I’ve had the distinct privilege of working with Thong Nguyen as my movement coach for nearly three years now. Thong integrates years of experience in professional dance, martial arts, and sports at the highest level to help his students find a grace and efficiency of movement to enhance whatever skill sets they wish to develop, in my case martial arts.
I can honestly say that not a lesson has gone by without Thong imparting one or more life-changing movement pearls. His unique teaching style has challenged me to identify and let go of various self-imposed limitations toward efficient movement, such as the mindset I may have about my perceived preferences or ability to execute a particular technique, or the myriad ways the body freezes up
when faced with unfamiliar stimuli. Thong’s teaching style fosters students’ innate abilities to discover these pearls for themselves.
What have I learned or observed through my interactions with Thong? That is very hard to sum up succinctly, so I’ll briefly focus on some of the key martial arts observations I’ve been able to directly experience in my time working with Thong. (There are an equally robust number of dance and balance pearls I have also learned during this time.)
First, Thong’s movement is always graceful and does not change no matter how much pressure he is under. Dance and martial arts are intimately woven together. Second, the moment you touch him (or even before) you effectively become a tense block of wood, off balance and with your joints bound up. Third, his mastery and proficiency extends equally to all elements of real-life (life-or-death) martial arts skills, i.e. controlling the environment, striking, kicking, ground fighting, joint locks, and weapons, something I have not seen in any martial arts teacher previously. I have seen numerous examples of how he has demonstrated these skills with ease on warriors of all levels including elite special operations, law enforcement, and professional MMA fighters.
Lastly, although not a taichi practitioner, Thong‘s “internal” (elusive force) skills are unparalleled, something I have only felt from one or two other teachers in my lifetime of studying martial arts.
I am honored and thankful for the trust Thong has shown in me as he has graciously imparted his teaching. I’m grateful to be part of KaizenTao, The Path of Continual Growth. In KaizenTao, no matter how long one studies movement, it is never possible to “arrive” as there are ever more layers that Thong will help you access.
~ Charles Hoge, M.D., Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret), Author of “Once a Warrior-Always a Warrior: Navigating the Transition from Combat to Home.” National expert in treatment of war-related PTSD. Yang Style Taiji Instructor (Washington D.C. affiliate under Sifu Adam Mizner).