Bruce Kumar Frantzis (born April 1949) is a Taoist educator who studied Taoism in China.
Biography
Beginning as a young
karate champion, he engaged in a multi-decade journey leading him throughout Asia and the Eastern energetic traditions.[1][2] Choosing to forgo an
ivy league education in favor of pursuing Japanese martial arts at their original source, he moved to
Japan to attend
Sophia University at the age of eighteen.[3] There, he obtained multiple black belts and trained with
Aikido’s founder
Morihei Ueshiba.[4] He soon branched out to
Taiwan and
China and studied in increasing depth under internal martial arts masters.[5][6]
In 1973, attempting to locate the original source of meditation, Bruce traveled to India where he underwent rigorous daily training in
Pranayama,
Hatha yoga,
Raja yoga and
Tantra with many Gurus, experiencing what in the east is known as “
Kundalini Shakti”.[7]
Returning to China in the mid 1970s, he became the first Westerner to be given insider access to the closely guarded Taoist Fire tradition (unverified tradition) and its priesthood.[8] After completing seven years of training he became priest in the Fire tradition.[9] Then by a fortunate set of events Bruce was accepted as the direct disciple of one of the few remaining stewards of the Water tradition (unverified tradition), the Taoist Immortal (Fully Realized Person) Liu Hung-Chieh.[10] Through Liu Hung-Chieh he was introduced to Jiang Jia Hua the Vice President of the All-China Scientific Qigong Association. This connection gave Bruce access to Chinese cancer clinics where he completed his training as Medical
Qigong doctor.[11]
Bruce inherited the Taoist Water tradition lineages shortly before Liu-Hung Chieh’s passing in 1986. On his teacher’s wishes he has spent the last 25 years imparting the healing, meditative and martial aspects of Taoism to the West.[12] He primarily teaches the Energy Arts
qigong System,
Wu-style tai chi, bagua, Taoist yoga and Taoist
meditation. He has authored numerous works (including The Power of the Internal Martial Arts and Chi, Tao of Letting Go, Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong, and Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body) on Taoist energetic practices[13] and taught over 20,000 students many of whom have gone on to become active certified instructors.[14]
Authored Books
Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body: Chi Gung for Lifelong HealthISBN978-1583941461
The Power of Internal Martial Arts and Chi: Combat and Energy Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi and Hsing-IISBN978-1583941904
Relaxing into Your Being: The Taoist Meditation Tradition of Lao Tse, Volume 1ISBN978-1556434075
The Great Stillness: The Water Method of Taoist Meditation Series, Volume 2ISBN978-1556434082
Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong, Volume 1: Develop Health and Energy in 7 Simple MovementsISBN978-1556439216
Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong, Volume 2: Qi Cultivation Principles and ExercisesISBN978-1583946619
Bagua and Tai Chi: Exploring the Potential of Chi, Martial Arts, Meditation and the I ChingISBN978-1583943595
Taoist Sexual Meditation: Connecting Love, Energy and SpiritISBN978-1583944950
Personal life
Additionally, he is a regular participant in the
Tibetan Buddhist community, a process that began with his training under
Dudjom Rinpoche in 1976. He is an active student of
Dzogchen, an advanced tradition he considers to share a common origin with the Taoist water tradition. Currently Bruce’s teaching focus has shifted towards healing and meditation in accordance with his late teacher’s final wishes.[15][16]
^O'Brien, Jess (2004). Nei Jia Quan. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
ISBN978-0-9758015-5-0.
^Allen, Frank; Lu, Clarence (January 1998). "B. K. Frantzis a Paqua Master Work in Progress". Inside Kung-Fu. p. 90.
^O'Brien, Jess (2004). Nei Jia Quan. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
ISBN1-55643-506-1.
^Allen, Frank; Lu, Clarence (January 1998). "B. K. Frantzis a Paqua Master Work in Progress". Inside Kung-Fu. p. 90.
^Grossinger, Richard (2001). Planet Medicine: Origins. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
ISBN978-1-55643-369-6.
^Frantzis, Bruce (2006). Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body Chi Gung for Life Long Health. Berkeley, CA: Blue Snake Books.
ISBN1-58394-146-0.
^Frantzis, Bruce (2007). The Power of Internal Martial Arts and Chi: Combat and Energy Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi and Hsing-I. Berkeley, CA: Blue Snake Books.
ISBN1-58394-190-8.
^Frantzis, Bruce (2001). Relaxing into Your Being: The Water Method of Taoist Meditation Series. Berkeley, CA: Blue Snake Books.
ISBN1-55643-407-3.
^Kealy, Sally; Allen, Frank (Fall 1999). "Dissolving Process of the Taoist Water Method". The Empty Vessel.