Bagua & Taijutsu

I practiced a form of modern goshin-jutsu (self-defense) derived from Aikidō and Nippon Shorinji Kempō in NYC from 1989 to 2005. While living in NYC, I also attended seminars in Daito-ryu Takumakai. After moving to Baltimore, I studied Gao Lineage Bagua under Bob Galeone between 2004 and 2010. Bob's experience as senior yudansha of Kanai and Saotome who had integrated internal martial arts into his Aikidō was invaluable to me as I made the shift from modern Aikidō derived goshin-jutsu to traditional martial arts. Clyde Takeguchi was also an excellent resource, who was able to explain to me that many of the techniques I had learned in NYC had originated in early post-war Aikidō.

Until 2014, I worked in Baltimore with Dr. Ben Lawner in synthesizing an updated approach to the aiki and atemi we had first learned, informed by circular and linear Baguazhang. The result I called Gassankan Jujutsu.

We practiced outdoors, in all weather, on a hard bluestone patio, learning how to fall smoothly and safely under difficult conditions. At first, we preserved a full curriculum of the aiki and atemi we first had learned side-by-side with Gao Lineage Bagua circular and linear methods and tactics. Over time, we condensed our expression of Aiki to what was compatible with our practice of Gao Lineage Bagua, and then eventually chose a subset of the 64 Linear Tactics of Gao Yisheng to work on regularly as part of a core set of two person kata. This helped organize our art.

Ben Lawner is a strong martial artist and has my blessing to share his knowledge with others.