Gordon became enamoured by Chinese culture in the early 60s and started his martial arts training in the later end of the decade. In 1972, while serving in the Royal Air Force, he began studying the ChanQuanShu (CQS - Art of the Meditating Fist) system, which he still practices to this day. CQS incorporates qigong and meditation along with a range of internal martial arts. While in the RAF, Gordon became a founder member and General Secretary of the RAF Martial Arts Federation, a post he held until he retired from military service in 1993. He started his regular visits to China in the 90s and, after meeting Professor Zhang Guangde, Gordon started training with him at the Beijing University of Physical Education (BUPE)—now rebranded as the Beijing Sports University. The training given at BUPE was in the Daoyin Yangsheng Gong (DYG) system and in 1995 he was certified as a Senior Referee (Judge) by the DYG Association and the China Wushu Society. It was at the end of the 90s. Gordon went through the Ru Shi Di Zi ceremony at BUPE and became a lineage holder of DYG. In the early 2000s, the BUPE urged Gordon to go to Wudang mountain for his further development. There he began studying with Grandmaster You Xuande, Daoist priest and Head of the Xuanwu Pai system of Wudang Boxing. He was adopted me the clan as a 15th generation disciple and after the Baishi ceremony he was given the Wudang name of You Lisu (not to be confused with his Beijing name of Gao Deng!). Wudang taijiquan, baguazhang, xingyiquan, sword, and neigong practices have very obvious Daoist influences. Also, during the 90s, he had, for a short time, been with the Healing Tao system of Master Mantak Chia and had been one of the directors of the European Healing Tao Teachers Association. Presently, Gordon is a member of the Technical Panel of the Tai Chi & Qigong Union for Great Britain.

Contact