Martial Arts and Qi Gong Expert

I began my training in Martial Arts, meditation, and some basic Qi Gong at 10 years of age (about 47 years ago).

Recreation Center Judo

Age 10 – one year.

Full Contact Karate

Age 11 years old – 4 years

Shifu Eric Tuttle

Age 17 years old – 7 years, training  almost daily– still going to visit and learn when I can.

From Eric, I learned Norther Shaolin, Wing Chung, Qi Gong/Dao Yin/Nei Gong/Chan, Taijiquan (Yang and Chen), Jiang RongQiao Style Baguazhang, Xing Yi, Yi Quan, and some Zi Ran Men. (see his lineage page link below)

Shifu Eric Tuttle began studying Northern Shaolin, Taijiquan, Qi Gong, Nei Gong, Yi Jin Jing and an Iron Body and Iron Palm system with a Shifu or ‘Master’ Kwok Chan in 1968. Unfortunately, Shifu Kwok Chan passed before Eric could finish his formal training. I do not know much about him.

In the late 70’s, he began travelling to study with Kwok Wing Lam  嚴尚武 a direct ‘brother’ in the Northern Shaolin and Sun Style Nei Jia (Internal Styles – Taiji, Bagua, Xing Yi).

Both Shifu Kwok Chan and Shifu Kwok Wing Lam were direct disciples of Yan Shang Wu 1882 – 1971. Yan Shang Wu was a disciple of the world-famous Iron Palm and Shaolin Grandmaster Gù Rǔzhāng.

Gù Rǔzhāng (顾汝章) 1894–1952 . in the  Sōngshān Shí Lù Shàolínquán (嵩山十路少林拳) / Song (Henan) Mountain Ten Road Shaolin Boxing.

Shifu Tuttle also taught a modern mixed approach to Wing Chun. His Wing Chun was influenced by greats like William Cheung, Wong Shun Leung. Eric also spent several years training part time with Daniel Lee, James DeMille, and eventually Jesse Glover – Bruce Lee’s first student.

After I moved away, Shifu Tuttle went on to study with George Xu (Xu Guo Ming), who  is a also Chen Taijiquan family lineage representative. George Xu introduced Eric to Yu Hualong, and Ma Hong.

Sensei Steve Trew

Age 19 – 5 years

Steve cross-trained with Eric Tuttle for years. They were childhood friends. Sensei Trew studied several martial arts and primarily taught Shinkage Ryu Kenjistsu, sword and knife making, as well as formal Zen meditation from the Rinzai lineage. Steve was a very unique person, terrifyingly gifted swordsman, with an almost unbelievable life story. I was accepted as a formal disciple and was given his sword upon his retirement.

Sensei Trew never spoke of his teachers i a formal way, and at the time I did not understand the importance of such things. We lost contact after I moved away and I never had the chance to  ask.  With some regret, I no longer train significantly of teach in this system and lineage.

Jesse Glover

Age 22 –4 day intensive – 1990

Jesse Raymond Glover (October 15, 1935 – June 27, 2012). He was Bruce Lee’s first student. He developed his own method which he called Non-Classical Gung Fu (NCGF). This simplified approach to Wing Chun is very effective and easy to learn. I had studied Wing Chun with Eric Tuttle for about five years when I met Jesse, and he encouraged me to teach what I found useful from his system. Since then, I have trained with many of Jesse’s students since. I am not a certified NCGF instructor (not sure who is), but this has became a focus of my training and what I teach (with permission).

Xu Gong Wei

Age 24 – 5 years

Xu Gong Wei 徐公伟 (1916 – 2003). Xu Shifu was the inheritor of Cha Chuan – one of the five pre-Shaolin styles. He studied Chen Taijiquan with lineage holder (Chen Zhao Kui), and Wu style Taijiquan with Wu Gong Zao (1902–1983), who was the grandson of Wu Ch’uan-yü – the founder of Wu style Taijiquan.

From Xu Gong Wei I learned Chen family Taijiquan, a few Qi Gong forms, and some Baguazhang. My primary focus was on Chen Taiji. Xu Shifu and I developed a great relationship (my Chinese wasn’t terrible then) and he often invited me to demonstrate at competitions and many seasonal Chinese Cultural events. With his help I became the youngest person, and second non-Chinese person to be accepted as a teacher with the Canadian Chinese Martial arts Teachers Association, which back then, was very hard to join.

Andy Dale

Age 25 – 4 years consistently – a few seminars since, hoping to play again soon!

In 1972 Andy became a formal student of Taiji Grandmaster Tchoung Ta Tchen of the Yang Shou Hou Taiji lineage. Yang Shao-Hou (1862 – 1930) was the eldest son of Yang Jian-Hou and the older brother of Yang Cheng-Fu. At the age of 7, he started training under Yang Lu Chan, (楊祿纏),(1799–1872), the founder of Yang family-style T’ai Chi Chuan

In 1987 he met Taiji Master Gao Fu and became a formal student of Chen Taiji Quan and Hunyuan Qi Gong, Hunyuan Taiji. In July 2001 he had the privilege to train with Chen Taiji Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang, a disciple of Chen Village lineage holder Chen Fake and Master Gao’s teacher.

Shifu Dale began studying Red Boat Wing Chun (Yueng Quan) and Shoshin Ryu Aikijitsu with Sensei Dave Harris in 1971 – Master Fook Yueng’s top student (see Below). Andy began studying Yueng Quan with Master Fook Yueng in 1972.

In 1988 Master Yueng named him ‘second son’ and taught him the complete Tian Shan Qi Gong Method. In September 2000 he was presented with Master Yueng’s family sword as a member and representative of his lineage.

Sensei/Shifu Dave Harris

Age 26 – 2 years (a few weekends and other opportunities)

Dave became a formal student of Master Fook Yueng, learning Red Boat Wing Chun, Mantis, Crane, assorted weapons, and Qi Gong in 1965. Soon after he became a student of Aikijitsu Master Sid Woodcock. Sensei Harris eventually earned a 5th degree from Woodcock. Yueng introduced Dave to of Taiji master Yam-Man ‘Raymond’ Chung (鍾蔭民 1913-2018) and learned the entire traditional Yang Cheng Fu system.

Dave also studied with Tchoung Ta Tchen (below), and became a formal student. Shifu David Harris is one of only five students who received teaching certifications from Master Tchoung.

Fook Yeung

Age 26 – 3 years (several group and private opportunities and one unforgettable week long co-teaching adventure)

Tian Shan Qi Gong, Red Boat Wing Chun – Fook Yeung Chuan

Fook Yueng was trained in the Chinese Opera since childhood. He became part of the Red Boat Opera group that traveled along the coast stopping at cities to perform and accept challenges. Red Boat Opera was also known as an elite martial arts group consisting of kung fu masters of several styles. Red Boat Wing Chun was a blend of Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Northern and Southern Mantis, Crane, Monkey and others. His special role was playing the part of the Monkey King in the Opera. Another member of the troop was Bruce Lee’s father who was a good friend. Linda Lee acknowledged that Yueng trained Bruce and was his mentor in addition to Yip Man.

Madame Gao Fu

Age 27 – 3 weekend advanced seminars for Chen Taijiquan teachers.

Madame Gao Fu began in mid-life and studied Hunyuan Qi Gong and Chen style Taijiquan with Grandmaster Feng Zhi Qiang. Gao Fu became an official Living Treasure of China – specifically with Chen Taiji Sword.

Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang 冯志强(1928-2012) Was also a Living Treasure for Chen Taijiquan. His uncle Wang Wang Yun Kai began teaching him Tong Zi Gong 童子功, Zhan Zhuang 站桩, and Yijinjing 易筋经when he was 8 years old.

​At the age of 20, Feng Zhiqiang began his lifelong study of the internal martial arts with Hu Yao Zhen 胡耀貞, who taught him Liu He Xin Yi Quan and a variety of Taoist Neigong 内功 methods. Hu recommended Feng to Chen Fa Ke 陈发科, the 17th generation inheritor of Chen Style Taijiquan. Shifu Feng became Chen’s indoor disciple.

Meeting Gao Fu was life-changing. I had the honor to learn aspects of Taiji and Qi Gong that I had never considered or heard of. I also learned the Hunyuan Qi Gong form her and a few of students since.

Tchoung Tcha Tien

Age 27 – one unforgettable afternoon

I took a rare opportunity to meet this legend of a martial artist. At the time I had a specific interest in internal cultivation, Yi Quan, and Zi Ran Men.

Shifu Tchoung began his training in a style called ‘ Nature Boxing’ (Zirenmen), a style said to be created by a wushu master nicknamed Dwarf Xu of Si Chuan province. He was a formal student of Yang Shao-Hou (1862 – 1930) who was the eldest son of Yang Jian-Hou and the older brother of Yang Cheng-Fu. At the age of 7, he started training under Yang Lu Chan, (楊祿纏 1799–1872), the founder of Yang family-style T’ai Chi Chuan

Shifu Tchoung began studying Qi Gong and Taijiquan with Abbott Hui Kung, at the Omei Monastery in 1943. He learned Baguazhang and Yi Quan from his friend Wang Shu Jin and Xingyiquan from his friend Yuan Tao.

Wang Shu Jin started training Zhan Zhuang and Qi Gong under renowned master Zhang Zhaodong at 18 years old. Wang Shifu later studied under the founder of Yi Quan Wang Xiangzhai.

After a very thorough push hands ‘test’, Tchoung agreed to answer my questions and give me some corrections. That day changed the trajectory of my martial arts journey and career.

Traditional Chine Medicine and Inner Cultivation

Professor Leung Kok Yuen (Liang Jue Xuan)

Age 26 – 3 years

I studied Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Yi Dao Huan Yuan vilage/family system (Jia) of Daoist Inner Cultivation (Xiu Dao). There was a focus on Qi Gong, Dao Yin, Nei Yang Gong, and Nei Gong for healing complex diseases and trauma. Dr. Leung was a 14th-generation inheritor of his family’s system of practice. I have studied this approach to Daoist Alchemy (Nei Dan) since.

Professor Leung was one of the most influential teachers of TCM, around the world in the last century. He was awarded and honorary library at the University of British Columbia . You can visit it HERE.

I became a licensed Doctor of Traditional Chinese medicine and, in 1996 I was a co-founder of the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences, the first 5-year full time Doctoral level post secondary institution in Canada to replicate the contemporary level of training in China. I have practiced for 30 years and taught TCM for 20 of those years.

As a part of studying medicine, I was introduced to the following teachers.

Cai Liping PHd

Age 27 – 2 years

I studied modern Chinese medicine Herbology and Gu Zheng (Bone Setting) – which is a form of hands-on healing (Medical Qi Gong) that works specifically with the bones.

KS Wong

Age 27 – 1 year

Wong Shifu was a very high-level practitioner of Dao Yin and Tui Na, as well as a family method of Medical Qi Gong. He also studied many modern systems of Bodywork, especially Cranio-sacral Therapy.

I studied sensing Qi practices and a system of diagnosis and treating Qi Wounds with movement, Breathwork, massage, and a family method of Hands-on Healing in a Nei Yang Gong lineage. Most of this was in a classroom setting as a part of my TCM studies, so I am not claiming a specific system or lineage. We had a chance to cross train for a while, and I learned another version of the Hun Yaun (Primordial) Qi Gong, Five (many) Animal Qi Gong theory and expression, and completely mind bending understanding of the Five Phases.

Guang Shi Wei

Age 26 – 3 months – professional exchange.

Guang Shifu studied to be a Long Men (Dragon Gate) Priest in Taiwan, and after two years decided to leave monastic life and go to university. We met through Professor Leung because Guang Shi Wei or Shayne taught a form of Nei Gong and Nei Yang Gong. Besides studying these aspects of Daoist practice and Healing, I also spent a few days (over a few months) exchanging skills with him. ‘Shayne’ wanted to learn Yi Quan and offered to share his experience with Nei Dan – or Daoist Alchemy from the Long Men lineage. I include him here because Daoist Alchemy is taught in a linguistically challenging way, even if your Chinese is perfect (mine is not). Shayne offered clarity, not only on tricky terminology, but some essential distinctions in the Sheng Tai (Sacred Embryo) Lineage I was learning from Professor Leung.

Liang Shou Yu

Age 26 – 10 months

As a part of my TCM training, I was taught Shaolin Nei Jing Gong (Yi Zhi Chan) by the world-renowned Liang, Shou-Yu. Liang Shifu was born on June 28, 1943 When he was six he began his training in Emei kungfu and Qigong with his grandfather, the late Liang, Zhi-Xiang in 1948. In the early sixties, began his study and research in Yang, Chen, Sun, and Wu style Taiji as well as Esoteric Taoist Qigong.

I also had the opportunity to discuss his approach to the Yi Jin Jing process and some feedback on Silk Reeling.

A Shift of Intention

While I was studying Traditional Chinese medicine, I had to gradually close my Martial Arts school. I was also doing seminars for Law Enforcement and other tactical professionals. Unexpectedly, after almost two decades of commitment to the systems I was studying and teaching, I began shifting my focus to learning and teaching more ‘tactical violence’ with or without weapons.

I still teach and practice several systems of Qi Gong, Taiji (Tai Chi) and other Nei Jia forms for health and basic martial arts skills.

As for the fighting/tactical aspect, mostly I focus on Red Boat Wing Chun, Pekiti Tersia Kali (below), Boxing, Yi Chuan, and Zi Ran Men. (Minimal Forms)

Michael (Loki) Jörgenson

Age 26 – 1 year – we co-taught a course on empty hand, blunt and edged weapons for traditional martial artists, and those interested in Tactical Combatives.

Loki is the Chief Instructor of Maelstrom Martial Arts, and has studied with many teachers of Kali, Jeet Kun Do, such as Dan Inosanto, and the knife work of Leo Gaje Jr. He introduced me to the early world of Dog Brothers (training for violence with live violence).

Learning Kali, once again, changed the trajectory of my martial arts career!

Close Quarter Violence (CQV)

Age 28 to presnt

This is my approach to training myself and others in all aspects of physical violence, from self-defence to tactical training for professionals. Having just moved to an new and very small town, I am only teaching seminars and private students at present.

Meeting Eric Again

Age 32 – another opportunity to go full circle.

In 2000, Shifu Tuttle came to teach Qi Gong and Taijiquan at the Traditional Chinese medicine school (ACOS) I had co-founded (in 1996). Over the almost ten years since we had trained together, Eric had trained with Yu Hualong in China (training daily for months at a time) and has brought Yu Hualong to Canada.

Eric is also a recognized disciple of Ma Hong 1927-2013, who was Chen Zhaokui’s disciple of Chen style.

Shifu Tuttle is now the official representative of the Chen Zhaokui Chen Taijiquan Association in Canada.

We focused mostly on Xing Yi and Chen style.

2024/2025 – by the good fortunes of chance, I moved to the same city that Eric lives. I am beyond grateful to train with my original teacher of Chinese Martial Arts and Inner Cultivation.