News Page

For the latest news, go to the blog at www.internalarts.typepad.com.

New Online School for Internal Arts Launched - July 4, 2008

July 4, 2008 -- Sifu Ken Gullette launched an online internal arts school last week. Featuring many hours of video instruction, written material, e-books and more, the site is his idea for teaching students around the world who don't have access to quality internal arts instruction.

"I've received emails over the years from people in remote areas who don't have access to instructors," says Ken. "Now, for less than the cost of a DVD, anyone around the world can practice Chen Tai Chi, Hsing-I, and Bagua."

The site is designed for people who just want to back up what they're learning from their own instructor, or people who are interested in just one or two arts and would like certification. Students can also join and work their way through the ranks to achieve a black sash. Certification and rank both require one-on-one sessions, through video or in person, with Sifu Gullette.

"Video and the Internet have made it easy to show what you can do," Ken says. "I've already received videos from some of our students, and I've coached and corrected them through video replies. It works pretty well."

Check out the school by clicking on the link. Anyone who joins in July will receive one of Sifu Gullette's DVDs free (their choice).

Congratulations Kim Kruse for Tournament Win

February 24, 2007 -- In her first tournament as a student of Ken Gullette's, Kim Kruse won first place in white/yellow/orange sash forms and 2nd place in sparring. The trophies were won at John Morrow's tournament in Moline, Illinois. Photo of Kim at right. In the same tournament, Ken won 1st place in black belt forms and 1st in black belt sparring. Congratulations Kim!

Chen Xiaoxing Visit a Great Success!

The following story was in the Moline Dispatch -- April, 2006
By Stephen Elliott, selliott@qconline.com

Photo: Dan Videtich Chen Tai Chi Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing practices with Kung Fu Quad Cities owner and instructor Ken Gullette at the Bettendorf kung fu school Wednesday.

His movements are measured, the ballet-like shifting of hands and feet refined through centuries of family tradition.

His legs spread in exquisite balance, a setting sun highlights the beauty and fluidity of Chen Xiaoxing's movement as he's filmed for a Chinese television station.

Mr. Xiaoxing, 54, was in the Quad-Cities this week, as a guest of Ken Gullette, who owns Kung Fu Quad Cities in Bettendorf. A group of people met with Mr. Xiaoxing at Mr. Gullette's Moline home to watch the tape, filmed in the Henan Province of north central China.

It's where the quiet, unassuming Mr. Xiaoxing lives among small wheat fields and a few thousand villagers. Except for electricity, little has changed in the village over the years.

Some 400 years ago, Mr. Xiaoxing's family created the martial art of Tai Chi, now practiced by more than one billion people worldwide. Most people in the United States do a form of Tai Chi to relax and stay limber.

But, ask Mr. Gullette how calm Tai Chi is. He tells a different story.

The tape continues. Suddenly, the master's movements become faster than the eye can follow and his son and nephew are victims of a sudden take down.

They brush off and come back for more. In Mr. Xiaoxing's family, Tai Chi often is practiced from dawn till dusk. It's Tai Chi in its undiluted form, combining beauty and grace with the short, swift bursts of violent rebuke.

"So relaxed, so powerful," Mr. Gullette says as he watches. "The more you get into it (Tai Chi), the deeper it gets. It looks easy, but I find it the most difficult thing I've ever done.

"I would like more Americans to understand this is a martial art. It can be used for meditation, but if that's all you're focused on, you're missing one of the main purposes. You can defend yourself with Tai Chi."

Mr. Gullette sponsored Mr. Xiaoxing's trip to the Quad-Cities, his second visit to the United States. Mr. Xiaoxing, who returned to China Thursday, worked with Mr. Gullette and conducted classes for some of his students.

Chen style is the original form of Tai Chi, developed by Mr. Xiaoxing's ancestor, Chen Wangting, a warrior at the end of the Ming Dynasty, in the 17th Century, Mr. Gullette said.

Today, Mr. Gullette said people travel from all over the world to train with Mr. Xiaoxing in the simple Chen village.

He said Mr. Xiaoxing's school and the the Shaolin Temple, about 50 miles away, are the two most famous martial arts schools in China. "They take it very seriously about maintaining the quality. His sons and nephews are all Chinese national champions. It's a very primitive academy."

Primitive, yet effective.

Through interpreter Xixuan Collins, a teacher at Black Hawk College, the humble Mr. Xiaoxing says communication between cultures is good.

"Bit by bit," he said. "Family is really the center of a person's life. My responsibility is to take care of parents and also the children so they can grow up and be nice people."

During China's cultural revolution in the 1960s, Mr. Xiaoxing's family suffered as did millions of other Chinese. "His family was persecuted very badly," Mr. Wasson said.

Mr. Xiaoxing said he understands that many Americans are concerned about human rights issues in China.

"But, he thinks in China, we can't adopt the same kind of human rights principles," Ms. Collins said. "Because, if they do, China will become totally chaotic. We wouldn't have a very stable society for people to live in."

After the film about Mr. Xiaoxing ends, visitors in Mr. Gullette's home look at the unassuming Mr. Xiaoxing and nod in acceptance of his skills.

Mr. Xiaoxing will use the money from this visit to the U.S. to help his village and academy.

Martial artists from around the world will continue their trek to his small village to learn from a master, and Mr. Xiaoxing's family will pass on their craft.

Chris and Kim Bring Hardware Home from Tournament

Congratulations Chris and Kim Miller (photo at right), for your great performance at John Morrow's tournament on May 20. Chris won first place in all 3 of his events -- forms, weapons, and fighting. It was his second tournament. This was Kim's first tournament and she won 2nd in forms, 2nd in weapons, and 3rd in fighting.

Nice job!

CLEAN SWEEP! Ken Sweeps Black Belt Competition at Illinois Tournament

Our instructor, Ken Gullette, won first place in forms, weapons, and sparring at John Morrow's tournament on February 25, 2006. It was the first tournament of the year. At age 53, Ken was the oldest competitor by 25 years. A Quad Cities TV station, KWQC (the NBC affiliate) came to do a story. Photo at left shows Ken doing a 12-animal Hsing-I form. Photo at right shows him preparing for weapons competition. Ken out-pointed his friend Dan Gray for first place in sparring.

 In an unusual move, Ken did a staff form (he's known for straight sword and broadsword) to win first place with a form that he designed for tournaments.  Congratulations to students Steve Snow and Chris Miller for great performances. Click on the play button below to watch a TV news story from the tournament by KWQC-TV.

Two Great Articles about Our School in Local Newspapers

The Quad-City Times ran a story on the front page of the sports section on February 14th.  Click here to read it.

Great Article About Our School in The Leader Newspaper

The new school received a boost with a great article in The Leader newspaper on Thursday, January 5, 2006. The paper has a circulation of 100,000 on the Iowa side of the Quad Cities. Reporter Janee Jackson sat in on a Tai Chi class and a Kung Fu class, and wrote a story about our school.

The story focuses on the arts we teach, Ken's 32-year dream of having his own school, and Nancy's support and encouragement to buy the building we moved into in November.

A photographer came to the school during our renovation, and we had to find a spot that wasn't full of equipment and construction supplies.

Ken was very proud to see the picture of Nancy doing an "arm bar" on him, and he was proud to see the photo at the top, with one of his first students, Chad Steinke (who recently returned) doing a straight sword technique.

"We have a unique school," Ken says. "We're very serious about the arts but I've always believed, no matter what you do, you must have fun or it isn't worth it." The article captured that philosophy very well.

Ken Ends Year with Two First Place Victories

Instructor Ken Gullette won first place in black belt forms and fighting at John Morrow's tournament in Moline on Dec. 3, 2005. Ken won the fighting competition at the first tournament he attended in 2005 and ended the year in similar fashion. It was a fun tournament--a small one with great competitors. Ken won 1st place in forms with a Hsing-I form, "5 Element Mountain Storm."  No students from Kung Fu Quad Cities were able to compete in this tournament. The tournament season for 2006 will begin in February.

Pushing Hands with Master Chen Bing

A Day with Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing

Ken Wins Gold in Advanced Hsing-I Forms at Chicago Kung Fu Tournament.

Our First Video is for Sale. Check out "Tournament Point Sparring."

Ken Wins 1st in Two Divisions -- Fights in Chicago Grand Championship Round

Ken Studies with Chen Xiaowang at Washington D.C. Seminar

Ren Guangyi Holds Chen Broadsword and Push Hands Seminar

Photos from Chen Xiaowang Seminar

Bill Wallace Holds Sparring Seminar in Quad Cities

A Weekend Seminar with Chen Xiaowang

Tournament Wins for KFQC Students

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