Old Oak Taiji School (古栎太極學院)

Link to an article published by Harvard University on the health benefits of practicing Taijiquan.

Flyer for beginning Taijiquan class.

A brief introduction to the theory of Taiji practice.

Philosophical foundation and practice methods of Chen Qu Kuan's Ruyu-style Taijiquan.

Encouragement and guidance for developing a solo training regimen.

Instructions in Bow-Stance Walking for Ruyu-style Taijiquan.

Step-by-step instructions to the Taiji form.  Needs to be accompanied by personal instruction.

Qigong to purify and tonify the 3 dantian and circulate qi to nourish the process of internal alchemy.



Instructional Photographs & Videos

This series breaks the first section of the Ruyu-Style Taijiquan form into easy-to-learn steps.  It is intended to augment personal instruction and to assist my students in practicing at home.

Free Instructional YouTube videos to help my Taiji students practice at home.  I am in the process of developing these videos; soon to come: Taiji partner-practice basics.  Subscribe to my YouTube page to receive updates when I post new videos.

Loosening the Joints - A simple series of Qigong warm-ups to loosen the joints and get the qi moving.

Swinging the Arms - Traditional qigong for stirring and invigorating the qi.  Keep the root sinking down.

Drumming the Meridians - Tapping the body along the meridians to break up stagnation and get qi moving.

Falling into the Wall - Fundamental Ruyu-style practice for generating soft, integrated body resonance.

Taiji Walking - Fundamental Ruyu-style practice for developing Taiji movement.

Constant Bear - Fundamental Ruyu-style practice for developing shifting and turning.

Taiji Form, Section 1 - Ruyu-style Taijiquan.

Taiji Salute - Modified from Tung-family Yang-style Taiji salute.

Camel-Walking - Ruyu-style practice to train real-speed Taiji movement for push hands and self-defense.

Neidan Qigong - Internal qigong for Daoist alchemy.

Follow along with Jake's teacher Frank Broadhead.

Master Chen Chu Kuan leading Ruyu Taiji School in the solo open hand Taijiquan form.

*Ruyu-style Taijiquan instructional DVD, taught by Kyle Plagan, now available to my regular students for $10.



Reading Materials for Daoist Meditation, Etc.

Beginning instructions in Laozi's wuwei sitting meditation practice.

My translation and commentary to Chapter 42 of the Dao De Jing.  This chapter presents Laozi's underlying world-view, and the commentary expands on how this view relates to qi-cultivation practice.  This is an introduction for Taiji students who may be interested in more closely stydying this text.  I have translated all 81 chapters and have been working on a commentary for each since 2008.  See Chapters 1-9 here.

Short essays on meditation and qi-cultivation published in the online journal Yang-Sheng (Nourishing Life).

A superb presentation of Laozi's meditation, courtesy of Shi Jing Daoshi, British Taoist Association.

Article published in Empty Vessel Magazine, Fall 2009.

Courtesy of Chris Grabowski, Wu Wei Lin Daoshi.

A brief description of the ancient Chinese oracle text used for revealing the energetic nature of a situation.