Bruce Frantzis

Last updated • 3 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Bruce Frantzis
Bruce-Taoist-Cave.jpg
BornApril 1949
Occupation(s)Tai Chi, Meditation and Qigong Teacher and Author
Known forTaoist Lineage Master (Liu Hung-Chieh)

Bruce Kumar Frantzis (born April 1949) is a Taoist educator who studied Taoism in China.

Contents

Biography

Beginning as a young karate champion, he engaged in a multi-decade journey leading him throughout Asia and the Eastern energetic traditions. [1] [2] Choosing to forgo an ivy league education in favor of pursuing Japanese martial arts at their original source, he moved to Japan to attend Sophia University at the age of eighteen. [3] There, he obtained multiple black belts and trained with Aikido’s founder Morihei Ueshiba. [4] He soon branched out to Taiwan and China and studied in increasing depth under internal martial arts masters. [3] [5]

In 1973, attempting to locate the original source of meditation, Bruce traveled to India where he underwent rigorous daily training in Pranayama, Hatha yoga, Raja yoga and Tantra with many Gurus, experiencing what in the east is known as “Kundalini Shakti”. [6]

Returning to China in the mid 1970s, he became the first Westerner to be given insider access to the closely guarded Taoist Fire tradition (unverified tradition) and its priesthood. [7] After completing seven years of training he became priest in the Fire tradition. [8] Then by a fortunate set of events Bruce was accepted as the direct disciple of one of the few remaining stewards of the Water tradition (unverified tradition), the Taoist Immortal (Fully Realized Person) Liu Hung-Chieh. [9] Through Liu Hung-Chieh he was introduced to Jiang Jia Hua the vice president of the All-China Scientific Qigong Association. This connection gave Bruce access to Chinese cancer clinics where he completed his training as Medical Qigong doctor. [10]

Bruce inherited the Taoist Water tradition lineages shortly before Liu-Hung Chieh's passing in 1986. On his teacher's wishes he has spent the last 25 years imparting the healing, meditative and martial aspects of Taoism to the West. [11] He primarily teaches the Energy Arts qigong System, Wu-style tai chi, bagua , Taoist yoga and Taoist meditation. He has authored numerous works (including The Power of the Internal Martial Arts and Chi, Tao of Letting Go, Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong, and Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body) on Taoist energetic practices [12] and taught over 20,000 students many of whom have gone on to become active certified instructors. [13]

Authored Books

Personal life

Additionally, he is a regular participant in the Tibetan Buddhist community, a process that began with his training under Dudjom Rinpoche in 1976. He is an active student of Dzogchen, an advanced tradition he considers to share a common origin with the Taoist water tradition. Currently Bruce's teaching focus has shifted towards healing and meditation in accordance with his late teacher's final wishes. [14] [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neijia</span> Group of Chinese martial arts

Neijia is the collective name for the internal Chinese martial arts. It relates to those martial arts occupied with spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an "external" approach focused on physiological aspects. The distinction dates to the 17th century, but its modern application is due to publications by Sun Lutang, dating to the period of 1915 to 1928. Neijin is developed by using neigong or "internal changes", contrasted with waigong or "external exercises".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tai chi</span> Chinese martial art

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art. Initially developed for combat and self-defense, it has evolved into a sport and form of exercise. Tai chi is a gentle, low-impact form of exercise in which practitioners perform a series of deliberate, flowing motions while focusing on deep, slow breaths. Often referred to as "meditation in motion," tai chi aims to concentrate and balance the body's qi, providing benefits to mental and physical health.

<i>Baguazhang</i> Chinese martial art

Baguazhang is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being tai chi and xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice. Baguazhang literally means "eight trigram palm", referring to the bagua "trigrams" of the I Ching, one of the canons of Taoism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese martial arts</span> Variety of fighting styles developed in China

Chinese martial arts, commonly referred to with umbrella terms kung fu, kuoshu or wushu, are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" of martial arts. Examples of such traits include Shaolinquan (少林拳) physical exercises involving All Other Animals (五形) mimicry or training methods inspired by Old Chinese philosophies, religions and legends. Styles that focus on qi manipulation are called internal, while others that concentrate on improving muscle and cardiovascular fitness are called external. Geographical associations, as in northern and southern, is another popular classification method.

<i>Daoyin</i> Series of health-promoting exercises practiced by Daoists

Daoyin is a series of cognitive body and mind unity exercises practiced as a form of Daoist neigong, meditation and mindfulness to cultivate jing (essence) and direct and refine qi, the internal energy of the body according to traditional Chinese medicine. These exercises are often divided into yin positions and yang positions. The practice of daoyin was a precursor of qigong, and blended with the introduction of Indian yoga into China with the spread of Buddhism and was practised in Chinese Taoist monasteries for health and spiritual cultivation. Daoyin is also said to be a primary formative ingredient in the yin aspects of Chinese martial arts including the well-known "soft styles" of the Chinese martial arts, of tai chi, and middle road styles like Wuxingheqidao.

<i>Liuhebafa</i> Chinese martial art

Liuhebafa quan is an internal Chinese martial art. It has been called "xinyi liuhebafa" (心意六合八法拳) and is also referred to as "water boxing" due to its principles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dantian</span> Qi focus flow centers

Dantian is a concept in traditional Chinese medicine loosely translated as "elixir field", "sea of qi", or simply "energy center". Dantian are the "qi focus flow centers", important focal points for meditative and exercise techniques such as qigong, martial arts such as tai chi, and in traditional Chinese medicine. Dantian is also now commonly understood to refer to the diaphragm in various Qigong practices and breath control techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing for singing and speaking.

Reverse breathing is a breathing technique associated with qigong and martial arts. It consists of compressing the abdomen while inhaling through the mouth, and expanding it while exhaling through the nose. Practitioners believe that consciously controlling this movement in a way opposite to normal breathing can build up qi for various applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ziranmen</span>

Ziranmen, also known as Natural Boxing, is a Northern internal style of kung fu that is taught in conjunction with qigong breathing techniques. The style traces its lineage to Dwarf Xu, who based it on ancient Taoist philosophy. Du Xinwu, the next bearer of the lineage, served as a bodyguard to Sun Yat-sen, then the provisional president of the Republic of China. Du imparted his knowledge of "Natural Boxing" to his eldest son Du Xiusi and Wan Laisheng, a prominent twentieth century martial artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Styles of Chinese martial arts</span> Overview of the fighting styles

There are hundreds of different styles of Chinese martial arts, each with their own sets of techniques and ideas. The various movements in kung fu, most of which are imitations of the fighting styles of animals, are initiated from one to five basic foot positions: normal upright posture and the four stances called dragon, frog, horse riding, and snake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microcosmic orbit</span> A Taoist qigong or tao yin qi energy cultivation technique

The microcosmic orbit (小周天), also known as the Self Winding Wheel of the Law, is a Taoist qigong energy cultivation technique. It involves deep breathing exercises in conjunction with meditation and concentration techniques which aim to develop the flow of qi along certain pathways of energy in the human body which may be familiar to those who are studying traditional Chinese medicine, qigong, tai chi, Neidan and Chinese alchemy. The exercise can be performed usually at first in a sitting position, but it can also be practiced standing as in Zhan zhuang or with movements included as with tai chi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fu Zhensong</span> Chinese martial artist

Fu Zhensong, also known by his courtesy name Fu Qiankun, was a grandmaster of Wudangquan martial arts. He was best known as one of the famed "Five Northern Tigers," and a third-generation master of Baguazhang who founded Fu Style Baguazhang. He was also a soldier and a supporter of Sun Yat-sen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qigong</span> Chinese system of coordinated posture and movement, breathing, and meditation

Qigong is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation said to be useful for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial arts training. With roots in Chinese medicine, philosophy, and martial arts, qigong is traditionally viewed by the Chinese and throughout Asia as a practice to cultivate and balance the mythical life-force qi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Li Jinglin</span>

Li Jinglin, also known as Li Fangchen (1885–1931) was a deputy inspector-general and later army general for the Fengtian clique during the Chinese warlord era. He hailed from Zaoqiang County, Hebei province, China. After his military career was over he settled in Nanjing, and in 1927 moved to Shanghai. A renowned swordsman, he was known as "China's First Sword."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wudangquan</span> Group of Chinese martial arts

Wudangquan is a class of Chinese martial arts. In contemporary China, Chinese martial arts styles are generally classified into two major groups: Wudang (Wutang), named after the Wudang Mountains; and Shaolin, named after the Shaolin Monastery. Whereas Shaolin includes many martial art styles, Wudangquan includes only a few arts that use the focused mind to control the body. This typically encompasses tai chi, xingyiquan and baguazhang, but must also include bajiquan and Wudang Sword. Although the name Wudang simply distinguishes the skills, theories and applications of the internal arts from those of the Shaolin styles, it misleadingly suggests these arts originated at the Wudang Mountains. The name Wudang comes from a popular Chinese legend that incorrectly purports the genesis of tai chi and Wudang Sword by an immortal, Taoist hermit named Zhang Sanfeng who lived in the monasteries of Wudang Mountain. Wudang quan is often used synonymously with Neijia, but Neijia is a broader term that also encompasses Aikido and Qigong, which are not Wudang quan.

<i>Xingyiquan</i> Chinese martial art

Xingyiquan, or Xingyi, is a style of internal Chinese martial arts.

Qigong, the Chinese practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and martial arts training, has a history that extends back more than 4,000 years. Contemporary qigong is a complex accretion of the ancient Chinese meditative practice xingqi or "circulating qi" and the gymnastic breathing exercise daoyin or "guiding and pulling", with roots in the I Ching and occult arts; philosophical traditions of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts; along with influences of contemporary concepts of health, science, meditation, and exercise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wang Shujin</span> Chinese martial art practitioner

Wang Shujin (1904–1981), also known as Wang Heng Sun, was a Chinese martial artist, practitioner of the disciplines of baguazhang, taijiquan, and xingyiquan. He was one of their greatest promoters outside China, being their first teacher in Taiwan and Japan, and was particularly known for his challenges to other martial artists. Aside from his martial exploits, Wang was also a spiritual leader in the Taoist sect Yiguandao.

Du Xinwu, aka Ru Xia (儒侠), Dou Mi Guan Jushi (斗米观居士) was a Chinese martial artist and an important figure in the development of Zi Ran Men kung fu.

Wan Laisheng was a Chinese martial artist and author.

References

  1. Little, Reg (2006). A Confucian-Daoist Millennium. Berkeley, CA: Connor Court Publishing. ISBN   1-55643-506-1.
  2. O'Brien, Jess (2004). Nei Jia Quan. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. ISBN   978-0-9758015-5-0.
  3. 1 2 Allen, Frank; Lu, Clarence (January 1998). "B. K. Frantzis a Paqua Master Work in Progress". Inside Kung-Fu. p. 90.
  4. O'Brien, Jess (2004). Nei Jia Quan. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. ISBN   1-55643-506-1.
  5. Grossinger, Richard (2001). Planet Medicine: Origins. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. ISBN   978-1-55643-369-6.
  6. Frantzis, Bruce (2006). Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body Chi Gung for Life Long Health. Berkeley, CA: Blue Snake Books. ISBN   1-58394-146-0.
  7. Frantzis, Bruce (2007). The Power of Internal Martial Arts and Chi: Combat and Energy Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi and Hsing-I. Berkeley, CA: Blue Snake Books. ISBN   1-58394-190-8.
  8. 1 2 Frantzis, Bruce (2001). Relaxing into Your Being: The Water Method of Taoist Meditation Series. Berkeley, CA: Blue Snake Books. ISBN   1-55643-407-3.
  9. Kealy, Sally; Allen, Frank (Fall 1999). "Dissolving Process of the Taoist Water Method". The Empty Vessel.
  10. Frantzis, Bruce. "How I Learned Dragon & Tiger Qigong". Archived from the original on 2010-01-21. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  11. Ryan, Bill. "Our Teachers' Teacher: Bruce Frantzis". Toward Harmony Tai Chi & Qigong. Archived from the original on 2010-07-03. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  12. Kleiman, Dan. "About Us: Bruce Frantzis". Toward Harmony Tai Chi & Qigong. Archived from the original on 2012-02-13. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  13. Frantzis, Bruce. "What we Teach". Archived from the original on 2010-01-26. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  14. McTaggart, Lynne (2007). The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World . Simon & Schuster. ISBN   978-0-7432-7695-5.