curriculum vitae - qigong

The medical side of qigong is fascinating; there are countless recorded cases of the remarkable effects on health and the benefits of studying this ancient art.

'The eight pieces of brocade' was my first introduction to qigong, taught to me by Sifu Edward Jardine in Johannesburg.

These exercises nourish, strengthen and develop the internal organs.
The opening and closing of the joints allows energy to travel freely through the body where healing takes place. Breathing with these exercises facilitates meditation.

My second encounter came through the Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu Academy in Sydney, Australia which taught an ancient system called
'The Eighteen Luohan' (18 Buddha Hands - a shaolin qigong system) was being taught. I studied this system with a few teachers and found the form, postures and energy centers stimulated in me to be quite extraordinary. It is literally the form that stimulates the energy centers and internal organs where continuous stretching and un stretching aids muscle development and the ability to nourish chi

By accident I discovered Master Sun who taught Wudang Qigong and continue to practice these exercises. Gentle twisting of the internal organs helps to balance the body. These principles apply to Pa Kua also.

When I teach taiji I include exercises from these different systems to introduce students to qigong and as a way of bridging taiji and qigong.

If students experience the benefits of qigong and wish to pursue this
discipline solely. I encourage their investigation of other schools, which teach it specifically.