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Ken Gullette talks with Michael Dorgan, a disciple of the late Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang. Among Michael's other teachers are the late Master Zhang Xue Xin and his gongfu brother, Chen Xiang. Michael has a wonderful new book about his life in martial arts and in journalism. It's titled No Fight No Blame: A Journalist's Life in Martial Arts. The book is available on Amazon and Ken recommends it highly. In this interview, Michael talks about the book, training with teachers including Grandmaster Feng, and how his Taijiquan has helped as he has attempted to overcome cancer in recent years. Michael's lives in the San Jose, California area and his website is www.taichisanjose.com. Ken teaches through his website, featuring videos and live online training at www.internalfightingarts.com. The interview runs one hour and 10 minutes.

Ken Gullette talks with Scott M. Rodell, a Yang style Taijiquan instructor who is known for his swordsmanship. He is the founding director of the Great River Taoist Center in Annandale, Virginia. Scott's principal teacher was Wang Yen-Nien. From Wang, Scott learned the entire Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan system. Scott is known for his swordsmanship and teaches in-person at the center and also online through his website www.grtc.org. Ken has studied martial arts nearly 50 years and has worked with the jian (straight sword) and dao (broadsword or saber) for 35 years, winning many tournament weapons forms competitions. He does not consider himself a swordsman but Scott Rodell is, so they discuss how Scott became interested in martial arts and some fascinating details about the design and use of this great weapon. Ken teaches Chen style Taiji, Xingyiquan and Bagua Zhang through his website at www.internalfightingarts.com. Running time of this program is 1 hour 15 minutes.

If you are like a lot of martial artists, you dream about having your own bricks-and-mortar martial arts school. In this episode, Ken Gullette talks with Kimberly Ivy, who has had a Taijiquan school in Seattle for 30 years, and Michael Celeste, who has owned a school for six years teaching Yang Taiji and Wing Chun in Mt. Arlington, New Jersey. Martial arts skill is not the only thing you need to operate a school. Regardless of your martial arts style, it takes very hard physical work, a little business savvy and a commitment to be there. It's also expensive. This is episode 65 in the podcast. Total running time is 1 hr. 14 minutes.

In a different kind of episode, Ken Gullette does a joint podcast with Graham Barlow, the martial artist behind "The Tai Chi Notebook" podcast. Graham is a former guest on Ken's podcast, and as friends, they realized they both are asked the same type of questions by people who are interested in the internal arts -- questions on subjects such as the meaning of "spirit" in Taiji and whether it's okay to do weight training when studying Taiji. Ken and Graham sometimes see these issues differently, so they decided to discuss the questions and release the conversation on both of their podcasts. Graham's podcast is called "The Tai Chi Notebook" and his blog is at www.thetaichinotebook.com. This podcast runs 45 minutes.

Ken Gullette talks with Taoist Monk Yun Rou about applying philosophy to the sobering reality of death. Everyone will die, but for those who are diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, as both Ken and Monk Yun Rou have experienced, the question arises: how do you apply your philosophy or religion to give you peace at the time you are standing at the edge of eternity? This conversation looks at it from the perspective of philosophy. Yun Rou teaches Taoist philosophy and Taiji. He is also a writer, with many books available through Amazon. His website is www.monkyunrou.com. Ken teaches the internal arts through his website at www.internalfightingarts.com. Total running time of this program is 1 hour 22 minutes.

Ken Gullette talks with Ryan Craig, an instructor of Chen style Taijiquan in Philadelphia, PA. Ryan is a student of Nabil Ranne, who is a disciple of Chen Yu and lives in Berlin. Ken has also studied with Nabil for the past two years, so this is a conversation between two Taiji guys geeking out over the art and having fun talking about starting in the Chen Village line, then making a transition to the Chen Zhaokui line of Chen style. Ken met Ryan in May 2022 when Ryan hosted Nabil for a four-day workshop in Philadelphia. Ryan's website is www.phillychentaiji.com. Ken's website is www.internalfightingarts.com.

Ken Gullette interviews the last surviving star from the original "Kung Fu" TV show, Radames Pera, who played young Caine, the student monk who learned the ancient art of kung-fu at the Shaolin Temple and learned philosophy from Master Kan, played by Phillip Ahn, and Master Po, played by Keye Luke. Radames, who also appeared on "Little House on the Prairie," "The Waltons," "The Six Million Dollar Man" and many more shows and movies, takes us behind the scenes for an interesting discussion about the show that imprinted his image as "Grassshopper" in the minds of almost all martial artists. Running time is 1 hour 55 minutes.

Ken Gullette talks with Steve Contes, a disciple of Grandmaster Zhu Tiancai, one of the "Four Tigers" of the Chen Village. Steve lives and teaches in the Tampa, Florida area. In this interview, Steve talks about his experience training in Chen Taiji, training with Zhu Tiancai, the relationship he has developed, and other people he has trained with. He tells an interesting story about touching hands with Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang. Running time is around one hour and 31 minutes. Ken Gullette's website is www.internalfightingarts.com.

What is the secret of achieving enlightennment, awakening, nirvana? Are we sleep-walking through our lives? How do we become better people? Zen Buddhist monk Douglas A. Gentile, an ordained monk with the Five Mountain Zen Order who is also a professor at Iowa State University with a Ph.D. in child psychology, talks with Ken about philosophy, which has been an important part of martial arts for many centuries and an important part of Ken's life and arts. But how is it used in modern life, when so many people are wanting more and more, and yet so many people are unhappy? This is a podcast with messages that should be pondered. Running time is two hours. Ken also lists the Top 10 Chen Taiji Movements to Practice in the Hospital. Ken's website is www.internalfightingarts.com.  

Ken Gullette talks with Byron Jacobs, a teacher of Xingyiquan and Bagua Zhang who lives in Beijing. His teacher is Di Guoyong. This is a wide-ranging interview that touches on topics ranging from training in China to a book he is writing about the Xingyiquan classics, and they talk about training in Xingyiquan, including the "spirit" of Xingyi, how the spear influenced training in the fist postures, and the proper amount of time to stand daily in the SanTi stance, among other topics. Byron uses the name Mushin Martial Culture for his videos on YouTube and Patreon. You can study with him through Patreon. Ken lives in Illinois and teaches both in-person and through his website at www.internalfightingarts.com.  

Louis Martin is the author of "The True Believers," the story of how he became involved in a martial arts school in Monterey, California that had a charismatic teacher and a cult-like atmosphere. Ken Gullette talks with Louis in a wide-ranging discussion of critical thinking skills, what kind of people are lured into martial arts cults, and how you can tell if you are showing signs of being a "True Believer" (it is not a good thing to be). Louis trained for years in Seibukan, which is a combination of Japanese jujutsu and Aikido. He now trains in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Ken teaches Chen Taiji, Bagua Zhang and Xingyi Quan and has an online learning site at www.internalfightingarts.com. 

J. Justin Meehan is an attorney in St. Louis and the senior U.S. disciple of Master Zhang Xue Xin, who lives in San Francisco and is a disciple of the late Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang. Sifu Justin, as his students call him, began studying Tai Chi Chuan in 1967. He also studied other arts, including Shaolin, Northern and Southern Praying Mantis, Hung Gar and Wing Tsun. In 1981, he met and trained with Feng Zhiqiang in China. Justin was the first person to teach the internal arts in St. Louis. He now teaches the Hunyuan style of Chen Taijiquan and Qigong. This is not as much an interview as it is a conversation between Ken and Justin, two guys who have been in the arts for more than a century between them. Now in his 70s, Justin mainly teaches private classes and workshops. His website is www.stltaiji.com.  Ken's website, offering video lessons and live classes, is at www.internalfightingarts.com. 

Ken Gullette talks Bagua Zhang with Dennis Mace, an instructor of Cheng style Bagua Zhang in Seattle, Washington and a disciple of the late Yang Guo Tai. Ken and Dennis met when Ken was 34 and Dennis was a teenager. Both were training in the internal arts in Omaha, Nebraska. They each went their own paths studying other traditional internal arts. In this interview, Dennis talks about his journey in the arts, including early training, meeting Yang Guo Tai, an interesting question, "What is the root of wude?" Dennis Mace's website is macemartialarts.com. 

John Scott is the Maryland State Representative for the Chen Pan Ling family and the Ling Yun Pai family. He is a successful instructor and tournament champion, with a school in Frederick, Maryland. John is completely devoted to the Chen Pan Ling Systems of martial and healing arts and is a senior disciple of Grandmaster Chen Yun Ching, Chen Pan Ling's son, and heir of the systems. John talks with Ken Gullette about his martial arts journey. His goal is to spread the true teachings of Shaolin, Chen Pan Ling Taiji Quan, Hsing-I, Ba-Gua, the health arts of Qigong and the Weapons arts that are contained in the vast curriculum of the Chen Pan Ling systems of martial arts. John Scott's website is www.chenpanlingworldfamilymaryland.com. 

Ken Gullette talks with Jakob Pang Isaksson, a Jiang style Bagua Zhang instructor who lives in Stockholm, Sweden. Jakob has spent a few years in China studying with several teachers, first traveling to Wudang Mountain and then, after some time passed, he found his Bagua teacher in Quzhou, a few hours southwest of Shanghai. Jakob studies with Li Jian Min. After winning a silver and bronze medal at the World Traditional Wushu Championships in Shiyan City, Jakob was selected to compete with the Guang Zhou University Professional Wushu Team. Ken talks with Jakob about all these experiences.

Stephen Jackowicz, Ph.D. has developed an early-stage anti-viral treatment for Covid-19 patients using Traditional Chinese Medicine, particularly herbal treatments. At the time of this interview, he has treated more than 90 people who tested positive for Covid-19. None of them have seen their symptoms deteriorate to the point where hospitalization was required. Ken Gullette talks with Dr. Jackowicz about his treatments and how they work in the early stages of the illness, at a time when most doctors are advising patients to "wait it out." Note: this is not a cure for COVID-19, but it is timely information as the world continues to battle this virus.

Ken Gullette talks Taiji with Nabil Ranne, an instructor in Berlin, Germany who is a disciple of Chen Yu. Nabil is the co-founder of the Chen Style Taijiquan Network Germany. He also has a Ph.D. in sports science. In this interview, Nabil talks about practicing Chen Style Taiji, understanding gongfu culture, differences between the Chen Village and Beijing lines of Chen Taiji, and training with Chen Yu. 

Chen Huixian is a 20th generation descendant of the Chen family. She grew up in Chenjiagou, the Chen Village, where Taijiquan is believed to have originated. Her ancestors include some of the greatest Taiji (Tai Chi) masters in history, including Chen Wangting, Chen Changxing, Chen Fake and Chen Zhaopi. She is an indoor disciple of her uncle, Chen Zhenglei. Other uncles include Chen Xiaowang and Chen Xiaoxing. Her father was Grandmaster Chen Chunlei. In this interview, Ken Gullette talks with Chen Huixian about growing up in the Chen Village, training in Chen Taiji and the challenges of moving to the United States when she had never visited the U.S. before. Huixian is married to Michael Chritton. They met when he was training in the Chen Village. She teaches in Overland Park, Kansas, outside of Kansas City. Her website is www.kctaiji.com. Ken is very happy to have Huixian as a guest on his 50th episode of the podcast -- the first Chen family member on the show.

Ken Gullette talks with Chen Taiji instructor Ronnie Yee of Vancouver, British Columbia. Ronnie has studied martial arts since 1980, when he enrolled in Li Chi Wai's school, and he has studied Chen Taiji since 1988. He has trained with Chen Zhonghua, Zhang Lianen, Liu Chengde and Li Enjiu. In this wide-ranging interview, Ronnie tells stories of training with the masters. Ken and Ronnie also "get under the hood" on some Taiji principles. In recent years, Ronnie has merged the art of the Mitzvah, which realigns, rebalances and exercises the body, with his Taiji.

Tina Zhang was born in China and lived in a home on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. She studied martial arts in school, and continued her studies in the United States after moving here as a student. In this interview, Tina talks with Ken Gullette about the internal arts and her thirst for learning, which led her to shoot, edit and write a great documentary, "Tai Chi Club," which is available for streaming on Prime Video. It is the story of Frank Allen's Wutang Physical Culture Association on the Lower East Side of New York City, and the story of Tina's journey. Tina teaches qigong, Northern Wu style Tai Chi Chuan and Cheng style Baguazhang. She is a disciple of Northern Wu style Grandmaster Li Bing Ci and Cheng style Baguazhang Grandmaster Liu Jing Ru.