My name is Patrick Gilman and I am a Structural Integrationist body worker with a focus ensuing lasting change. I traveled Asia for over a decade studying in varying degrees under 26 different masters of internal martial arts. My studies ranged from Shaolin to Xing Yi, Ba Gua, and Taiji, even to the extent of becoming a lineage holder of Yi Quan and Yang style TaiJi.
All of that was in search of a teacher who embodied the highest level of martial arts available, for the sake of restoring my health. After returning to America in a partially satisfied state, I found who I had been searching for in Thong Nguyen of KaiZenTao.
About his character, Mr. Nguyen is a humble teacher who refuses to be addressed as ‘Sir’ to prevent exclusion from being one of the guys. Despite his humility, he embodies a life long experience of martial arts from the meditative to combative levels. Despite even more, he stresses dance in his teaching (Thong is also a professional dancer).
He appreciates dance’s ability to readily illustrate the workability of biomechanics coupled with relaxation, the foundation of natural movement. Though different from what I was used to, I found within several lessons major change had begun in my structure and psychology due to KaizenTao’s emphasis on said and other concepts.
As I have now studied with Thong for over a year, I can say that ironically, as someone seeking a stronger physical condition and a deeper peace of mind as described by the ancient martial arts texts, I inevitably discovered what I was looking for through Thong’s classes.
Concepts of ‘dropping the qi’, ’song kua’, ‘Han xiong bao bei’ all organically became apparent through our studies without a need to name them or obsess over them. In addition, Thong strongly emphasizes taking self cultivation found in class ‘off of the mat’, thus giving us what we were really looking for.
In summary, Mr. Nguyen has a well developed step-by-step teaching methodology and the most expansive knowledge/workability of internal martial arts/physical movement that I have encountered. He is a treasure who I highly recommend for any available study.
Patrick Gilman
Owner Gilman Rolfing, Shaolin, Xing Yi, Ba Gua, Lineage Holder Yi Quan Yang Style TaiJi