In 1957, few Americans had ever heard of Chinese martial arts, let alone trained in them. But for Dr. John Painter, a student of Master Li, Long-dao AKA Frank Li, this ancient tradition would become a lifelong path that blended combat, healing, and philosophy. Over nearly seven decades, John’s journey has taken him from quiet training place of Master Li’s backyard to the pages of martial arts magazines, from crowded tournaments to a private retreat called The Gompa. Now, as he is retiring from teaching, he reflects on the profound lessons he learned from his teacher—and how he hopes to pass them on to the next generation through an online university.
More Than Fighting Skills
“When I met Sifu Li, his focus was clear,” John recalls. His family’s system is not for performing or competition, it is for soldiers to combat in batter fields and to heal from injuries. But there was another side to it, too: his family had developed a very practical system for health and longevity, which some people today might call Qigong.
The Li family’s Qigong training had two branches: Yang-Sheng (養生), which means “nurturing life,” and Zhandouli Qigong (戰鬥力氣功), or “combat power breath skills.” One was for cultivating vitality and longevity through sitting, standing, and movement practices; the other built powerful internal energy for fighting. “We also learned Chinese herbs, acupressure, and massage,” John adds. “Shifu Li’s art was never just about fighting—it was a complete system.”
A Structured Way to Build Strength
The training system John inherited was methodical. It began with quiet sitting meditation to develop mental focus. Then students moved into Zhan Zhuang—standing postures. One form of Zhan Zhuang taught complete body relaxation, known as Song (松). The next step was Zhan Zhuang for generating internal power, which in the Li family system is now called Yixingong (意心功), a version of the well-known Yiquan (意拳).
“After that, we learned the six classical stances and the Li family’s special upper body movement method called the Five Circles. When you combine these, you have all the possible martial movements. We didn’t just practice empty-hand techniques either. We trained with swords, sabers, knives, three-section staffs, walking canes, staff and spear—both classical and modern weapons—always focused on real combat, not demonstration,” John says.
Beyond martial skills, Shifu Li passed down a family philosophy known as Xinfudao (信服道) or to have faith in the way or path, the philosophy is a blend of Tibetan Bon or Tibetan spiritual practice, Buddhist, and Daoist concepts. “It gave us a spiritual foundation to balance the physical practice,” John explains.
The Family Style Tradition
While the Li family system have various internal martial art forms such as Taijiquan, Baguazhang, and Xingyiquan, these were always taught as fighting systems first. “They were soldiers and bodyguards first and foremost,” John says. “When I started, Chinese martial arts were almost unknown in the U.S. except in a few all-Chinese schools in San Francisco and New York, which weren’t open to outsiders.”
When John returned to Arlington, Texas, in 1972 after working in show business, he opened his first school—the Kung Fu Tao Training Center. “It was the first in Texas open to everyone, and it opened right before the Kung Fu TV series hit. That timing helped,” he says. His work as an early writer for Inside Kung Fu magazine also boosted interest, especially when he began publishing some of the first English-language articles about Baguazhang and Xingyiquan.
Lessons in Change
As Chinese martial arts gained traction in the U.S., John expanded his teaching. In 1983, he renamed his school the Wholistic Fitness Center, hoping to attract the growing New Age crowd with more meditation, Qigong, and health-oriented Taijiquan classes.
“That was a big mistake,” he admits. “I misread the trends. The New Age movement never really took hold in Texas. My serious martial arts students weren’t interested in the spiritual practices, and many left. I learned a valuable lesson: stick with what you know. Don’t chase a fickle public.”
Eventually, John closed the large school and built The Gompa, a private facility on his own land for training dedicated students and future instructors. “Owning the building meant no more overhead—it was the best decision I ever made,” he says.
A Life Among Legends
John’s deep involvement with the martial arts community brought him opportunities to judge competitions and meet legendary teachers. As a judge for Chinese martial arts tournaments, he often found himself invited because of his reputation as a writer and instructor. One meeting proved especially influential: “I met Master Jou, Tsung-Hwa at ‘A Taste of China’ in Virginia. After he saw my Baguazhang performance and applications, he invited me to teach at his Zhan San Feng Festival on his Tai Chi Farm.”
Encouraged by other respected masters like Tao, Ping-Siang and B.P. Chan, Master Jou supported John in teaching Baguazhang. Gradually because of the help received from Master Jou John was able to form study groups in the U.S., Canada, England, and Israel. “I owe him a lot,” said John.
A New Path for Qigong
Looking back on more than 70 years of research and practice, John says his views on Qigong have evolved. “Chinese Qigong can work for many people, but not in the way most think. Shifu Li used to say, ‘The mind commands, the body responds, and the Qi does its job.’ I now say, ‘The mind commands, the body responds, and the effect manifests.’ The subconscious mind is the key. If you truly believe something is true deep inside, it can change your body. It’s not unique to Chinese arts—many cultures have similar methods.”
John teaches his students to become their own masters. “Some people can’t accept that they can cure themselves of a cold or sometimes, something worse. But these methods have kept me alive and healthy for nearly 80 years.”
A Legacy for the Future
At age 80, as John steps back from 53 years of teaching, he hopes to reach an even wider audience through a new project: the University of the Internal Arts of the Li Family. “It will have everything—Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, the Li family philosophy, Qigong, plus my library of writings and videos,” he says. “This won’t be just videos to watch. It’s a true online school, with structured courses that take students from beginner to advanced, just like an in-person program.”
There will be live Q&A sessions, opportunities to train in person with John’s chosen inheritor, Dr. Yancy Orchard, and guidance for students who want to carry on the Li family tradition. “It’s my final legacy to the martial arts community,” John says. “I hope it lives on for many years to come.” The University offers the following teaching programs:
1. School of Li Family Jibengong (basics of the internal systems)
This covers Quiet Sitting, Meditation, Daoyin (warm-ups), What is Qi, Zhan Zhuang methods for martial skills, Li Family Yiquan (Yixingong), Common stances used in martial arts, bio-mechanics and more.
2. School of Li Family Taijiquan
Wubao (five treasures) Taijiquan is a short form designed for martial art and health.
3. School of Li Family Baguazhang
Probably the largest school as there is so much to cover here. Their Baguazhang is unique and very precise in action. It contains none of the fancy tournament display actions and was designed primarily for bodyguards dealing with multiple enemies in close quarters.
4. School of Li Family Xingyiquan
Here we teach the Five Qualities method only.
5. School of Li Family Yixingong
Covers martial, health and healing concepts. This is the Li family version of Yiquan with some modern updates by me.
6. School of Equipment Training For All Arts
Here we show how to build and use training equipment for both external and internal use. We cover hanging bags, nine palace Bagua and Xingyi post methods as well as some unique equipment for developing, speed, power and more.
7. School of Li Family Qigong
In this school students will be introduced to two concepts of Qigong training.
Martial Qigong and how to develop realistic internal power by mental training and then Health and Longevity Qigong methods both stationary and moving. The majority of these (about 8 different methods) are derived from the Jiankang Jiulong Bagua Qigong methods that have proven most effective over the years.
8. School of Li Family Acupressure and Massage
Using my book “Healing Hands” written as a part of my PhD thesis we show the methods and techniques of Acupressure, An-mo and Tui-na massage for health and healing.
9. School of Li Family Meditation & Philosophy
This covers Daoist, Zen and Buddhist meditation methods with an emphasis on Tibetan Dzogchen methods. The philosophy section is the Li family Xinfudao school of thought.
10. The Internal Arts Library
Here are copies of our magazine IAM (Internal Arts Magazine) articles and copies form my 50 or more published articles in Inside Kung Fu Magazine and the full set of Taijiquan news letters from Master Jou, Tsung-Hwa during the Tai Chi Farm days.
11. School of Li Family Tibetan Blue Heron Boxing
This is a rare art based on pressure point striking, light body skills and iron palm training.
12. School of Li Family Tibetan Snake Boxing
This is a very detailed ground fighting method.
13. School of Li Family Classical and Modern Weapons
This covers the actual usage of weapons and how they are and were used in combat.
Sword, Twin Swords, Saber, Twin Sabers, Staff, Spear, Bagua Double End Spear, Three Section Staff, Twin Elbow Knives, Nine Section Whip, Meteor Hammer, Walking Cane. Each is shown with methods from the three main internal arts.
From the dusty training halls of the 1950s to an online university for future generations, John’s journey reflects a life fully dedicated to the art of balance—between fighting and healing, tradition and innovation, mind and body. It’s a testament to the timeless value of true martial wisdom and the power of passing it on.
This article concludes the series of “Life & Times of Dr. John P. Painter”. You can read the previous articles using the links provided below and also watch the companion interview video there.
Related Articles:
- “Life & Times of Dr. John P. Painter” Episode 5: Buried Alive: The Qigong Teacher Who Defied Death
- “Life & Times of Dr. John P. Painter” Episode 4: American Rangers: How One Man’s Martial Arts Journey Transformed Law Enforcement Training
- “Life & Times of Dr. John P. Painter” Episode 3: How to Handle Ti Guan
- “Life & Times of Dr. John P. Painter” Episode 2: The Many Lives Of John Paul “Biff” Painter: Martial Artists, Magician, And More
- “Life & Times of Dr. John P. Painter” Extra: Healing Oneself with the Mind
- Master Jou, Tsung Hwa: A Tai Chi Legacy Through the Eyes of Dr. Painter
- “Life & Times of Dr. John P. Painter” Episode 1: A Tree Saved His Life?