Internal Fighting Arts
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Gain deeper insights into the world of internal Chinese gongfu as Sifu Ken Gullette talks with prominent instructors about Taijiquan, Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, Qigong, and the philosophy that guides these amazing martial arts.
Internal Fighting Arts
3M ago
Dan Miller is a martial artist, author, and for six years he was publisher of The Pa Kua Chang Journal, from 1990 to early 1997. In this interview, Ken talks with Dan about publishing the Journal, which was one of the best martial arts publications ever done (in Ken's opinion). They also talk about other issues related to Bagua Zhang, including the moving root, why Bagua practitioners walk the circle, the training concept of practicing techniques, why he likes Sun style Bagua and Taiji, created by Sun LuTang, and Dan talks about one of his favorite memories of meeting one of the old traditiona ..read more
Internal Fighting Arts
3M ago
The Diamond episode of the Internal Fighting Arts Podcast -- number 75 -- features an interview with Tim Cartmell, a highly-respected internal martial artist who also has competed in and teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Ken Gullette first heard about Tim in the 1990s, when Tim wrote articles in Dan Miller's "Pa Kua Chang Journal." Tim has also written books, including "Principles, Analysis, and Application of Effortless Combat Throws," and "Xing Yi Nei Gong: Xing Yi Health Maintenance and Internal Strength Development" (compiled and translated with Dan Miller). In this interview, Tim talks about w ..read more
Internal Fighting Arts
6M ago
Ken talks with Bill Bentley, who teaches Xingyi through daoistgatecenter.org, and privately he teaches Xingyi, Bagua, Wudang style sword, and self-defense. He is involved with the Daoist Arts Organization International (DAOI) and interviews martial artists for the DAOI podcast. Bill began his martial arts training at the age of 10 in a Shaolin-based family style of kung-fu (the same school Ken started in way back in 1973), and since then, Bill has studied Wing Chun, Jeet Kune Do concepts (including Filipino martial arts), and the Kendo and Aikido. Later, after a serious injury, Bill practiced ..read more
Internal Fighting Arts
8M ago
Ken Gullette talks with instructor Gerald A. Sharp, who Ken first became aware of in the 1990s when he bought Gerald's "Five Fists of Power" VHS instructional tape. Gerald A. Sharp began studying martial arts at age 12. Later, he studied with several internal arts teachers, notably Wu Taiji with Master Ma Yueh Liang, and he studied Pa-Kua Chang, Hsing-I Chuan and Nei Jia Kung Fu with Zou Shuxian, who was the Top Disciple and adopted daughter of Jiang Rong Qiao. He has won numerous medals in tournaments in the United States and China. In this wide-ranging interview, Ken and Gerald talk about Ge ..read more
Internal Fighting Arts
1y ago
Byron Jacobs published an excellent Xingyi Quan book in 2023 titled "Dragon Body, Tiger Spirit." In this book, Byron translates a collection of Xingyi Quan classics and provides commentary that will help anyone who studies and practices this powerful martial art. Byron lives in Beijing and has an extensive martial arts history. He has been a guest previously. Byron is a disciple of Master Di Guoyong. In this interview, Ken Gullette and Byron talk about the book, how it came to be, and details on some of the training tips and methods described in the pages. Running time is one hour and nine min ..read more
Internal Fighting Arts
1y ago
This podcast features some of Ken Gullette's favorite clips from the first couple of years the Internal Fighting Arts podcast. It's a Greatest Hits featuring fascinating interviews with great internal martial artists including Michael Chritton, Stefan Berwick, Marin Spivack, Kimberly Ivy, Kent Howard, Byron Jacobs, and Jeet Kune Do instructor Tim Tackett. You'll hear what it's like to meet and train with top Chinese masters, the difficult training -- "eating bitter" -- that real skill requires. You will be as fired up as Ken is listening to personal stories about what it's like to be a discipl ..read more
Internal Fighting Arts
1y ago
Ken Gullette interviews instructor Tony Wong. His birth name was Wong Wai Yi and he grew up in Hong Kong before moving to the United States. He lives and teaches in the San Francisco area. Tony has trained with some outstanding teachers. He studied Wing Chun with Kenneth Chung, Wuji Qigong with Cai Song Fang, and he studied Chen Taijiquan with Zhang Xue Xin, Chen Xiaowang, Chen Xiaoxing and Chen Qingzhou. He also studied Yiquan with Chen Zhengzhong. In this interview, Ken talks with Tony, who has interesting stories to tell about his teachers and other experiences, including what it was like t ..read more
Internal Fighting Arts
1y ago
Ken Gullette talks with Nabil Ranne almost three years after Nabil's first appearance on the podcast. Nabil is a disciple of Chen Yu (the son of Chen Zhaokui and grandson of Chen Fake). After he interviewed Nabil in 2020, Ken began studying with him. In this interview, Ken tries to get "into the weeds" with Nabil and discuss details that you don't often hear in martial arts interviews -- details about body method and other principles that are taught with a different emphasis by Chen Yu. Nabil lives in Berlin with students in Germany and internationally. He has a website at https://ctnd.de and ..read more
Internal Fighting Arts
1y ago
Ken Gullette talks with Michael Dorgan, a disciple of the late Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang. Among Michael's other teachers are the late Master Zhang Xue Xin and his gongfu brother, Chen Xiang. Michael has a wonderful new book about his life in martial arts and in journalism. It's titled No Fight No Blame: A Journalist's Life in Martial Arts. The book is available on Amazon and Ken recommends it highly. In this interview, Michael talks about the book, training with teachers including Grandmaster Feng, and how his Taijiquan has helped as he has attempted to overcome cancer in recent year ..read more
Internal Fighting Arts
2y ago
Ken Gullette talks with Scott M. Rodell, a Yang style Taijiquan instructor who is known for his swordsmanship. He is the founding director of the Great River Taoist Center in Annandale, Virginia. Scott's principal teacher was Wang Yen-Nien. From Wang, Scott learned the entire Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan system. Scott is known for his swordsmanship and teaches in-person at the center and also online through his website www.grtc.org. Ken has studied martial arts nearly 50 years and has worked with the jian (straight sword) and dao (broadsword or saber) for 35 years, winning many tournament weapons ..read more