* prices for double rooms are per person and are only available to students travelling together
Wudang Daoist Traditional
Kungfu Academy
Daoist Health Cultivation on Wudang Mountain
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.
Master Yuan began his own practice at the age of seven and has devoted nearly four decades to Wudang arts. In 2004 he founded WDTKA on Wudang Mountain so that practitioners from anywhere in the world could study the San Feng lineage at its source. Read his full story on our Master Yuan page.
Our Lineage & Master Yuan
What is Daoist Health Cultivation?
The Wudang Daoist Traditional Kungfu Academy is more than a martial arts school — it is a continuation of an 800-year internal cultivation lineage. Under the guidance of Master Yuan Xiu Gang, an ordained Daoist priest and 15th-generation disciple of the Wudang San Feng Sect, students learn Taiji, Qigong, Wudang Kung Fu, and Daoist meditation as one integrated path of body, breath, and stillness.
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
For over 800 years, the gentle, internal practices of Wudang — Taiji, Qigong, standing meditation, and the Five Element forms — have been cultivated as a path of Daoist health cultivation (养生). Rather than treating the body as a machine to be fixed, these practices work with the body's natural rhythms: calming the nervous system, loosening the joints and fascia, and training relaxed, efficient movement.
What students commonly experience:
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A calmer, steadier state of mind — the slow, breathing-led rhythm of Taiji and Zhan Zhuang helps many students feel less tense and sleep more deeply.
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Better balance and body awareness — low, rooted stances and weight-shifting drills build the kind of stability that matters most as we age.
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Easier, fuller breathing and circulation — the coordinated breath-and-movement of Qigong leaves most practitioners feeling warmer, looser, and more energised.
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Greater mobility and reduced everyday stiffness — regular stretching and circular forms keep the joints supple without jarring impact.
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A felt sense of internal energy (Qi) — through consistent practice, students learn to direct attention and intention through the body, the foundation of all internal arts.
These are traditional wellness practices passed down through the Wudang San Feng lineage — not medical treatment. If you have a specific health condition, injury, or concern, please consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any new training program.
Daoist Health Cultivation is especially welcoming for:
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Children developing coordination, focus, and body awareness
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Adults managing stress, a sedentary lifestyle, or postural imbalance
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Older adults maintaining mobility, balance, and vitality
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Those recovering from injury or illness who need a gentle, low-impact path
*Written under the guidance of Master Yuan Xiu Gang — an ordained Daoist priest and 15th-generation disciple of the Wudang San Feng Sect, with nearly four decades of personal practice since the age of seven.
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."
Who It's For
No experience is required. Beginners build foundations through stretching, stance work, and coordination drills, while long-term students go deeper into internal alchemy under Master Yuan. Read Student Testimonials or browse the FAQ to learn more.
A Tradition Since 2004
WDTKA has hosted students from dozens of countries since 2004. Training runs year-round with no fixed start date. Check Tuition & Fees, Accommodation, and the Travel Guide, then Register when you're ready.