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Wudang Daoist Traditional
Kungfu Academy
Daoist Health Cultivation | Wudang Daoist Traditional Kungfu Academy
Daoist Health Cultivation (道家养生, Daoist Yang Sheng) is a comprehensive system developed over thousands of years to strengthen the body's natural healing capacity. Ancient Daoist practices combine body movement, breath regulation, and intentional awareness to cultivate Qi (vital energy), strengthen the meridians, and balance Yin and Yang within the internal organs.
Our Daoist Health Cultivation practices are suitable for everyone — regardless of age, fitness level, or prior experience. Unlike high-impact sports, these practices work deeply with the body's internal systems to address the root causes of imbalance rather than merely managing symptoms.
About WDTKA
The Wudang Daoist Traditional Kungfu Academy (WDTKA) was founded in 2004 by Master Yuan Xiu Gang — a 15th generation disciple of the Wudang San Feng Sect and an ordained Daoist priest. Located next to YuZhenGong Temple in the HuangJiaGou area of Wudang Mountain, Hubei Province, China, our academy has welcomed students from over 50 countries seeking authentic internal martial arts and Daoist health cultivation.
We offer two parallel paths of training: Daoist Health Cultivation and Wudang Martial Arts (Kung Fu). Both paths share the same foundation — the cultivation of body, mind, and spirit through the combination of internal and external practice, movement and stillness, and the harmony of Jing, Qi, and Shen.
What is Daoist Health Cultivation?
Our Health Cultivation Practices
Taiji (太极拳)
Taiji (Tai Chi) is the most widely practiced Daoist health art in the world. Our Taiji curriculum begins with Wuji standing meditation — the foundation that cultivates rootedness, internal awareness, and the ability to direct Qi through the body. From there, students progress through the Taiji 13 form, advance to Taiji 28, and ultimately practice the complete Taiji 108 — the original form as practiced on Wudang Mountain for over 800 years.
Ba Duan Jin (八段锦) — Eight Pieces of Brocade Qigong
Ba Duan Jin is one of the most effective and accessible Qigong sets in the Daoist tradition. Each of the eight movements targets a specific organ system and meridian pathway. The practice coordinates gentle stretching, breath work, and intentional awareness to improve circulation, reduce stress, and strengthen overall vitality. Ba Duan Jin is suitable for beginners and is included in daily training for all students.
Standing Meditation (站桩)
Zhan Zhuang — literally "standing pole" or "standing like a tree" — is the core internal practice of the Wudang San Feng lineage. Standing in stillness, students learn to sink Qi into the Dantian (lower energy center), release tension held in the joints and muscles, and develop the rooted, aligned posture that underlies all internal martial arts. Even 15–30 minutes of daily standing practice produces measurable improvements in energy, sleep quality, and mental clarity.
Taiyi and Taihe Quan
Taiyi Wuxing Quan (Five Element Fist) and Taihe Quan (Great Harmony Fist) are intermediate forms that introduce the principles of Daoist Five Element Theory and the Eight Gates into physical practice. These forms are soft, flowing, and deeply internal — ideal for students seeking to deepen their understanding of Daoist body mechanics and energy cultivation.
Push Hands (推手)
Push Hands is the two-person practice of Taiji application. Students learn to sense their partner's center of gravity, redirect incoming force, and maintain balance under pressure — developing sensitivity and skill that cannot be obtained through solo practice alone. Push Hands is available to students with a foundation in Taiji forms.
Health Benefits
Scientific and clinical research has documented numerous benefits of regular Taiji and Qigong practice:
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Cardiovascular health — lowers blood pressure, reduces heart rate variability, improves circulation
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Pain management — reduces chronic pain, particularly for knee osteoarthritis, lower back pain, and fibromyalgia
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Balance and fall prevention — significantly reduces fall risk in older adults
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Stress and anxiety — reduces cortisol levels and symptoms of anxiety and depression
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Immune function — increases immune cell activity and antibody response
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Cognitive function — improves attention, working memory, and sleep quality
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Metabolic health — reduces blood viscosity, cholesterol levels, and blood stasis
Daoist Health Cultivation practices are particularly beneficial for:
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Children with developing motor skills and concentration
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Adults experiencing stress, sedentary lifestyle, or postural imbalances
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Older adults seeking to maintain mobility, balance, and vitality
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Those recovering from injury, chronic illness, or organ system weakness
Daoist Philosophy: The Foundation of Practice
All practices at WDTKA are rooted in Daoist philosophy — not as abstract theory, but as practical guidance for living and training. The Daoist approach to health is preventive: by maintaining the free flow of Qi through the meridians, balancing Yin and Yang, and cultivating Jing (essence), Qi (vital energy), and Shen (spirit), the body naturally resists disease and degeneration.
As Master Yuan often teaches: "Health is not something you buy from a doctor. It is something you cultivate through daily practice — through correct posture, breath, and intention. The Daoist sages understood this thousands of years ago. Our job is simply to keep practicing."
About Master Yuan Xiu Gang
Master Yuan Xiu Gang is a 15th generation disciple of the Wudang San Feng Sect, lineage holder of both the Wudang internal martial arts and Daoist health cultivation traditions. He is also an ordained Daoist priest.
Master Yuan began his martial arts training at age 7 under the guidance of several renowned Wudang masters. Over decades of dedicated practice and study, he developed a deep understanding of both the martial and health dimensions of Wudang culture — recognizing that these two aspects are fundamentally inseparable.
In 2004, Master Yuan founded WDTKA with the mission of sharing authentic Wudang martial arts and Daoist health cultivation with students from around the world. He teaches personally, offering precise technical corrections and profound philosophical insights that can only come from decades of dedicated practice.