DAOI Talks

Jeran Cho began training at the age of 6 in Taekwondo before deciding to train seriously in Chinese martial arts. Starting with Wing Chun and Yang style Tai Chi, he continued his studies with Liang Yi Quan and Shaolin Kung Fu. Eventually, Jeran moved to Montreal where he studied Xing Yi and Ba Gua with Master Yang Hai, eventually becoming his first formal disciple. Today, Jeran resides in Hong Kong, using his knowledge as a sports and orthopedic physical therapist to make traditional ideas more accessible to the general public. Jeran is also the newest member of the DAOI team, and is the our Asia Correspondent and Community Outreach Representative.

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Dr. Stephen Yan, born Yan Zhi Jun in Shanghai, is a well known and respected Chinese martial arts teacher, practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor based in Wellington, NZ. Dr. Yan is also a published author, writing under the pen name of Yan Zi Yuan.

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Samuel Wuest (LAc) is the creator of Meridians Move and half of Blue North Acupuncture in Escazu, San Jose Costa Rica. A former collegiate and professional athlete and coach, Sam began formally studying Chinese medicine while rehabilitating an injury. During this same time period he began training intensively under Wudang Daoist priest Zhou Xuan Yun, under whom he became a certified taiji instructor. Sam has also studied for several years with Lindsey Wei of Wudang White Horse.

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Peter Ralston is an internationally renowned Martial artist and master of consciousness work who has written multiple highly acclaimed books and has taught countless students, many who teach Cheng Hsin, the art he founded which pairs principles of Zen, the Internal Arts and Ontological exploration.

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Dan Schultz got into martial arts in the 90s and overtime developed a love for Chinese martial arts. Blessed with many teachers and opportunities to travel to learn and teach martial arts he found his current teacher Shifu Neil Ripski. Shifu Dan now teaches the Ma family martial arts which include Long fist, Drunken boxing, Taijiquan, Xinyiliuhe, Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, 18 Lohan, and several animal styles. He teaches in person and online to promote Chinese martial arts and to continue his own practice. Connect with Shifu Dan:

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Shifu Mark Li was born into the authentic tradition of Chinese internal arts and Daoist energy cultivation. He inherited through direct transmission from his father and grandfather the lineage, knowledge, and wisdom of his predecessors passed down over several centuries. Shifu Li’s training began at a very young age with his father, Grandmaster Li Tai Liang, esteemed grandmaster of Chinese martial and energetic tradition, who is recognized and acclaimed in China and in the West. After moving to the United States, Shifu Li pursued his Ph.D. in economics and continues to enjoy combining his scholarly skills into research and university teaching as well as into developing an easily applicable method for teaching the secrets about unlocking the potential power of internal and energetic arts.

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After practicing martial arts for most of his life, Stefan (nickname Stev) decided in 2011 to dedicate his life to the internal Kung Fu arts by joining the full-time program of Wudang Deutschland. His training in Germany was followed by another period of three years under Ismet Himmet at his school in China. Being one of Ismets closer students, Stev took the responsibility in 2017 of leading the Wudang Deutschland school in Berlin. In 2021 he renamed the school to Xuan - Gong Fu Academy. Connect with Stev:

Kathy K. Yang began training traditional Chinese martial arts, Taijiquan and Qigong at the age of six under the guidance of her father Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming. As an active competitor, she has been awarded on several occasions the Grand Champion title in both internal and external Chinese martial arts from renowned U.S. tournaments such as U.S.A. Wushu Kungfu Federation (USAWKF) and A Taste of China U.S.A. All-Taijiquan Tournament. Kathy has taught at the New England School of Acupuncture at MCPHS University. She leads research in Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine) related to Mind/Body health, aging and hormones. She also teaches Chinese Medicine workshops and offers personal consultations in the United States, South America, and Europe. Connect with Kathy Yang:

Master Sam F.S. Chin is the co-founder of I Liq Chuan, and the current gate keeper of the system. He is the founder and President of Chin Family I Liq Chuan Association, as well as the creator of I Liq Chuan Grading System. Master Sam Chin trained martial arts since childhood by his father – the founder of I Liq Chuan, Chin Lik Keong. During the 1980’s, Master Sam Chin won numerous competitions, as well as the state heavy weight kickboxing championships of Selangor (Malaysia) in 1978. He was also recognized by the USA Wushu Kung-Fu Federation as a Hall of Fame Outstanding Master. Connect with Master Chin:

Sifu Neil Ripksi is an internationally recognized expert in the art of Zuiquan, also known as Drunken Kung Fu. He has also spent decades training in Ma Family kung fu, xinyiliuhe, taijiquan, baguazhang, qigong, and iron palm and iron body methods. He is the author of several books on martial arts and teaches online and at workshops and seminars around the world.

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Nathan Brine is an Internal Alchemy teacher in Vancouver Canada and a long time disciple of Mr.Wang Liping, a popular figure in the Energy Arts world in China. Nathan has published the Daoist Alchemy of Wang Liping, the most comprehensive book detailing Mr.Wang’s practice available in English.

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Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming is a renowned author and teacher of Chinese martial arts and Qigong. He was born in Taiwan, and started his wushu or kung fu training at the age of fifteen. He became an expert in the White Crane style of Chinese martial arts, which includes both the use of bare hands and various weapons such as saber, staff, spear, trident, two short rods, and many others. Dr. Yang's Martial Arts Association was established in Boston, MA in 1982, with the intent of preserving traditional Chinese Kung Fu and Qigong. He has trained and taught Taijiquan, Qigong, and Chinese martial arts for over 45 years. He is the author of over thirty books and was elected by Inside Kung Fu magazine as one of the 10 people who has "made the greatest impact on martial arts in the past 100 years." Dr. Yang teaches traditional Yang-style long form step-by-step, while explaining the meaning of each movement.

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Ismet Himmet has been studying martial arts since 1985. After becoming a disciple of the Wudang Xuan Wu Pai, he opened Wudang Deutschland, the first live-in martial arts academy in Germany. Subsequently, he returned to China and became the first foreigner to open a school on Mt. Wudang. He currently teaches a style of movement and self defence called SHIZAAM, and has schools in over 20 countries around the world.

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Johan Hausen 李誠材, BHSc (Chinese Medicine) is a 24th-generation Dragon Gate Sect disciple and Founder of Purple Cloud Press 紫霄出版社

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About Sifu Matt Irvin in his own words: Sifu Matt is the creator of the EOE America blog and YouTube channel. He has practiced martial arts for over 30 years, and has taught EOE and Chinese martial arts in seminars and private lessons throughout the United States. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sifu Matt currently resides in Oakland, California. His half-step Crushing Fist strikes everywhere under heaven. E-mail: eoeamerica (at) hotmail (dot) com

Ken Gullette has been studying martial arts for 50 years. Since 1987, he has specialized in the internal arts of Taijiquan, Xingyiquan and Baguazhang. His main focus is Chen style Taijiquan. Since 1998, he has learned from instructors including Jim and Angela Criscimagna, Mark Wasson, Chen Xiaowang, Chen Xiaoxing, Chen Huixian, and most recently Nabil Ranne. Ken teaches in-person classes and also teaches through video and live online classes.

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Livia Kohn is a Professor Emerita of Religion and East Asian Studies at Boston University.She graduated from Bonn University, Germany, in 1980 and spent six years at Kyoto University in Japan before joining Boston University in 1988. Professor Kohn has authored or edited close to sixty books, including the annual Journal of Daoist Studies. She is also a certified instructor of Kripalu Yoga, Qigong, and Scottish Country Dancing. She is a leading facilitator of Core Health and co-author of Core Health: The Quantum Way to Inner Power. She runs international conferences, guides study tours to Japan, and serves as the executive editor of Three Pines Press as well as the Journal of Daoist Studies.

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Shifu Jonathan Bluestein (LL.b) is a renowned teacher and scholar of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts, and a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Hailing from Israel, Shifu Bluestein has written and published 9 different books, of which several are about the martial arts. Two of his books, 'Research of Martial Arts' and 'The Martial Arts Teacher 2', are international best-sellers. Shifu Bluestein is the head of Blue Jade Martial Arts International.

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Jon Nicklin is a Song style Xing Yi practitioner living in China. He also practices Chen style Tai Chi among other arts and has traveled all over China meeting masters of the Internal Arts.

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Lindsey Wei is an expert in the Wudang Martial and Self Cultivation Arts, and an official representative of the Five Immortals Temple and Wudang White Horse Lineage. She lives in Oregon USA where she teaches in person and online. Connect with Lindsey Wei:

Tim Cartmell is a full contact Asian martial arts champion, submissions grappling champion, and author and translator of several books. He is the holder of an 8th degree black belt in Kung Fu San Soo and a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He currently teaches BJJ and MMA out of Ace Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Fountain Valley CA.

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Dr. Kenneth J. Fish is a Martial Arts Expert from the United States who joins us to discuss his many decades of experience in the internal Arts.

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