Jeff's excellent life in Wudang Mountains

Jeff is one of numerous foreigners who love Kung fu from Wudang. He comes from America, having learnt Taoist culture and Kung fu in Wudang Mountains since 2007. There, he developed a skill in Kung fu, studied Taoist culture and can even recite the Tao Teh King. As one of the representatives of Wudang Kung fu , speaking an authentic local dialect, practicing orthodox Wudang Kung fu , Jeff, together with other disciples, has performed Kung ku on CCTV to display Wudang’s unique abilities.

He took Wudang Mountains’ Taoist traditional Kung fu school’s curator, Yuan Xiugang, as his teacher seven years ago. After several years of hard training, he won the master's appreciation for brilliant skills and good manners. Jeff believes that the concept “Kung fu focuses on cultivation” is very meaningful. In the seven years, he systematically studied Taoist classical theory and Wudang culture, talked with people in a local dialect and used classic theories from the Tao Teh King to demonstrate his understanding about Kung fu, architecture and Taoism in Wudang and the perception of the world today. He holds that a man with refined manners never fights with people. In the Taoist traditional Kung fu school where there are many foreign disciples, Jeff consciously served as the role of big brother to help others solve their difficulties and learning problems. For his efforts, these foreign disciples were not only well integrated into local life, but also acquired great achievement in Kung fu training. In addition, their outstanding performance in Wudang Mountains foreign affairs and reception also gave others inspiration.

Jeff said, Wudang Mountains, as a world-famous Taoist shrine, has a beautiful landscape, Taoist buildings, and even the mysterious leisurely atmosphere of Kung fu is filled with thick Taoist flavor. The essence of Taoist culture is harmony, which emphasizes people's self-harmony, harmony between people, the harmony between man and nature, and the unity of heaven and man which is the highest level. Those are reasons why the Concepts highlighted by Taoist culture take great contributions to world peace, human harmony, and social development.

With much experience about Wudang Kung fu gained in training, Jeff knows that Wudang Kung fu is rooted in Wudang’s Taoism, and nourished by the Taoist culture. Wudang Kung fu, whose first position is graceful and mysterious, treats the preservation of one’s health as its main purpose, taking athletics as the last matter, pursuing sense rather than force, to wear away the rock with water, and to win by striking only after the enemy has struck. It also benefits physical fitness and longevity. "Practicing Wudang Kung fu is something that I have never experienced; it makes me obtain a broader perspective of the world, and let me know that future life is more exciting!"

The terminal of learning in Wudang Mountains is coming. Facing the future, with bright anticipation, Jeff wants to run a Kung fu school in America and Europe to teach Wudang Kung fu and spread Wudang’s culture after returning to America.

Contributed by Wang Liang and Jiang Yuanbo from Wudang Mountains Tourism Bureau

Edited by Feng Lu and Brian Salter