Introduce Yourself Here!

Hi. Just a beginner from ElPaso, Txas

Hi, Dan! I'm trying this again...will post more if this one works!

It worked! Hey, everyone. I live in the western section of Maine, and I have studied with Bruce for the past 13 years. I have studied tai chi short and long form, qigong and bagua. Still pretty quiet on here...would love to see some more people show up!

Hi all,

Jess O'Brien here. Started with Bruce in 1999 and continuing to train, primary focus is Xing Yi and Ba Gua along with Nei Gung. My buddy Isaac & I have classes here in the Bay Area, so keep in touch when you come our way!

-Jess O

Hi Cathy!

I live and work in the northern Virginia/Washington DC suburbs area.

A few years ago, I had begun taking classes from a sifu in downtown DC, in the "Chinatown" area, where he taught KungFu, TaiChi, and Pakua. I wasn't much driven toward KungFu - I was already in my late 40's and had limited interest in the "hard" arts. But the "soft" styles (taichi, pakua) intrigued me, and I worked with this school until he closed down and moved back to China.

Before he left, I had asked about starting a course in Hsing-I and ChiQong, and the very first couple of days were terrific, but came to a sudden stop on his departure from the States.

I've taken a pretty basic course in Aikido at the local community center - about what one would expect. Studied for a year or so.

I've actually been a much better student using the book/DVD/"self-taught" path - although will readily admit that I can't possibly know if I am doing everything precisely correctly.

My results have been good, I am generally pain-free in spite of having suffered some pretty serious bone damage (ankles, knees, shoulders) from years of being pounded in the Army. In fact, I was able to start running again this year, although had been warned not to by the surgeon who put my ankle back together. I credit my work with ChiQong and TaiChi for that restoration of energy and circulatory health that has allowed me to run again.

Looking forward to learning more about this Energy Arts system and the many practices available...

And to hearing from other students!

I'm an Arizona native. Working as a massage therapist and in my profession over the last 8 years, I have come across many philosophies and energy practices. It was not until 2007when I started my studies in Tui Na that all of my seeking brought me to a spontaneous place of "knowing". A feeling of coming home in the Tao. That year I meet my dear teacher Joel Seigneur who I spent 3 years learning about the cosmic winds of change, the heavenly branches and much more than I could get into but this is just an introduction =)

That same year I also meet my Bagua Zhang teacher, Richard Shapiro, a great friend that has journeyed with me around the tree several times into and out of the chaos and drauss (spelling??) that one carries for one reason or another. As I sit posting this comment I have a few more hours before I board a plane to receive my first instruction from Bruce in Qi Gong Tui Na!! I feel fortunate in my reflections, to be alive in this most auspicious time and have the teachings and teachers available.

In Great Gratitude
Michelle

Craig here from Scotland, primarily interested in Bagua and teach Cheng style, although still interested in Liu's unique contribution to the Bagua mix

Good to see the Forum gong live (:
Great to hear of everyone's journey in their practice...lots of streams flowing and connecting within the teaching of the Taoist Water Method by Bruce Frantzis.
From a Hatha Yoga background, in 2001 I began to regularly train in neigong and wu style tai chi long form/ short form with Brian Cooper, in Brighton, England.
Am steadily building my teaching schedule of weekly classes, seasonal workshops and 1:1 instruction and looking forward to the tai chi short form instructor training in Summer 2011.
I enjoy sharing learning and would love to see this forum provide a kind of virtual 'practice group' as sharing and refining our understanding with others can truely deepen our connection with our own practice, and the ripples spread out.....

Hi everyone. My name's Thomas and I work for Energy Arts. If you have any questions or comments regarding the forum feel free to drop me a line.

I'm excited about this forum and hope that we're able to talk about things relevant to our practice, and also have a few threads for more mundane concerns as well.

I look forward to growing this community and deeping our practice together!

Qigong—Chinese mind/body exercises--helped me immensely in my successful battles with four bouts of supposedly terminal bone lymphoma cancer in the early nineties. I practiced standing post meditation, one of the most powerful forms of qigong--as an adjunct to chemotherapy, which is how it should always be used. I learned qigong as a personal student of Ramel Rones, disciple of Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming of Boston.

Qigong kept me strong in many ways: it calmed my mind--taking me out of the fight-or-flight syndrome, which pumps adrenal hormones into the system that could interfere with healing. The deep abdominal breathing pumped my lymphatic system—a vital component of the immune system. In addition, qigong energized and strengthened my body at a time when I couldn't do Western exercise such as weight-lifting or jogging--the chemo was too fatiguing. And it empowered my will and reinforced it every day with regular practice. In other words, I contributed to the healing process, instead of just depending solely on the chemo and the doctors. Clear 14 years and still practicing!

Bob Ellal
Author, ‘Confronting Cancer with the Qigong Edge’

hi there,

here's matthias from germany.
i learnt some matak chia stuff over the years, but somehow the meditation stuff is not my thing, always doing some energy here and there, and i was was looking for a more "just watch and let things happen" - meditation thing like the zen-guys do it sometimes, so i found this water method thing, when i searched all around.

it seems, that it's just what i was looking for.
got my first lesson in dragon-and-tiger-qigong here in germany from jamie dibdin last friday.
and I LOVE IT !!!!

apologize my poor english, please.

going back to my qigong-exercises,
greetings
matthias

Hi Dara here,
trained on Bruce's system for ~7 years now (is it that long??),
including Energy Gates instructor training.
Now based in Tokyo/Yokohama (not sure for how long) and
going to classes with Wang Shu Chin's successors:
I'm doing the Martial Tai Chi -
classes here have less explicit instruction but students and instructors are dedicated and skillful and strong at push hands...

Hopw you're all well!

Hi Folks,

The new site is great, well done!

I started learning Bagua and Chi-gung with Chris Chappell in London about 9 years ago. After a couple of years I moved back to Australia and continued studying there.

Now I have moved to sunny California, and after watching the Bagua Mastery video I am totally pumped to start formal training again - can anyone recommend teachers in the LA region?

Hello everyone! I'm a college student, and a couple of years ago I was looking online for a book on meditation and energy work. A reviewer said that "Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body" was better for someone just getting into energy work. I researched, and decided to purchase "Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body."

Well, I've been hooked ever since! I've been practicing standing dissolving, as well as the three swings, since then. I've also picked up "Relaxing Into Your Being" and "The Great Stillness", great books. About a year ago I purchased "Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong" Manual, and have been practicing that ever since as well. Great stuff!

I haven't managed to make it to a seminar. Travel + seminar expenses are a bit too much for me to handle at the moment with costs. However, I've found the book (and now DVD) material to be really top notch, and have not had a problem learning from books.

(though I should also say that prior to studying from books, I had spent some years training in karate and other martial arts, so I was already pretty used to feeling my body, working with body alignments, and learning new movements).

Hope to attend a seminar or retreat in person someday, but until then, I plan on continuing to purchase and practice any new instructional material released. I got on the notify list for the bagua mastery program months ago, and have really been looking forward to it. I also follow the youtube videos released on the energy arts channel, and really appreciate those as well!

Hello,

Im living in British Columbia, Canada and I practice Dragon and Tiger Chi Gung as well as meditation. Id like to connect with those who share similar interests and learn more about these practices which I enjoy so much.

Cheers,

kevin

Hi everyone, I started learning this system under Susan Kansky in Scottsdale AZ. She taught me energy gates, bend the bow shoot the arrow, dragon and tiger, and Bruce's Wu style short form. I attended a seminar there in about 1997 where Bruce taught meditation and marriage of heaven and earth.

Apart from that aikido is my main interest. I've been a student under Yamada Sensei since 1995.

Hi Everybody,

My name is Paul, and I'm located in the southwest Virginia town of Blacksburg. I've been studying Bruce's system since 2001 and have loved every minute of it!

The most recent event that I attended was the Longevity Breathing training in Crete this past summer. Looking forward to participating in this new forum feature of the site!

Smooth Chi,

P

hello dan,,have been studying jinshindo and qigong,,getting ready too study the bagua master program really excited study under a true toaist master. always felt the true nature of the 5 elements.

Hello everyone,
Im Patrick and I live in Abingdon, Va. Just stumbled upon the internal arts last winter and was blown away. I study snake style taiji in the Ip Tai Tak lineage and practice neigong also. I basically teach myself aside from my remote sessions with my snake style teacher, and i began with "opening the energy gates of your body" and have been going strong since. The focus of my training is spiritual and i really like the taoist way. I recently ordered the bagua mastery program to learn the bagua system. I look forward to being a part of this forum and hope to learn from you all.
Patrick

Hi, fellows.
My name is Fábio and I'm instructor of taijiquan's chen style in Santos city, close to São Paulo, Brazil, and I've just begun to have classes of bagua chang (about a year).
I just follow the Bruce's works by books, and have learned a lot by them.
I hope soon he and his team could do an event here in Brazil, to share with us their experience. Unfortunately, there is anybody here linked with the Energy Arts team.
Please, program something here.

Peace 4 all.

Hello,

Am very excited to infuse Bruce's insights into my current Bagua practice. Been studying the internal arts for nearly 13 years now, and Bruce's work has always been a great inspiration. Actually took some classes in Brookline about 10 years ago.

Bob, we've actually met, twice. I started my journey at a school founded by Ramel Rones in Westerly, RI. I believe you accompanied him to a workshop at our school. Later I encountered you again at YMAA headquarters in Jamaica Plain. Believe it or not, you've been a huge inspiration for my standing practice, which I've maintained since meeting you. I was amazed by your story and the intensity of your practice. I knew that if you could generate enough chi to heal cancer, standing would serve my purposes as well.

Small world right?

Good to be with you all.

Joshua

Paul,
That's awesome! I literally know no one else who trains in internal, and have been wanting to get up with someone. I would love to meet up with you anytime it's possible. If you still know folks in Abingdon i wouldn't mind getting in touch with them as well. This Bagua Mastery Program seems filled to the brim and i wouldn't mind a little help with it if you had the time. Thanks for letting me know and look forward to talking to you.
Patrick

Hi All,

I study Kung Fu and Yang-style Taiji in northeast Ohio. I'm very interested in Bagua and look forward to learning more about it through this program.

Ralph Lorenz

Hi guys my name is Christian i have 16, i am from The caribian if practiced korean karate for four years and olimpic karate Do for one year ive changed everything and now im practicing standing, some hsing i , hun gar and wing chun kung fu from books. Now I am looking forward to practice ba gua from the mastery program. It's an honor to learn from Bruce and be part of this beutifull group of practitioners.

Saludos,
Christian

Hello everyone,
Well, just got my Bagua Mastery Program first installment today in the mail. It's amazing. This is really an unbelievable amount of information, alone it could keep someone busy (someone like myself anyway) for quite a while. Im only a beginner, and that is to say i haven't even a single experience with bagua, so i'm going to go very slowly. My question is this, and maybe it will be explained in the material but so far i've only gotten through the introductory pages up to module 1, are there any suggestions on how to sequence the material? That is to say... should i watch the dvd, read the manual, then listen to the audio, or the other way around, or read the manual first then follow along with the videos and cd's? If anyone has a suggestion i would appreciate it.
Patrick

Hi All,

I'm David Shuck. I started with Bruce almost 20 years ago. I would like to say that I have been practicing regularly all that time, but its not true. I practice intermittently and my skills show it. I am happy with the results I have gotten.

I live in Kansas City, MO.

Hi!

My name is David and I recently signed up, but still haven't figured out how to log in. I sent for a new password, hopefully that will fix it.

Here is my question. I have studied the mechanics of Internal Power for about 3 years and am pleased with my progress.

I am interested in both the martial application of the Internal arts, but equally in the energetic, health and spiritual aspect of it.

So, my question is this, what is the best material to start with that will allow me to get the full spectrum benefit of the Internal Arts?

Thanks,
David

Hello, all! I live in Cleveland, Ohio. I have read many of Bruce's books, and have tried to internalize the meditation techniques presented in them. I'm working my way through the Bagua Mastery Program now; I begin to understand the necessity for qualified instruction.

Happy to be here!
Joel

Morning all,

My name's Donnie, I'm from the Highlands of Scotland. I'm a student of the arts and have been absorbing information on the internal aspects for a few years now, happily from some quite reputable sources.

I have a great passion for the martial aspects, although I do find myself drawn more to the meditative aspects as the years pass.

I have had the chance to express my arts in unrehearsed, rule free combat environments on more than a few occasions, and still search for a more defined route to economical efficiency. I'm a great believer in doing rather than talking about doing, and am looking forward to getting to know you all, your systems of internal work and sharing in the path that Mr Frantzis is happily sharing with us.

Hi I am Anita from Germany, Darmstadt, I still try to enter the Bagua Mastery Programm Group, did not make it yet. I teach Aikido since over 20 years and Bagua since last year. Hear more from me, when I manage to reenter.
Anita

Hi Everyone:

I'm new to Bagua. I was doing Tai Chi for 15 years and am also studying qigong.

Hi everyone,
I'll try this again I sent a post somewhere I'm not sure who recieved it I'm not the computer guy after all.
I've been quietly reading over and over Bruces book the power of internal martial arts all the while waiting for him to release a bagua program thanks Bruce!
I started out studying karate with Peter Rose in Portsmouth N.H.
I moved back to the Cleveland area and studied kun tao with Guy Savelli for six years.
That is when I really started to read and that is when my fascination with bagua began. I found Ted Knecht a bagua ,tai chi and xing yi instructor. I studied with him for a little over a year.
I walked the circle every day without fail during that period and discovered a few things. One of them was that I would need someone who could fully explain every aspect of the art or I would miss the full potential what I had begun to realize.So I did lots of qigong while I waited for Bruce.
Thomas

Hello,

I'm from Central Alberta, Canada. It seems I have always been interested in the martial arts and things mystical.

I studied Chito-Ryu karate during my highschool years in the mid to late '70s under a member of the R.C.M.P. ( that was the style that they were trained in since the mid 60s I guess ) and that class also had another instructor who was trained in Tae Kwon Do. Of course during this time of those Bruce Lee movies, and the tv show Kung Fu, I also became interested in that but only had books to study from. Right from the start I also had an interest in Buddhist philosophy running in parallel with the interest in physical activity of the martial arts.

Later into the 80s I started to get more into Zen meditation and bought every book I could on the subject and took whatever workshops I could find in the area. I also started getting into more and more areas of mystical philosophy including Sufism and Taoism, and even the Western systems (hence my username here).

In the mid 90s I discovered Bruce's material. First with Opening the Energy Gates and then I started buying more and more of his books, video and audio tapes and now dvds. Not just the qigong and tai chi but also the Taoist meditation material I find of great interest.

I continue to practice the Energy Gates and later bought the video of his Wu Style Short Form. This year I dedicated myself to a daily practice of these and I feel it has done much to improve a bad back, neck and shoulder... the result of many years of road construction surveying; pounding stakes into the ground.

Now I am getting into the Bagua program and hope it helps to deepen my understanding and practice, and I also hope one day to get personal instruction from Bruce or one of his instructors to take it even farther.

Thank you for opening these ancient secrets to a modern world in sore need of it.

Hi everyone!
my names richard shapiro.
been studying w bruce for about 8 years now.
love it!
I currently work as a tui na therapist, practice and teach the internal arts; taiji, bagua, chi gung, hsing-I, some systema, and working towards a meditation practice. (livelong bad body alignments make it VERY difficult to sit still, I really like to move if I can)

Ive been teaching people sports and physical/mental stuff for 25 years now, including soccer, swimming, snowboarding, karate, guitar, IMA, and the energy arts. . also have a pretty decent background in western sports psychology and the exercise/health sciences.

ever since I picked up the book power of internal arts, ive been very glad to have bruce putting this stuff out there, it's what I was looking for all along; exercise that helps people be better people, not just more athletic monkeys. The depth and usefulness of this work is phenomenal.

So Im pretty immersed in the practice.

looking forward to a great bagua program this year!

be well
richard

Hi everyone! I have been studying with Bruce for over 12 years, and tai chi for over 25 years. I'm working on the bagua mastery program, and trying to decide which 2011 events to attend (too many events, too little time and money!). This year I have also re-learned a Yang tai chi sword form - which has been great fun - and trying my best to incorporate some neigong.

I have lived in the Chicago area since 2006. Until this year I was teaching for AOM and MT programs, as well as for a cancer wellness center. I am currently working on setting up some public classes as well as doing some private instruction. I am also an acupressure/tuina therapist. In my alternate career as a librarian, one of my jobs is to select books and DVDs on Conventional Medicine, Complementary/Alternative Medicine, Health & Wellness, Fitness, and Mind/Body Practices.

Be well, Don.

I have already learned new information from this class.

Hi,

I have lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico for 20 years. I learned my first Yang style Tai Chi form when I was visiting Santa Fe in 1977. I studied and practiced Tai Chi since that time. I visited Hong Kong and took Tai Chi classes and took my first Ba Gua class there. I am excited to learn more about Ba Gua.

I grew up in Houston, Texas but have lived in New Mexico for 30 years. I studied Philosophy and Art in College. I even took a class on the I Ching. I love nature and spirituality. New Mexico is a great place to live because of the many mountains and places to hike.

I have been taking classes with Bruce off and on since he returned from China. What I have learned from him has enhanced my life in many ways.

I happy to be part of this group.

Brenda

Hi all,

Interested in finding a teacher in the northern part of New Jersey, preferably in union county. Does anyone know were I can find one?

Hello all,

I'm a beginner based in London, England.

Have been practicing meditation for a number of years, and Tibetan Buddhism (of the Karma Kagyu school) for the last few.

I came across the books of B.K. Frantzis some time ago and thought it would be valuable to incorporate some Water Method Qigong into my routine.

Am just learning from the books at the moment, but hope to one day work with a teacher.

Best Wishes,
Jim.

Hi Everybody, I am a Medical Qigong Therapist in Monterey,CA. Just starting the Bagua Mastery Program, it is fascinating so far ! Looking forward to meeting more chi folk at seminars or classes. Anybody know of any instructors down this way?

Chris

Greetings,

I live in British Columbia, Canada and Practice Dragon & Tiger Chi Gung, as well as meditation through the materials offered through energy arts. I am completely stoked on Bruce's teachings and would like to connect with likeminded individuals.

Hi,

I have been practicing qi gong regularly for about two years, in the Northeast Ohio area. Looking to connect with other practitioners, etc. I am a longtime yoga person and instructor and am interested in weaving some qi gong movements into my yoga classes.

Megan

Hi,

I'm a beginner with this system with a background in the internal arts- bagua is my main focus and I'm enjoying the Mastery Programme- very inspiring.
I work as a therapist and have a passion for all aspects of the internal arts- martial. healing and spiritual. I've just recently attended a few bagua weekend seminars with Paul Cavel, and Qi gong Tuina with Bruce in Brighton- once again- v inspiring.
So thought it time to try out this forum thing- great resource- looking forward to the year ahead and meeting more of you energy arts practitioners- lovely bunch!

Saul

...........oh yeah.....I'm from Penzance way down in West Cornwall. UK

Glad to have an opportunity to post and offer a thanks to Bruce and you all for making so much helpful information available through so many types of media. I live in eastern, Maine..Machias...and began familiarizing myself with Bruce's books and VHS tapes around 2000. More recently I had the good luck to study and learn Dragon/ Tiger over a couple days with an instructor visiting here from Cambridge. That was 3 years ago. Although consistent in my practice and while gaining several benefits from my effort., my knees and low back seldom felt better and were often worse after a round of D/T. I was often aware that I was either doing the movements too fast or with improper alignment. However, I was unable to kinethetically figure out what I wasn't doing. Then, several months ago I came accross "The Energy Gates" text that I lost 15 years ago. Amazingly , I have found that those foundational exercises, especially, "Clould Hands" and the "Three Swings" have been enormously helpful. I have recently been able to do D/T - "Tiger Crouches" with the satisfying sense that my weight is going right down through my leg bones into my arch. Anyway, I'm Happy. Thanks.

Hello,
my name is Pietro. I have been practicing meditation from 1989 circa.
I have been interested in Taoism from even before, but only with Bruce, from year 2000) I could find a genuine source of original Taoist wisdom, that resonate with my understanding of Taoism. I am very happy and excited of being in this forum.