Internal Fighting Arts | Learn Real-World Martial Arts Insights from Top Instructors of Tai Chi - Xingyi - Bagua and Qiqong

If you are like a lot of martial artists, you dream about having your own bricks-and-mortar martial arts school. In this episode, Ken Gullette talks with Kimberly Ivy, who has had a Taijiquan school in Seattle for 30 years, and Michael Celeste, who has owned a school for six years teaching Yang Taiji and Wing Chun in Mt. Arlington, New Jersey. Martial arts skill is not the only thing you need to operate a school. Regardless of your martial arts style, it takes very hard physical work, a little business savvy and a commitment to be there. It's also expensive. This is episode 65 in the podcast. Total running time is 1 hr. 14 minutes.

In a different kind of episode, Ken Gullette does a joint podcast with Graham Barlow, the martial artist behind "The Tai Chi Notebook" podcast. Graham is a former guest on Ken's podcast, and as friends, they realized they both are asked the same type of questions by people who are interested in the internal arts -- questions on subjects such as the meaning of "spirit" in Taiji and whether it's okay to do weight training when studying Taiji. Ken and Graham sometimes see these issues differently, so they decided to discuss the questions and release the conversation on both of their podcasts. Graham's podcast is called "The Tai Chi Notebook" and his blog is at www.thetaichinotebook.com. This podcast runs 45 minutes.

Ken Gullette talks with Taoist Monk Yun Rou about applying philosophy to the sobering reality of death. Everyone will die, but for those who are diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, as both Ken and Monk Yun Rou have experienced, the question arises: how do you apply your philosophy or religion to give you peace at the time you are standing at the edge of eternity? This conversation looks at it from the perspective of philosophy. Yun Rou teaches Taoist philosophy and Taiji. He is also a writer, with many books available through Amazon. His website is www.monkyunrou.com. Ken teaches the internal arts through his website at www.internalfightingarts.com. Total running time of this program is 1 hour 22 minutes.

Ken Gullette talks with Ryan Craig, an instructor of Chen style Taijiquan in Philadelphia, PA. Ryan is a student of Nabil Ranne, who is a disciple of Chen Yu and lives in Berlin. Ken has also studied with Nabil for the past two years, so this is a conversation between two Taiji guys geeking out over the art and having fun talking about starting in the Chen Village line, then making a transition to the Chen Zhaokui line of Chen style. Ken met Ryan in May 2022 when Ryan hosted Nabil for a four-day workshop in Philadelphia. Ryan's website is www.phillychentaiji.com. Ken's website is www.internalfightingarts.com. 

Ken Gullette interviews the last surviving star from the original "Kung Fu" TV show, Radames Pera, who played young Caine, the student monk who learned the ancient art of kung-fu at the Shaolin Temple and learned philosophy from Master Kan, played by Phillip Ahn, and Master Po, played by Keye Luke. Radames, who also appeared on "Little House on the Prairie," "The Waltons," "The Six Million Dollar Man" and many more shows and movies, takes us behind the scenes for an interesting discussion about the show that imprinted his image as "Grassshopper" in the minds of almost all martial artists. Running time is 1 hour 55 minutes.

Ken Gullette talks with Steve Contes, a disciple of Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai, one of the "Four Tigers" of the Chen Village. Steve lives and teaches in the Tampa, Florida area. In this interview, Steve talks about his experience training in Chen Taiji, training with Zhu Tiancai, the relationship he has developed, and other people he has trained with. He tells an interesting story about touching hands with Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang. Running time is around one hour and 31 minutes. Ken Gullette's website is www.internalfightingarts.com.

What is the secret of achieving enlightennment, awakening, nirvana? Are we sleep-walking through our lives? How do we become better people? Zen Buddhist monk Douglas A. Gentile, an ordained monk with the Five Mountain Zen Order who is also a professor at Iowa State University with a Ph.D. in child psychology, talks with Ken about philosophy, which has been an important part of martial arts for many centuries and an important part of Ken's life and arts. But how is it used in modern life, when so many people are wanting more and more, and yet so many people are unhappy? This is a podcast with messages that should be pondered. Running time is two hours. Ken also lists the Top 10 Chen Taiji Movements to Practice in the Hospital. Ken's website is www.internalfightingarts.com.  

Ken Gullette talks with Byron Jacobs, a teacher of Xingyiquan and Bagua Zhang who lives in Beijing. His teacher is Di Guoyong. This is a wide-ranging interview that touches on topics ranging from training in China to a book he is writing about the Xingyiquan classics, and they talk about training in Xingyiquan, including the "spirit" of Xingyi, how the spear influenced training in the fist postures, and the proper amount of time to stand daily in the SanTi stance, among other topics. Byron uses the name Mushin Martial Culture for his videos on YouTube and Patreon. You can study with him through Patreon. Ken lives in Illinois and teaches both in-person and through his website at www.internalfightingarts.com.  

Louis Martin is the author of "The True Believers," the story of how he became involved in a martial arts school in Monterey, California that had a charismatic teacher and a cult-like atmosphere. Ken Gullette talks with Louis in a wide-ranging discussion of critical thinking skills, what kind of people are lured into martial arts cults, and how you can tell if you are showing signs of being a "True Believer" (it is not a good thing to be). Louis trained for years in Seibukan, which is a combination of Japanese jujutsu and Aikido. He now trains in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Ken teaches Chen Taiji, Bagua Zhang and Xingyi Quan and has an online learning site at www.internalfightingarts.com. 

J. Justin Meehan is an attorney in St. Louis and the senior U.S. disciple of Master Zhang Xue Xin, who lives in San Francisco and is a disciple of the late Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang. Sifu Justin, as his students call him, began studying Tai Chi Chuan in 1967. He also studied other arts, including Shaolin, Northern and Southern Praying Mantis, Hung Gar and Wing Tsun. In 1981, he met and trained with Feng Zhiqiang in China. Justin was the first person to teach the internal arts in St. Louis. He now teaches the Hunyuan style of Chen Taijiquan and Qigong. This is not as much an interview as it is a conversation between Ken and Justin, two guys who have been in the arts for more than a century between them. Now in his 70s, Justin mainly teaches private classes and workshops. His website is www.stltaiji.com.  Ken's website, offering video lessons and live classes, is at www.internalfightingarts.com. 

Ken Gullette talks Bagua Zhang with Dennis Mace, an instructor of Cheng style Bagua Zhang in Seattle, Washington and a disciple of the late Yang Guo Tai. Ken and Dennis met when Ken was 34 and Dennis was a teenager. Both were training in the internal arts in Omaha, Nebraska. They each went their own paths studying other traditional internal arts. In this interview, Dennis talks about his journey in the arts, including early training, meeting Yang Guo Tai, an interesting question, "What is the root of wude?" Dennis Mace's website is macemartialarts.com. 

John Scott is the Maryland State Representative for the Chen Pan Ling family and the Ling Yun Pai family. He is a successful instructor and tournament champion, with a school in Frederick, Maryland. John is completely devoted to the Chen Pan Ling Systems of martial and healing arts and is a senior disciple of Grandmaster Chen Yun Ching, Chen Pan Ling's son, and heir of the systems. John talks with Ken Gullette about his martial arts journey. His goal is to spread the true teachings of Shaolin, Chen Pan Ling Taiji Quan, Hsing-I, Ba-Gua, the health arts of Qigong and the Weapons arts that are contained in the vast curriculum of the Chen Pan Ling systems of martial arts. John Scott's website is www.chenpanlingworldfamilymaryland.com. 

Ken Gullette talks with Jakob Pang Isaksson, a Jiang style Bagua Zhang instructor who lives in Stockholm, Sweden. Jakob has spent a few years in China studying with several teachers, first traveling to Wudang Mountain and then, after some time passed, he found his Bagua teacher in Quzhou, a few hours southwest of Shanghai. Jakob studies with Li Jian Min. After winning a silver and bronze medal at the World Traditional Wushu Championships in Shiyan City, Jakob was selected to compete with the Guang Zhou University Professional Wushu Team. Ken talks with Jakob about all these experiences.

Stephen Jackowicz, Ph.D. has developed an early-stage anti-viral treatment for Covid-19 patients using Traditional Chinese Medicine, particularly herbal treatments. At the time of this interview, he has treated more than 90 people who tested positive for Covid-19. None of them have seen their symptoms deteriorate to the point where hospitalization was required. Ken Gullette talks with Dr. Jackowicz about his treatments and how they work in the early stages of the illness, at a time when most doctors are advising patients to "wait it out." Note: this is not a cure for COVID-19, but it is timely information as the world continues to battle this virus.

Ken Gullette talks Taiji with Nabil Ranne, an instructor in Berlin, Germany who is a disciple of Chen Yu. Nabil is the co-founder of the Chen Style Taijiquan Network Germany. He also has a Ph.D. in sports science. In this interview, Nabil talks about practicing Chen Style Taiji, understanding gongfu culture, differences between the Chen Village and Beijing lines of Chen Taiji, and training with Chen Yu. 

Chen Huixian is a 20th generation descendant of the Chen family. She grew up in Chenjiagou, the Chen Village, where Taijiquan is believed to have originated. Her ancestors include some of the greatest Taiji (Tai Chi) masters in history, including Chen Wangting, Chen Changxing, Chen Fake and Chen Zhaopi. She is an indoor disciple of her uncle, Chen Zhenglei. Other uncles include Chen Xiaowang and Chen Xiaoxing. Her father was Grandmaster Chen Chunlei. In this interview, Ken Gullette talks with Chen Huixian about growing up in the Chen Village, training in Chen Taiji and the challenges of moving to the United States when she had never visited the U.S. before. Huixian is married to Michael Chritton. They met when he was training in the Chen Village. She teaches in Overland Park, Kansas, outside of Kansas City. Her website is www.kctaiji.com. Ken is very happy to have Huixian as a guest on his 50th episode of the podcast -- the first Chen family member on the show.

Ken Gullette talks with Chen Taiji instructor Ronnie Yee of Vancouver, British Columbia. Ronnie has studied martial arts since 1980, when he enrolled in Li Chi Wai's school, and he has studied Chen Taiji since 1988. He has trained with Chen Zhonghua, Zhang Lianen, Liu Chengde and Li Enjiu. In this wide-ranging interview, Ronnie tells stories of training with the masters. Ken and Ronnie also "get under the hood" on some Taiji principles. In recent years, Ronnie has merged the art of the Mitzvah, which realigns, rebalances and exercises the body, with his Taiji.

Tina Zhang was born in China and lived in a home on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. She studied martial arts in school, and continued her studies in the United States after moving here as a student. In this interview, Tina talks with Ken Gullette about the internal arts and her thirst for learning, which led her to shoot, edit and write a great documentary, "Tai Chi Club," which is available for streaming on Prime Video. It is the story of Frank Allen's Wutang Physical Culture Association on the Lower East Side of New York City, and the story of Tina's journey. Tina teaches qigong, Northern Wu style Tai Chi Chuan and Cheng style Baguazhang. She is a disciple of Northern Wu style Grandmaster Li Bing Ci and Cheng style Baguazhang Grandmaster Liu Jing Ru.

Frank Allen is a disciple of Chent Style Baguazhang Grandmaster Liu Jingru and also a disciple of Northern Wu Style Taijiquan Grandmaster Li Bing Ci. Frank began studying martial arts in 1973 and is celebrating the 41st anniversary of his school on the lower east side of New York City, the Wu Tang Physical Culture Association. His website is www.wutangpca.com. He has written books with Tina Zhang, including "The Whirling Circles of Ba Gua Zhang" and "Classical Northern Wu Style Taijiquan." In this interview Frank talks about the early days of training in New York City, what it is like to study with Liu Jingru, and he gives a history lesson on the development of Taijiquan. Frank has also studied with B.P. Chan, Bruce Frantzis and others, and he provides colorful stories about them in this interview. Frank Allen, like most of Ken's guests, is truly dedicated to the internal martial arts.

This is a different kind of episode. Instead of an interview, Ken Gullette celebrates the one-year anniversary of sending out a weekly training tip to his students, website members and customers. After 52 weekly emails, Ken has gathered up a collection, including some of his favorites, and you will notice a theme that develops which can guide you on one of the most effective reasons to study the internal arts of Chinese kung-fu.

Mark Chen has written a valuable new book called "Chen Style Taijiquan Collected Masterworks: The History of a Martial Art." The book is a translation into English of some important documents that date back to the earliest days of Taijiquan. In this interview, Ken Gullette talks with Mark about the challenges of translating Chinese to English, and they explore the stories, legends and facts behind some of the Chen family's greatest masters, including Chen Wangting, Chen Changxing, and how Chen Zhaopi and Chen Fake went to Beijing and boosted the reputation of Chen Taiji as a martial art. Chen Zhaopi was born in 1893 and lived in the last generation when Taiji fighters would battle "bandits" (often revolutionaries) with swords. In the 21st Century, is Taiji more academic than it is practical? Is it still worth pursuing? Mark Chen is a formal rumen disciple of the late Grandmaster Chen Qingzhou.

Ken Gullette talks with Jon Nicklin, who lived several years in Shanghai and became a disciple of Dai Xueqi, who is a master of Song family Xingyiquan living in Shanghai. Jon has a wide range of experience in Chinese martial arts, beginning when he lived in London. He now lives in Hong Kong. Ken and Jon talk about his experience studying with a "traditional" Xingyi teacher, the culture shock of moving to Shanghai, and a series of videos that Jon is helping to develop that will shine a light on different Xingyi styles and teachers in China. Jon describes himself as a "hobbyist," but like all of Ken's guests, he is a dedicated martial artist.

Is your mind quiet enough to do Tai Chi? Ken Gullette interviews Michael Dorgan, a Hunyuan Taijiquan instuctor and owner of Hunyuan Martial Arts Academy of San Jose in California. Michael is a disciple of the late Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang. He has also studied with Wong Jack Man, George Xu, Zhang Xue Xin, Feng Xiuqian and Chen Xiang. Michael was a correspondent for Knight Ridder newspapers stationed in Beijing in 1999 when he met Feng Zhiqiang. In 1980, Michael wrote the article about the Bruce Lee/Wong Jack Man fight that eventually sparked the movie "Birth of the Dragon." In this fascinating interview, Michael talks with Ken about training with Wong Jack Man, Michael's opinion about the fight, his training in Chen Hunyuan Taiji, and the importance of a quiet mind and a virtuous character if someone is to attain high-level skill in this art. Michael's website is www.taichisanjose.com. Ken Gullette's website is www.internalfightingarts.com.

Kim Ivy is a Chen Taiji and Qigong instructor and disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang. In part 1 of a 2-part interview, Kim talks with Ken Gullette about how she started in martial arts, training in Judo and Aikido in the US and Japan, and what finally attracted her to Chen Taiji after studying and teaching Yang style. She also talks about teaching Taiji to people with illnesses and disabilities.

Ken Gullette talks with Holly Sweeney-Hillman, a Senior-level instructor of Traditional Yang Family Tai Chi in Pottersville, New Jersey and the Center Director for the Bedford/Montclair Yang Family Tai Chi Center. Holly has studied with Yang Zhenduo and Yang Jun. In this interview, she talks about studying wih members of the Yang family, how Yang tai chi fit with her love of the science of body movement, and she talks a little about the Alexander Technique and a program she designed called Zentonics, which is used to correct posture and improve balance, supplenes, and increase serenity. Holly has a B.A. in Dance and a Master's in Orthopedic Biomechanics. Her website is www.taichistrong.com.

Ken Gullette talks with Derryl Willis, a Seattle-based instructor of Chen Taijiquan who is a disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang. Derryl has made many trips to study in the Chen Village. In this interview, Derryl and Ken discuss the true meaning of being a disciple, the value of practicing the basics, and why Derryl caused traffic to stop the first time he walked the street in Chen Village.

Bruce Lee inspired Ken Gullette and Matthew Polly to become involved in martial arts. Now, Matthew has written the best and most detailed biography of Bruce Lee of all. Ken talks with Matthew about Bruce Lee -- his troubled childhood, the hurdles he faced in America, his true skill level, and how he died. Ken also explores two of Matthew's other outstanding books -- "Tapped Out," which was written after Matthew spent two years training in the MMA, and "American Shaolin," written after Matthew spent two years living and training with Shaolin monks in China. His books are examples of participatory journalism, not just writing about a subject, but diving deep and living it, and always with a sense of humor and a deep love for the martial arts.

What happens when a tai chi person takes up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? Graham Barlow, the man behind the Tai Chi Notebook blog, did just that. He is a tai chi student and teacher, and a black belt in Jiu Jitsu. He has also studied Xingyi and Choy Lee Fut. In this conversation with Ken Gullette, Graham talks about the differences in the conditioning required for groundfighting, and whether any skills transfer between the two arts. They also discuss the concept of "real" self-defense and whether it requires the ability to take on an MMA fighter. It is a free-wheeling, real-world conversation between two guys who love martial arts.

What is the nature of chi? How is chi interpreted in different ways? Is there a conspiracy in Western medicine against acupuncture? Is acupuncture effective or is it junk science? These are a couple of topics tackled when Ken Gullette interviews Dr. Stephen Jackowicz, a martial artist and the Assistant Clinical Professor of Acupuncture at the Acupuncture Institute at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. Dr. Jackowicz was the first foreign graduate of the Korea Modern School of Acupuncture. He has studied Judo, TKD, Yang and Chen style Taiji and more. This is an enlightening, interesting and educational discussion that runs two hours, but is well worth the time.

Ken Gullette talks with Sam Masich, a veteran tai chi instructor who grew up in Canada and now lives and teaches in Germany. He studied with Grandmaster Shouyu Liang, Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, Brien Gallagher, Raymond Chung and others. Sam has developed the 5 Section Taijiquan Program and the Masich Internal Arts Method.

Ken Gullette with part two of an interview with Ian Sinclair, a tai chi instructor in Orrilia, Ontario. He has studied with Grandmaster Liang Shouyu and Sam Masich. In this wide-ranging discussion, Ian talks about learning fighting applications from Grandmaster Liang Shouyu and Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming; last year's controversial match between an MMA fighter and a Tai Chi "master;" and the importance of practicing the basics.

Tai Chi instructor Ian Sinclair talks with Ken Gullette about his experiences training with Grandmaster Shouyu Liang, Raymond Chung and other teachers in Canada. He began studying at the age of 12 and teaches in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario.

Ken Gullette talks with Paul Linden, chief instructor at the Columbus Center for Movement Studies/Aikido of Columbus. Paul began studying Aikido in 1969, and he developed the "Being in Movement" mindbody training. He is a specialist in mind and movement awareness education, and his work focuses on the interplay between self-exploration and effective action. Paul works with abuse survivors, among others, and you may find his approach to the arts to be enlightening and unique.

Ken Gullette talks with Dr. Ginevra Liptan, owner of the Frida Center for Fibromyalgia in Portland, Oregon . She is a doctor of internal medicine, but also believes in a holistic approach, combinine scientific medicine to a more wholistic approach that includes some "alternatie" medicines from China. Regardless, you will come away from this interview with new information on how to proect your fascia, and why it is important to do sol

Ken Gullette interviews Keith Kernspecht, perhaps the most successful martial arts teacher in the world. Kernspecht is the founder and head of the European WingTsun Organization. His passion for martial arts began in the 1950s, and he studied wrestling, karate, jiu-jitsu, kempo, Shaolin kung-fu, and other arts. He began studying Wing Chun in 1970 and later became the highest ranking student under Leung Ting, who studied with Ip Man. Currently, he is also studying with Sam Chin, teacher of his family art, I Liq Chuan, and creator of Zhong Xin Dao. In this interview, Keith talks about his martial arts journey, indlucing why he attended a class for five years even though he was not allowed to participate. He also talks about his passion for learning new things, and he answers one of the controversies in the world of Wing Chun.

Are you an interal arts teacher or school owner who believes your marketing efforts could be improved? Do you have all the students you can hande? Probably not. In this edition of the Internal Fighting Arts podcast, Ken Gullette interviews marketing expert Dave Dee -- davedee.com -- and they explore some basic concepts you need to learn and some questions you need to answer if you want your teaching practice to be more successful.

Ken Gullette talks with Jonathan Bluestein and Byron Jacobs about "Wude," pronounced "Woo-Duh" that means martial morality and ethics. All you have to do is go onto martial arts Facebook pages and you will see martial artists flaming each other, criticizing the movements and art of others, in a not-so-subtle effort to make themselves look like experts. Is this in the spirit of Wude or is it a violation of martial morality and ethics? Do martial artists throw manners and morality out the window when they are hundreds or thousands of miles from the person they are criticizing as they hide behind a keyboard? In this edition of the Internal Fighting Arts podcast, Ken explores these issues with Byron, who lives and trains in Beijing, and Jonathan, who lives and trains in Israel. Byron trains with Di Guoyong -- website is diguoyongwushu.com; Jonathan trains at the Tianjan Martial Arts Academy -- website is tianjin.co.il and Facebook page is facebook.com/tianjinacademy. The recent "fight" between MMA fighter Xu Xaodong and Taiji teacher Wei Lei has stirred a lot of controversy in China and around the world during the past week. Ken, Jonathan and Jacob discuss this debacle as well, and its impact on traditional Chinese martial arts and what it means from a Wude perspective.

Ken Gullette talks with Mark Chen, author of "Old Frame Chen Family Taijiquan" and a formal, rumen disciple of the late Grandmaster Chen Qingzhou. Mark Chen is a certified senior instructor in the Chen Qingzhou Martial Arts Association. He has also trained under Master Guo Lianyin, Master Bill Gee, Master Chen Youze, and Master Zhang XueXin. In this 90-minute interview, Mark talks with Ken about his martial arts journey, including the pain and benefit of studying under the strict gaze of "traditional" Chinese teachers.

Ken Gullette talks with Dan Djurdjevic, an internal martial arts instructor who teaches in Perth, Australia. Dan is a student of Chen Yun Ching, the son of Chen Pan Ling. In this wide-ranging interview, Dan describes the teaching style of Chen Yun Ching, training in the "melee range," his self-defense advice as an attorney and prosecutor, and he offers a valuable self-defense lesson in his practice of "flipping the script," a tactic that is very practical for the kinds of trouble you can experience on the streets.

Ken Gullette talks with Rory Miller, the author of an influential book, "Meditations on Violence." As a martial artist and a former corrections officer, Miller has given traditional martial arts a slap of reality by outlining the ways that real-world violence is not something that martial arts classes prepare students for, and when it really happens, most people are overwhelmed and unprepared. You'll learn the difference between "social" violence, which often begins with the "Monkey Dance," and predatory violence, when the attacker operates like a hunter, using stealth and deception to get close enough to strike.

Ken Gullette interviews Jeet Kune Do instructor Tim Tackett, a veteran martial artist who became a senior instructor under Dan Inosanto in 1973. Tim first studied martial arts in Taiwan, where he learned Hsing-I and Tai Chi. He authored two books on Hsing-I for O'Hara Publications in the late 70s and early 80s, but his main art is JKD. At age 75, he still teaches a Wedneday night class in his garage in Redlands, California. In this interview, Tim talks about studying in Taiwan, how he got into JKD, and some of his fighting philosophies.

Robert Allen Pittman is a Xingyi and Bagua teacher who has studied with Robert W. Smith, and in Taiwan Hung I-mien, and the sons of Chen Pan Ling. Allen is the author of "Walking the I Ching: The Linear Bagua of Gao Yi Sheng." He has co-authored books with his late teacher, Robert W. Smith, who was a pioneer in bringing knowledge of Chinese kung-fu to the United States due to his work in Taiwan for the Central Intelligence Agency. In this interview, Allen talks about training with his teachers, living and studying in Taiwan, and the changes that wushu has brought to traditional Chinese kung-fu.

Tai Chi is a martial art, but most people think of it as a slow-motion exercise for health and meditation. In this podcast, Ken Gullette interviews Peter Wayne, a Tai Chi instructor and author of the Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi. Peter Wayne is a researcher and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who is involved in clinical trials of the health benefits of Tai Chi. So what do these clinical trials tell us? Is Tai Chi something special? Does it really have health benefits tied to the ancient Chinese theories of qi (chi), or are the benefits the same as you would expect from any low-impact exercise and calming, mindfulness practice?

People who believe in Traditional Chinese Medicine, including chi healing and acupuncture, say that there is a conspiracy by "Western" scientists and doctors to deny the effectiveness of TCM. But what does scientific research say about TCM? Is it science or is it nonsense? Ken Gullette interviews Dr. Harriet Hall, known as the "SkepDoc," a former family physician and Air Force flight surgeon who now researches Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). This is an interview that every internal martial artist should hear.

Ken Gullette interviews Bosco Baek, a senior disciple of Chen Bing. Bosco is the chief instructor of the Chen Bing Taiji Academy USA in Los Angeles. In this interview, Bosco talks about growing up in South Korea, how he met Chen Bing, how he arrived at Chen Taiji after first studying Yoga, and how he became the first of Chen Bing's disciples who was given permission to have his own disciples.

Ken Gullette talks with Jan Silberstorff, the first Western indoor disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang and co-founder of the World Chen Xiaowang Taijiquan Association. Jan travels the world teaching Chen Taiji. From Germany to Chenjiagou, his story reflects the determination of a true martial artist. He explains why tears fell from Chen Xiaowang's eyes the first time he saw Jan perform, and he explains why his practice has evolved out of simply the martial aspects of the art.

Ken Gullette interviews Ken Cohen, whose website describes him as a health educator, Qigong Grandmaster, and practitioner of indigenous medicine. He is well-known for his books and audio courses on Qigong and Taoism. His websites are www.kennethcohen.com and www.qigonghealing.com. Ken Gullette practices qigong but takes a skeptical approach to traditional Chinese scientific explanations and theories. This is a very interesting interview with great information and questions that may have you thinking and doing more research after you listen.

Part Two of a 2-part interview between Ken Gullette and Chen Taiji instructor and Taoist Monk Yunrou, who lives and teaches in Pompano Beach/Boca Raton area of Florida. In this interview, Yunrou discusses Taoism, the need for more emphasis on fighting in Taijiquan, and he tells an enlightening story about a lesson he received in detaching from "a plan." His website is www.monkyunrou.com. Ken Gullette's website is www.internalfightingarts.com.

The Taoist Monk Yonrou, also known as Arthur Rosenfeld, discusses the events in his life that led him to study martial arts, Tai Chi, and to become an ordained Taoist monk. He lives in Pompano Beach, Florida, is a teacher and is a student of Yan Gaofei. Under his name Arthur Rosenfeld, he has written several books, including Tai Chi: The Perfect Exercise. His newest book, Yin, by Yunrou, is a Lao Tzu love story and is scheduled to be published on November 1, 2015.

Separating fact from fantasy in Tai Chi and other martial arts. Stuart Shaw teaches Tai Chi and Sanda in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. He has a Facebook page, The Fajin Project, that confronts the "BS" in martial arts, shining a light on people who claim supernatural powers and abilities such as the no-touch knockdown and the ability to send push hands partners hopping and jumping just with a light touch. Like Ken, Stuart offers $5,000 to anyone who can prove to him that they have these "chi" powers. There is a language alert for this episode -- this is a real world, adult conversation about how martial artists, particularly those studying the internal arts, need to apply critical thinking skills to the claims made by unethical teachers. This interview is aimed at separating fact from the fantasy that has developed not only in Tai Chi but in many other martial arts.

Ken Gullette talks with Byron Jacobs, a South African who studies Xingyiquan with Master Di Guoyong in Beijing. Byron also works at the International Wushu Federation. In this interview, Ken talks with Byron about his decision to move to Beijing, cultural aspects of living and training there, sport wushu, and the internal art of Xingyiquan.