Jan learned Taiji (Yang style, Cheng Man-Ch’ing variation) from John Allen. She practices standing, sitting, and reclining Qigong, Taiji Sword, and Walking Qigong. In October 2007, she became certified in “Evidence Based Taiji” as taught by Master Yang Yang. He holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology, has conducted research on his Seven Step Taiji form, and in 2006 was honored as the “Qigong Master of the Year” at the 9th World Congress on Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He is now affiliated with Peaceable Dragon. Jan teaches Evidence Based Taiji/Qigong classes to staff at a rehabilitation hospital twice a week. She also teaches Taiji twice a week for multiple classes at the Recreational Center of the Fairfax County Park System with John Allen.
Jan’s extensive background and experience in Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation add unique dimensions to her understanding and practice of Taiji and Qigong. She is the Director of Clinical Neuropsychology at a rehabilitation hospital where she works intensively with individuals who have suffered a brain insult, such as a traumatic brain injury or a stroke. She easily relates the similarities of her professional career with the internal arts and is able to explain in layman terms the internalization experiences that go beyond Taiji and Qigong choreography. Her focus is consistently on nurturing the body, mind, and spirit of her patients as well as in her students in Taiji and Qigong. She hopes to develop research into the application of Qigong and Taiji principles to the healing of individuals trying to recover from a brain insult.
She also finds time for watercolor (her specialty), ink and pencil drawings, harp playing, and exploring Chinese brush painting, or Sumi-e. She is a passionate naturalist and her compassion for all animals and natural things align perfectly with the philosophies of the Tao.
Kourosh’s training in the art of traditional medicine began in 1977 when he was six years old, through his traditionally-trained father. It was not until his years as an undergraduate studying engineering that he realized his calling as a healer. He completed his engineering studies at Virginia Tech before moving on to pursue his passion at the Traditional Acupuncture Institute where studied Classical Chinese Medicine and Five Element Acupuncture and earned a master’s degree in acupuncture. He also completed a certification program in Chinese Herbal Medicine with Thea Elijah at the Academy of Five Element Acupuncture.
Over the years, Kourosh studied various forms of traditional healing, medicine and internal arts, the most valuable portion of his education being at the hands of a few great souls in the traditional mode of experiential learning. He began his study of the internal arts in 1990. He first studied Zen Bu Do Karate, followed by the Tang Shou Tao system of Chinese internal martial arts (Xing Yi Quan, Ba Gua Zhang, and Taiji Quan) brought to the US by Sifu Xu Hong Ji. He then studied Kriya Yoga and Tibetan and Taoist Internal Arts with Sunyata Saraswati. He is currently studying ancient Chinese medicine with Jeffery Yuen, 88th generation Taoist priest, as well as Hatha Yoga with various instructors.
Kourosh created the Circle of One non-profit center of traditional medicine in 2000 to provide a vehicle through which to serve people in need while staying true to the principle of never turning anyone away who asks for help, regardless of their circumstances. For more information, visit www.circleofone.org.
Kourosh has dedicated his life to the study, practice and development of internal arts, healing and medicine, the treatment of people in need, and sharing the knowledge with which he has been blessed. He continues to treat people at the Circle of One clinic, teach classes in the internal arts, and lectures publicly on various subjects relating to spirituality, internal arts, traditional medicine, eastern philosophy, and personal development.
Donald Alf started his study of the internal martial arts in 2001 with an interest in alleviating lower back pain and improving overall fitness, both of which are being realized. After a year of study of the Yang 24 form, he was asked to instruct classes.
In addition to teaching Yang, Donald has continued to broaden his knowledge and skills in the internal martial arts by taking classes and workshops offered in the area. He now knows several open hand Yang forms, several sword forms, as well as open hand Wu, Chen, Wudang, and LiuHeBaFa forms. Currently, Donald’s principal instructors are Master Liu Xiao Ling of Wudang Martial Arts, Paul Ramos of Wu Shen Tao, Paul Rischard of Peaceable Dragon, and Pat Rice of the Yang Chang-fu Center Winchester.
Qigong has also been an area of interest for Donald since 2005, and he has had the good fortune to study with Master Li Jun Feng, Francesco Garripoli, Nianzu and Peggy Li, and Roger Jahnke. As a routine practice, Donald includes qigong exercises in his classes as he finds they are relaxing and help promote total body involvement in movement.
Donald principally instructs tai chi for the INOVA Health System and has also led tai chi programs for various health clubs in the DC metropolitan area. While teaching was not an initial objective, Donald has found it very rewarding and feels that he learns as much from his students as, hopefully, they learn from him.
Brian has been learning under the primary tutelage of Paul Rischard. He has trained under the esteemed teacher Li Jun Feng in several forms of Sheng Zhen Wuji Yuan Gong, and is currently training in Taiji sword under the renowned Li Jing.
Brian also has extensive martial arts training in Tomiki-ryu Aikido under Sensei Yoji Kondo, and various other martial disciplines.
On a more personal level, Brian feels honored to be associated with the wonderful people of Peaceable Dragon. In addition to teaching, Brian’s work experience is widely varied. His sense of humor is occasionally called into question, and he feels odd referring to himself in the third person.
