Internal Fighting Arts | Learn Real-World Martial Arts Insights from Top Instructors of Tai Chi - Xingyi - Bagua and Qiqong

Ken Gullette talks teaching with Russ Smith, a veteran teacher and author of "Principle-Driven Skill Development: Teaching 101." Russ is a teacher of Goju-ryu Karate, Matayoshi Kobudo, White Eyebrown kung-fu, Dragon Style kung-fu, and Five Ancestor Boxing. The art of teaching requires different skills than being a good martial artist. Russ Smith's book offers information that can transform skilled practitioners into effective teachers. Between the two of them, Ken and Russ bring many decades of teaching experience to the conversation. Russ Smith's website is at www.burinkan.org. Ken teaches through his website at www.internalfightingarts.com. 

Ken Gullette talks with Dr. Bob Bacher, a Taijiquan teacher who studied with Wan Xi'an, one of the "Four Tigers" of the Chen Village. For ten years, while he was a board-certified Doctor of Chiropractic, Bob made visits to the Chen Village to learn from Wang Xi'an, who passed away in 2024. Ken and Bob talk about his early training, how he met Wang Xi'an, and what type of person Bob got to know. Bob Bacher still teaches, and has a website at www.dochenstyletaichi.com. Ken teaches in-person and through his membership website at www.internalfightingarts.com, where you can also find Ken's blog. This interview was recorded in May, 2026. Running time is one hour 26 minutes.

The "Eight Energies of Taijiquan" are not mystical -- and they don't mean there are eight specific types of energy coursing through your body. The name "energy" comes from the Chinese gongfu term "Jin," and that actually means a trained strength - a refined, skillful use of the body. A "Jin" is a method, a way of dealing with force. The eight energies include: ** Peng Jin (Ward-Off Energy) ** Lu Jin (Roll Back Energy) ** Ji Jin (Press Energy) ** An Jin (Push Energy) ** Lie Jin (Split Energy) ** Cai Jin (Pluck Energy) ** Zhou Jin (Elbow Energy) ** Kao Jin (Shoulder Energy) In this podcast, the first one without a guest, Ken Gullette talks about what his practice and studies over the past almost 40 years have taught him about what the "energies" are -- and how they are used. Almost certainly, you will look at some of the Jin in a slightly new or deeper way. Ken put an 8-part series of videos on YouTube about the Eight Energies (Methods) of Tai Chi, so check that out before or after you listen to this podcast. Ken began studying Taijiquan in 1987. Eleven years later, he discovered Chen Taiji. He has had some top-level instructors, including members of the Chen family and their disciples. Ken teaches through small, in-person classes and practices, and through his online school, www.InternalFightingArts.com, where he has around 1,000 video lessons and he does live Zoom classes each week. Check out his website and try two weeks free. Ken also writes about the internal arts of Chinese gongfu - and philosophy - on his blog at www.internalfightingartsblog.com, and he has several books on the internal martial arts on Amazon. This episode runs one hour 21 minutes.

Ken Gullette talks with long-time Taiji instructor Mark Becker about training with his teachers, including Liang Baiping, Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang, and Master Zhang Xue-Xin. This interview is also available on YouTube in a video version. Mark lives in the Denver, Colorado area and can be found by searching "Tai Chi Beast." He is dedicated to passing on the knowledge he has gained to future generations. Ken teaches through books, DVDs, and his online school at InternalFightingArts.com. Running time for this episode is 1 hour 15 minutes.

Ken Gullette talks with Sgt. Aaron Leisinger of the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department and a long-time martial arts student and instructor. He also helps train other officers in defensive tactics with the goal of resolving situations peacefully. Ken and Aaron competed against each other in martial arts tournaments more than 20 years ago. In this interview, they talk about martial arts and how it's used in police work, the decisions an officer makes in an uncertain situation, when and why an officer might go to a higher level of force, and how you might not always understand your rights when you are stopped by a police officer. Total running time is one hour 18 minutes.