RI Baguazhang

Adding my Interview as a Foundation Instructor for Internal Arts International.

Interview with IAI Instructor Keith Norris – Internal Arts International This interview was conducted by IAI Xing Yi Instructor Matt Tomkiel IAI: Keith, what is your martial arts background and what style(s) did you train in? KN: My martial arts background is varied. I formally studied Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan between 1987-1994 and I achieved the rank of 1st Degree Black...

We had a great training weekend (Friday-Sunday) in working with the foundational movements and feeling of the core movements in both Baguazhang and Xingyiquan. It was wonderful to experience training once again with Tom, Val, Wes, Nelson, Thad, JP, Marcus, Mark, Kelly, Brian, Joe, and Matthew as well as many other new students.

I wanted to thank everyone for their guidance, genuine feedback, and attention to finer details. This is what makes these seminars so valuable in the learning process.

I found out Thad and his family are moving to a Sydney, Australia. I wish him the best as he starts a new beginning and starts teaching with the next set of students. The Aussies are very lucky to have him be part of their lives.

I also met Marcus DeGrazia for the first time in person and we trained some reaction partner drills together. So very glad to meet him and spend some time training.

We trained Li Zi Ming’s Changing Palms form, Pi Quan, Si Ba 1&2, Nan (Southern) Shaolin exercises, Beng Quan, Baguazhang partner circle walking drills, Tui Shou (push hands) drills, Single and double palm change, and Bagua and Xingyi applications.

Tom & Val both expressed how important it is to train Pi Quan and Si Ba to train the spine and whole body movements. We had personal instruction in Xingyiquan from Tom, Val, JP, and Matthew. I am very thankful for the genuine conversations and elaboration on these essential practices.

Also, I wanted to personally thank Val for her relentless instruction in detail for Beng Quan. I will not forget 6 harmonies come together in Xingyi stepping with foot straight on the line. Twisting inside to get maximum extension, Loose fist at heart height. No fist in the fist (do not put any li in the movements, move from Ming Men and the body naturally follows with movement to the tips). Thank you!

The dance studio at the mall was very spacious and accommodating. Thank you Matthew for coordinating this for us.

I am starting to go through the material of the newest online training ”Five Animal Play Qigong” and it exceeds all expectations.

If you are a practitioner of any Internal Martial Art, the highest level of training is building up and empowering your Shen (Spirit) to be able to create and manifest in your own life.

All Internal Martial Arts (Xinyiquan, Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Liuhebafaquan, and Tongbeiquan) forms and Qigong sets have the Animals called directly out in the form sequence names. The animal names are also called out directly in most Chinese Kung Fu training forms or is the Kung Fu training itself (Monkey Kung Fu, Tiger Kung Fu, White Crane Kung Fu, etc…).

The Five Animal Play Qigong training is a direct gateway into exploring and directly embracing the animal’s spirit in your personal training. This training leads you to experiencing the natural movements and rhythms of the animals and fuse those into your own spirit.

Tom writes comprehensively about the history of the Qigong exercise, the medical benefits, the relationship to the seasons, the animal’s characteristics in movement, the animal’s spirit(natural being), and much more.

Once again, I am amazed at how much Tom and Valerie are able to produce the proverbial 10,000 things. I am so proud to be part of this organization!

This training course is one of the rarest gems and is of the highest value.

Tremendous online training of Daoist philosophy, thought, and practical energetic exercises. Tom is one of those rare teachers who can relate obscure or esoteric concepts and present them in a practical and usable way. I am very proud to call Tom Bisio my teacher. He continues to guide us and show us the way.

If you open the link, Tom also just released his new book on Daoist Seasonal Qigong “Eight Winds in the Heavens”. There is also the companion online course that goes with it.

In a strange way, I am thankful for the alone time given to Tom and Val to produce the proverbial 10000 things during Covid times. The time has graciously given us these precious Online Daoist trainings and books.

48-Hour Lunar New Year Sale!
on Internal Arts International Daoist Online Learning Programs

Sale starts January 31 at 9 am and ends February 2 at 9am
12% off on the following 3 programs:

DAOIST YOGA: Was $99 Now $87
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DAO YIN: Was $130 Now $113
https://www.internalartsinternational.com/programs/daoist-meditation/

DAOIST MEDITATION: Was $150 Now $132
https://www.internalartsinternational.com/programs/daoist-yoga/

Use coupon code TIGER12 at checkout for any program, or all 3 programs!

Returned this weekend from the two day “Infinite Applications of Baguazhang” seminar with Tom Bisio. It was wonderful to see and train with everyone again! We covered a tremendous amount of applications material in a very short time. Tom introduced some new partner drill exercise revolving around the Lao Ba Zhang linear drills that allowed us to feel through opening the opponent (yang opening vs yin opening) using the Yao and slipperiness of expanding the rib cage to attack high or low. Val Ghent, Wes Tasker, and Nelson Tai also provided assistance with teaching and correction. I am looking forward to training what we reviewed and learning more in follow on sessions. It was wonderful to interact with my Baguazhang brothers and sisters once again!