people it is synonymous with
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Back In the Day: Eric Knauss Founder of the Dog Brothers
We recently found this post on the internet by Eric Knauss, Founder of the Dog Brothers, which mentions some of the training in Filipino Martial arts that IAI founder Tom Bisio and Eric Knauss did
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Kali Master Leo T. Gaje: Poetry in Motion by Tom Bisio
I met Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje in 1976. In searching for an instructor in the Filipino martial arts (FMA), I heard about a group that practiced on the roof of the Philippine consulate
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The Non-Martial Aspects of Xing Yi Quan by IAI Xing Yi Instructor Matt Tomkiel
Xing Yi Quan Xing Yi Quan is described as a process Daoist Inner Alchemy, which cultivates direct, spontaneous, and appropriate responses to the situation at hand. It is not limited to martial techniques. “Xing Yi
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The Importance of Note Taking in Internal Martial Arts
The Importance of Note Taking in Internal Martial Arts by IAI Ba Gua Zhang Instructor Jonathan Breshin From the first seminar I ever attended with NYIA, I was encouraged to take notes in
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Xing & Ming In Daoism
Xing & Ming In Daoism Xing and Ming are two interrelated concepts that can be understood in a variety of ways. Xing and Ming represent not only two different aspects of the body/mind but also
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A Tribute to IAI Instructor Reggie Haley
A Tribute to Reggie Haley by Tom Bisio The recent loss of our school brother Reginald “Reggie” Haley was a great blow to those of us who trained with him for more than two decades.
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Dr. Vince Black: Master of Martial Arts and Chinese Medicine
Dr. Vince Black: Master of Martial Arts and Chinese Medicine by Tom Bisio Dr. Vince Black was an amazing martial artist who developed and influenced several generations of outstanding martial arts and Chinese medicine practitioners.
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Rare Video Interview with Xing Yi Master Song Zhi Yong: Part 2
In part two of our interview with Xing Yi Master Song Zhi Yong, Master Song talks about his teacher, Master Li Gui Chang, Xing Yi’s Twelve Animals, Xing Yi partner exercises, Song’s own personal training
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Xing Yi Quan Legend – Master Li Gui Chang
Li Gui Chang – Xing Yi Quan Legend by Tom Bisio Master Li Gui Chang was born February 1, 1914 in Hao Village, Shanxi Province, China. Master Li began his study of martial arts at
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Cómo cure mi dolor de espalda baja: el estiramiento del Fénix
This article, “How I Cured my Back Pain with the Phoenix Stretch” by Valerie Ghent was translated into Spanish by Juanlu Cadenas de Llano Bajo. Muchas gracias Juanlu. El estiramiento del Fénix es un excelente
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Ba Gua Zhang Prodigy: Zhang Hua Sen
Zhang Hua Sen – Ba Gua Zhang Prodigy by Tom Bisio Zhang Hua Sen was born in 1935 in Shandong Province, China. He was born into a poor family that moved to Beijing to find
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“Fuerza de los tendones”, Fascia, los Canales Tendinomusculares y las Artes Marciales Internas – Parte 1
Tremendous thanks to Juan Luis Cadenas de Llano Bajo for translating Tom Bisio’s 6-part article series on Tendon Strength, Fascia and the Internal Martial Arts into Spanish. We include the first part in Spanish here,
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Rare Video Interview with Xing Yi Master Song Zhi Yong: Part 1
Song Zhi Yong is one of the top disciples of Li Gui Chang (1914-2000), legendary master of Xing Yi Quan and Tai Ji Quan. Master Song rarely talks about Xing Yi outside of teaching his
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Comment J’ai Guéri Mon Bas du Dos Douloureux avec l’Etirement du Phoenix
This article, “How I Cured my Back Pain with the Phoenix Stretch” by Valerie Ghent was translated into French by Guillaume Culioli from Qi Gong Guadeloupe. Merci Guillaume. CLICK HERE to read this article on
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Tendon Strength, Fascia, the Sinew Channels & Internal Martial Arts – Final Questions (Part 6)
Questions The fascial studies cited within this series of articles are quite fascinating and informative, however they raise as many questions as they answer,
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The Practice of San Ti Shi in Xing Yi Quan: Part 2
Liu Wen Hua: Eight Key Points for San Ti Shi When holding San Ti Shi, one initially mentally reviews the Eight Necessities in order to train the form and the Qi correctly. Liu Wen Hua
