In this podcast, we're speaking with Sifu Kisu, a 5th generation Bak Siu Lum Pai (Northern Shaolim Gate) disciple descended from Great Grand Master Ku Yu Cheong through Master Kenneth Hui of the Northern Shaolin Kung Fu Association.

Sifu Kisu, also known as Kisu Stars, has been a dedicated practitioner of Traditional Chinese Kung Fu for over 50 years and is a master in the Chinese martial arts focusing on the style of Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. He is most famously known for being the chief martial arts director and consultant for the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and Avatar: The Legend of Korra.

3:00 Sifu Kisu tells about his life getting started in martial arts and meeting his teacher (Master Kenneth Hui)

10:30 Martial arts students are often interested in what is trendy at the time.

16:00 Kisu's role as ​​chief martial arts director and consultant for the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender.

18:23 Selecting elements from a few styles of martial arts, such as the Hung Gar style and Bagua style for incorporating into the choreography of the Avatar characters.

21:00 How the characters’ movements are based on authentic martial arts.

27:00 Martial arts is more about self-defense. It’s about self-cultivation and healing.

30:00 The Northern shaolin style follows the rules of natural body development.

32:00 Martial arts is learning to control your own blood, breath and chi–your lifeforce energy–and also those of your opponent.

34:00 As an instructor, you teach the rules of engagement–it’s not just about learning how to fight, but making your movement and your life a work of art.

42:00 How some of his attempts to bring other creative projects to production resulted in ideas being stolen and not wanting to deal with Hollywood anymore.

50:00 Lucky to have helped and watched people grow to their fullest potential as their instructor.

51:30 Using Dit Da Jow and trying out Plum Dragon’s formulas.

54:00 How Kung Fu has made him a better snowboarder.

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Having healed herself successfully from illness labeled incurable, Yang uses her knowledge and experience to help others to achieve balance and well-being. In her blog, Yang's Nourishing Kitchen, she shares time-tested traditional wisdom from the east to the west, through nutrient-dense real food recipes.

3:00 As part of Chinese culture, food and medicine are integrated.

6:20 Yang became very sick and experienced widespread chronic pain.

9:20 She had various diagnostic tests run, tried various therapies, was misdiagnosed, and all the while, her condition was worsening.

14:20 Believing that recovery was possible was the first step to Yang healing from Fibromyalgia. Also, she felt she had to be willing to try an all-encompassing TCM approach to get well.

16:30 She shares what she has learned along the way in her blog, as a stepping stone for others on their healing path.

19:30 Detoxing her body with a liver flush routine is part of her health maintenance.

22:55 Healing takes time. It took Yang 5 years to feel fully recovered from her illness.  During the first two years, she followed a very strict TCM protocol.

24:30 If we can keep our health in check before it gets too out of balance, we will be much better off than if we let ourselves fall apart.

28:00 A TCM protocol that encouraged circulation, as opposed to the Western medicine protocol of icing, helped her pain.

32:00 Yang discusses some of her favorite recipes, including those that incorporate Chinese herbs.

38:00 Although she did write a vegan cookbook, to be supportive of that way of eating, she personally doesn’t eliminate any food groups, focusing instead on overall nutrition.

43:00 She is grateful for the readers who have said her blog has given them hope for recovery from their chronic pain.

Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Yang's Nourishing Kitchen 

Fritillaria Steamed Pear Recipe

Ginseng Chicken Soup Recipe

How Yang beat severe chronic pain using traditional Chinese medicine

Yang's experience with the amazing liver and gallbladder flush 

How Yang's husband lowered bilirubin with liver detox

How to do a liver flush for kids 

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In this podcast, we’re speaking with Grandmaster Marilyn Cooper, who created The Peace Games and has been training in and teaching Kung Fu for over 50 years. 

She studied under Grand Master Kuo Lien Ying and Grand Master Peter Kwok. Kuo taught Cooper traditional Kung Fu and how to train consistently. Peter Kwok taught her a series of traditional forms and systems that progressed from beginning to intermediate and on to advanced moves. While Kuo stressed the health and performance aspects, Peter stressed making the forms function equally for fighting, for health and for performance.

She currently teaches Standing Meditation Yi Ch’uan & Syin Tien Wuji Qigong, as well as practices Wudang Qigong from David Wei. Additionally, she has studied spontaneous style push hands under Zhao Guohong.

Starting out in the mid-1960s as an art student, Marilyn emerged years later, a Kung Fu artist.She has been the subject of numerous feature newspaper articles and television interviews.  Her articles on kung fu have been published in Inside Kung Fu, Taijiquan Journal, Kung Fu/T’ai Chi magazines and e-zine and other news media. 

She has performed at universities, masters’ demonstrations, and fundraisers. She opened her first Kung Fu school in 1980 in New York City, and has been teaching Kung Fu ever since. She founded a national non-profit institute called Pushing for Peace, whose mission is to promote a T’ai Chi program designed to help prevent youth violence and promote mental and physical health. The Peace Games are now taught all over the world.

4:33 Marilyn’s life story of becoming an artist and how tragically being gang raped at age 16 led her to pursue martial arts.

10:00 What The Peace Games are and why she started them.

15:00 The philosophical reasons behind The Peace Games and an example of how they work.

20:00 Her training journey and what each of her instructors taught her.

25:00 The connection between art and kung fu.

30:00 What she is currently doing and passionate about.

35:00 How Chinese herbs have played a role in her life.

39:00 Her experience with Dit Da Jow.

42:00 Marilyn talks about the book she wrote.

44:00 Fascinating story of Peter Kwok.

49:00 Her personal health practices and advice for longevity.

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Sifu David Wei is a 16th generation lineage holder of Wudang Zhang San Feng Pai, and a global instructor of Wudang Daoist wellness arts and traditional Chinese acupressure massage. 

Under the direct guidance of Daoist priest, Master Yuan Xiu Gang, David completed over 11,000 hours of formal training at the Wudang Mountain Traditional Taoist Martial Arts Academy of China, in 2007, at which time he was accepted as a senior disciple. During those five years, David practiced internal martial arts, medical Qi Gong and meditation. He is also trained in medical massage, Tui Na, Zen Shiatsu, Acu-oil, and Lomi Lomi; and is a certified Wat Po therapist.

Prior to Wudang, he trained in traditional Shaolin Gong Fu and classical Chinese brush painting with renowned Master Y.C. Chiang at Wen Wu School. David has since travelled globally, conducting workshop intensives in China, Thailand, Bali, Czech Republic, Sweden, England, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, and across the U.S. In 2012, David founded the Wudang West Cultural Heritage Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit wellness ministry, based in Oakland, California, committed to the practice and preservation of classical Chinese healing arts.

Show Notes:

1:00 David’s journey into martial arts and accupressure.

6:30 What led him to shift his martial arts focus to that of a healing art instead of a breaking art.

9:30 Selling everything that he owned to begin life as a monk in China.

12:00 Staying true to his principles when an unexpected request was made of him by his Masters.

15:00 Discovering the real reason behind his mom’s chronic shoulder pain–it had to do with emotional pain instead of mechanical pain.

16:00 How his insight into healing being a matter of the heart impacted his clinical work. 

17:45 To have a lasting impact on his students or patients, it’s not going to be in his technique, but in the space that he holds. 

18:45 Getting people to slow down their tempo and give up their frantic pace is what leads to lasting healing.

24:00 If you put your energy on fixing things, there will always be more and more to fix, but if you put your energy on celebrating things, there will always be more and more to celebrate.

27:00 He isn’t treating people–it’s through Tai Chi movements that his patients feel better, simply by sharing his space.

33:00 His daily routine encompasses a daily walk, cup of tea, gentle mobility, meditation and holding space for guests.

34:00 He prescribes the 3 M’s to his patients–movement, massage and meditation.

37:30 His current mentor is his 7-month-old son.

42:35 Someone he would enjoy meeting in life is the patriarch of his lineage, Zhang San Feng, who is often thought of as the creator of Tai Chi.

45:00 Some history on his lineage and the direction he has taken it.

51:00 His experience with trying out Plum Dragon Dit Da Jow and discovering that its fluidness, which differs from the thicker salves that he is used to, is what helps it absorb into the skin so quickly. He also loves the aromatic smell of the herbs.

54:00 Why he doesn’t believe Traditional Chinese Medicine is a real thing–everything from the fact that it’s not truly “traditional,” it’s not exclusively “Chinese” and it’s more about “healing” than “medicine” (which has the connotation of fixing a finite problem).

Connect with David Wei:

https://wudangwest.com

Connect with Plum Dragon Herbs:

https://www.facebook.com/PlumDragonHerbs/

https://www.instagram.com/plumdragonherbs/

https://twitter.com/plumdragonherbs/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-ball-9679a713/

Try Plum Dragon Dit Da Jow: https://plumdragonherbs.com/collections/dit-da-jow

Thank You For Listening! How did you like this episode? We’d love to continue the discussion with you.

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Podcast Music Credit: Motherlode Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

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In this interview, Plum Dragon's original founder, Josh Walker, is speaking with Shifu Jonathan Bluestein, an accomplished scholar, martial arts teacher and author. He is the head of Blue Jade Martial Arts International and has been practicing martial arts for the past 17 years.

Josh Walker currently works as a software engineer manager and runs the central U.S. chapter for the Tabimina Balintawak Group, a combative style of martial arts that originated in the Philippines. He is also the author of Materia Medica For Martial Artists, a comprehensive reference on Chinese herbs for Dit Da Jow.

Show Notes: 

1:30 Jonathan explains his martial arts lineage.

6:00 The martial arts scene in Israel where Jonathan lives.

14:00 Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, an iconic person of the 20th century, was taught to do a yoga pose of standing on his head by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais.

17:30 Capoeira has gained popularity with Israelists, particularly with the younger generation.

20:00 The stringent forms of Southern Mantis compared to the more playful forms of Capoeira.

27:20 Brazilian jiu jitsu has also grown in Israel.

32:30 Jonathan Bluestein prefers to teach his class using a traditional Chinese method.

39:00 Holds class in a park, open house style, where students can come when they can. Jonathan adjusts his instruction to the individual needs of his participants.

50:45 Some of the countries that we think as being the most free, are sometimes the most inhibiting to martial arts.

56:00 Cultures and governments play a significant role in shaping martial arts schools. For example in the U.S., you’re insurance costs may affect whether your gym allows full-contact training or not. 

107:45 From the Analects of Confucius, Jonathan shares the teaching that, “A gentleman’s errors are like an eclipse of the sun or the moon: when he errs, everyone notices it, but when he makes amends, everyone looks up to him.”

110:25 In Jonathan’s book, The Martial Arts Teacher, which covers the core essentials of what would be required of a decent teacher of traditional martial arts, he profusely quotes Confucius, whose teachings resonate with Jonathon’s moral compass.

111:00 Another point that Confucius makes is that you can punish and coerce people to do what you want for obedience's sake, but you will not get that person's respect.  If you lead by example, you will earn respect and people will feel shame for their wrongs. 

114:20 Traditions allow us to perceive standards. Jonathan’s book covers the physical and professional standards a teacher might uphold.

123:30 The student who is interested in discipleship would not only be held to certain technical standards but also be given a personal challenge to show their exemplary character.

131:15 It's quite important to invest in living or at least studying the culture from where a martial arts form originated.

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Lindsey Wei began training in wushu in 2004 at the Beijing's Capitol Sports University. She trained full time in China for several years, concentrating most of her time at the Five Immortals Temple on White Horse Mountain peak under the tutelage of Master Li Shu Fu. In the US, she has taught kung fu and other classes in various capacities, but is currently offering immersion programs at various mountain venues in California and Oregon.

Show Notes: 

2:00 How a high school trip to China awakened Lindsey’s desire to return to China in search for her spiritual path. Learned the Chinese language and modern wushu, a type of kung fu, and found it to have much more power and utilitarian uses than dance.

5:20 Stayed in China for several years before returning to the US and becoming a teacher. Pursued Wudang kung fu and Daoism and met Li Shifu during her time at the Five Mortals Temple.

14:00 After teaching regular martial arts classes in the U.S. for a while, Lindsey once again turned toward her passion of more immersive experiences. She began teaching wilderness retreats where students could connect with nature and understand Daoism. 

19:00 Believes every martial arts student should experience the spirit behind the art.

22:00 A bootleg fire ran directly through a property that Lindsey had just purchased for her retreats. This life-changing experience changed how she had envisioned her work.

24:40 Literally rising above the ashes, Lindsey regards the new landscape as hauntingly beautiful and takes people there to learn from the mysteries that the land affords to them.

25:30 Giving back to the earth and helping her land rejuvenate has become important to Lindsey.

27:00 Accepting our destiny and moving forward can be a blessing in our lives if we don’t miss it.

28:45 Believes it’s healthy to feel our emotions and allow them to cycle through the five phases (wuxing) so they don’t become trapped inside of us.

30:00 Processing deep pools of grief from what the fire destroyed has been her primary emotion.Through gathering and planting seeds in the land, it has renewed her hope.

35:00 Her books, The Valley Spirit (her personal memoir) and  Path of the Spiritual Warrior (about the life and teachings of Pedro Villalobos) are ultimately about the path of a spiritual warrior–what it truly means to be a martial artist, including both combat and the internal aspect.

39:00 We all need movement and meditation in our lives.

41:00 Most people are lacking in perseverance and ferocity.

43:30 Many of her archived classes are available online at www.wudangwhitehorseonline.com and she will be adding some live classes soon.

45:00 Staying in the game is more possible if we develop a willingness to stay focused and keep going. This will help us push through hardship and learn life lessons that can shape us instead of embitter us.

• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsey12wei/

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Podcast Music Credit:

Motherlode Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 

In this interview, the original Plum Dragon founder, Josh Walker, is speaking with Rodney Morgan, a long time practitioner of Iron Palm and a closed-door student of Ricky Pickens from the "John" Winglok Ng kung fu lineage. Rodney is also well-versed in Chinese herbs and their application in martial arts.

Josh Walker currently works as a software engineer manager and runs the central U.S. chapter for the Tabimina Balintawak Group, a combative style of martial arts that originated in the Philippines. He is also the author of Materia Medica For Martial Artists, a comprehensive reference on Chinese herbs for Dit Da Jow.

Show Notes: 

1:40 Rodney introduces himself.

3:00 Thoughts about teas and internal tonics.

7:30 Contrary to popular belief, iron palm is not just “hand conditioning."

12:00 Are there really secret training techniques?

15:30 A true iron palmist knows how to combine herbs to create a good training formula.

19:00 Perspectives on "secret" dit da jow formulas.

23:00 A lot of people don't know some of the key components to true iron palm training involve strengthening the tendons, the ligaments and the body torque. 

29:00 Rodney shows his personal gym set up.

31:20 Breaking bricks is a skill that requires consistent training.

33:00 Rodney demonstrates how to smash through a brick hanging from cords.

40:00 Why many iron palm instructors are more reluctant than ever to share their knowledge.

42:00 Thoughts on where iron palm is headed.

48:00 Rodney’s current training, compared to when he was younger.

52:00 Keeping your hands properly conditioned can take as little as 5 minutes daily.

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Motherlode Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 

In this interview, we are speaking with Master Phillip Redmond, who has been training in the martial arts for over 40 years and is one of only two closed-door students of Grandmaster William Cheung in the U.S.  In addition to Wing Chun, he has studied Hung Ga, Baat Gua, Bak Mei, Seven-Star Praying Mantis, Juk Lum, Vee-Jitsu te and Aiki-Jujitsu.

Master Redmond became a sifu in Grandmaster Cheung's Traditional Wing Chun system in 1991 and earned his provisional Master rank in 1994. He is currently teaching classes at the Wing Chun Kwoon Traditional Wing Chun Academy in Hermosa Beach, California.

Show Notes: 

1:00 How Master Phillip Redmond started his martial arts career. Four of his eight different Wing Chun Sifus were direct students of Grandmaster Yip Man.

7:30 Master Redmond made Grandmaster William Cheung's Honor List and is one of only two of his closed-door students in the U.S.

13:00 How Dit Da Jow has played a role in Master Redmond’s martial arts school.

15:00 Just because you are a martial artist doesn’t make you a great fighter. And some people want to do martial arts for other reasons besides fighting.

18:00 Failures and successes over the years.

20:50 Pawning his trumpet in order to do kung fu lessons and the connection between music rhythm and martial arts.

22:00 You have to trust your partner to do Chi Sao—it shouldn’t be mistaken for actual combat.

23:30 Getting in touch with Master Redmond.

• https://www.wingchunkwoon.com

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Podcast Music Credit:

Motherlode Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 

Dr. John Jaquish who has a Ph.D in biomedical engineering, invented several products including Osteostrong, the x3 system for weightlifting and wrote the book “Weightlifting is a Waste of Time. So is cardio and there is a better way to have the body you want.”

Show Notes: 

1:00 How trying to find a solution for his mother’s osteoporosis condition led Dr. Jaquish to researching bone density and eventually invent the Osteostrong device.

What his research found is that gymnasts stand out way above the rest of athletes for their strength, because of the high impact force they are accustomed to.

3:45 His belief is that low-impact training isn’t going to do anything to help bone density.

5:00 Creating a medical device that provided high impact force without the risk of standard high impact training was the result of his findings.

9:00 Believes that wall sits and other isometric exercises are not helpful.

11:00 Osteostrong clinics were created to provide a way to strengthen bones in a safe and efficient way.

12:00 Dr. Jaquish invented the X3 Bar to allow people to get stronger at home, with only 10 minutes a day, six days a week of training. Top athletes including the Miami Heat basketball team and top NFL players are training with it.

15:00 Dr. Jaquish is eating a carnivorous diet which he believes is necessary to build muscle.

20:00 Instead of eating solely meat, as he used to, he also developed a vegan, amino-acid based protein made from bacterial fermentation.

23:00 In summary, a mix of visiting Osteostrong clinics, X3 bars, and protein-based diet is his main fitness protocol.

25:00 For martial artists who aren’t near his clinics, but want stronger fists and elbows, what they do to create stronger bones is typically hit mediums like bamboo which essentially creates microfractures in the bone that then heal like a callous, but only in that specific area.

27:20 The show host mentions that Dit Da Jow products can help with conditioning and strengthening. Dr. Jaquish said he would be happy to try them.

28:00 Dr. Jaquish believes carbohydrates and fiber are useless to the body. If using carbohydrates before or after a workout, he’ll use it to replace glycogen, and pairs it with a vasodilator like epimedium.

31:00 The host brings up that vegans might take issue with what Dr. Jaquish says about some of his carbohydrate comments.  She also mentions a book “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan, an omnivore who believes in a mostly-plant based diet, and wonders how he and Dr. Jaquish would battle it out.

35:00 Dr. Jaquish shares his beliefs on nutrient needs and U.S. government recommendations being obsolete. The research he believes in is cited in his book Weightlifting is a Waste of Time.

37:45 What Dr. Jaquish believes we need to do still in the wellness world is to find substitutes for snacking habits and cocktail party traditions.

42:00 Dr. Jaquish’s advice for those only willing to make just one small step toward better fitness is to start eating one meal a day.

• https://www.doctorj.com

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Podcast Music Credit:

Motherlode Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 

In our latest podcast episode, we're talking with Steven Sashen of XeroShoes. Steven is one of the fastest male runners over the age of 50 and has earned the distinction of being a Masters All-American sprinter. He also taught Tai Chi and Zen Archery for several years and is a former All-American gymnast. Although he prides himself on never getting a real job, he has been a stand-up comedian and a cognitive psychology researcher. He is the creator of Scriptware, a word processor for film and TV writers.

Show Notes:

0:45 Introduction to Steven Sashen and the Xero Shoes company he founded.

5:00 Plum Dragon and Xero Shoes are similar in that they are both founded on products that have been used for thousands of years.

5:50 The oldest footwear is 10,000 years old and looks a lot like Xero Shoes.

7:25 The biggest mistake the shoe industry ever made. 

9:15  Why cushioning does not reduce impact forces and can cause foot problems.

12:00  Benefits of wearing Xero Shoes and how to transition into them gradually.

14:00 What research shows happens when we wear cushioned shoes or those with arch supports.

19:00  An athlete using barefoot footwear is likely to have stronger, more responsive, more resilient feet compared to an athlete using more traditional cushioned footwear.

24:20  How Steven Sashen became a Masters All American Sprinter.

26:30 Why martial artists could benefit from Xero Shoes.

32:00  Tips for walking in minimalist footwear. 

34:00  Keeping running fun and enjoyable with minimal footwear.

43:15  Realize that your brain doesn't know how old your body is and make adjustments over time.

• https://xeroshoes.com

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Podcast Music Credit:

Motherlode Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)