Over the past sixteen years, I have written more than 800 articles exploring the people, philosophies, and practices behind the ancient healing art of Tai Chi and Qigong. One question I am often asked is: Where do all these stories come from?
The answer is equally simple. I stay curious. I listen to practitioners, teachers, and readers who share their experiences and story leads. Sometimes, a single comment from a reader leads to a fascinating story waiting to be told.
That is exactly what happened recently.
After I published a series of articles about Dr. John Painter and the Li Family internal arts system, there was a feedback from Todd in New York. Todd shared his story that Sifu Bronwen Nishikawa taught him years of the Nine Dragon (or Jiulong) system that Dr. Painter promotes. The practice transformed his life—physically, mentally and creatively. Inspired by his progress, he introduced the practice to his father, who was dealing with arthritis, depression, and other health challenges. First Todd and his dad just watched a Qigong video taught by Dr. Nishikawa. According to Todd, the impact was immediate and encouraging; therefore, his dad decided to learn directly from Dr. Nishikawa.
That story caught my attention. I wanted to learn more about Dr. Nishikawa and invited her to join me for a conversation about her journey—from science to internal arts, and from research labs to helping people improve their health and balance through traditional movement practices.
A Scientist with a Passion for the Arts
Dr. Bronwen Nishikawa’s path is not a typical one for a martial arts instructor. She began her academic journey in science, studying biochemistry in college before pursuing a graduate degree in neurobiology. Her early research interests focused on the science of pain and later shifted toward nerve regeneration—fields that require deep understanding of how the body and brain interact.
Science runs in her family. Both of her parents were scientists, which naturally shaped her curiosity and approach to learning. Over time, she also developed interests in business and law, working with researchers to help translate scientific discoveries into real-world products that could benefit the public.
Although she spent less time in the laboratory than some researchers, her training in neurobiology gave her a unique perspective—one that would later influence her approach to internal arts, balance training, and movement.
Dr. Nishikawa completed her Ph.D training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an institution known for its rigorous programs. Yet even while pursuing cutting-edge science, she maintained a deep appreciation for traditional cultural practices.
Discovering Martial Arts Through Family and Culture
Long before she studied neurobiology, Dr. Nishikawa was introduced to traditional Japanese arts through her family. As a fourth-generation Japanese American, she grew up learning about cultural practices such as ikebana (flower arranging), along with martial arts traditions including archery, swordsmanship, and karate. Her parents were also Zen Buddhists, which exposed her early on to mindfulness and philosophical teachings connected to martial practice.
However, growing up in New Jersey at a time when there were relatively few Asian communities nearby, she did not initially have many opportunities to practice these arts formally. That changed when she discovered a traditional Japanese karate dojo in her town.
Once she was old enough to drive, she began training there as a teenager—and immediately fell in love with the discipline, movement, and structure of martial arts. Like many young practitioners, she found the practice to be a powerful outlet for energy and personal growth.
She continued training through college, joining a karate club and studying a different style for years. That experience helped broaden her understanding of martial arts and deepened her commitment to staying active in some form of practice throughout her life.
Turning Toward Tai Chi
As much as she loved karate, Dr. Nishikawa sensed that her interests would eventually shift toward a different kind of practice. When she later moved to North Carolina, she began searching for Tai Chi instruction. She had long been drawn to its health benefits, graceful movements, and fluidity.
Fortunately, she found an excellent teacher: Dr. Jay Dunbar, who ran Magic Tortoise Tai Chi in her area. Under his guidance, she studied Chen-style Tai Chi and enjoyed it so much that she entered the teacher training program and eventually became certified to teach.
This stage of her training deepened her understanding of structure, body alignment, breathing, and internal mechanics—the foundations of internal martial arts.
But her journey did not stop there.
Entering the Nine Dragon System
Through workshops and connections via Dr. Dunbar, Dr. Nishikawa was introduced to Dr. John Painter and the Nine Dragon system of Baguazhang. She joined a study group with Dr. Painter’s guidance.
The transition was not a rejection of Tai Chi. Instead, it was an expansion of her learning. Bagua offered elements that particularly intrigued her, especially its dynamic footwork and circular movement patterns.
She realized that footwork was an area she wanted to improve, and Bagua training provided exactly that challenge. Over time, she chose to focus fully on Bagua practice rather than study both systems simultaneously. All of the Qigong that Dr. Nishikawa teaches has been and continues to be learned directly from Dr. John Painter and is a part of the Li family internal arts.
More than twenty years later, she is still practicing and teaching within the Nine Dragon system. She was certified to teach the system and is part of the Nine Dragon Baguazhang of Raleigh-Durham.
Why Bagua Training Is Unique
Bagua Zhang differs from many martial arts because of its emphasis on constant movement and circular walking. Historically, it was designed to deal with multiple attackers, meaning practitioners must develop strong spatial awareness and mobility.
According to Dr. Nishikawa, the system includes three important dimensions:
- Martial training
- Health development
- Spiritual cultivation
These elements are connected through foundational principles rather than memorizing techniques. Structure, relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, and efficient movement form the basis of everything that follows.
Students learn how to stand correctly, shift weight with control, walk without losing balance, and gradually integrate turning and circular motion. The training progresses in a systematic way so that students build skills step by step rather than feeling overwhelmed.
Equally important is the culture within the system. Dr. Nishikawa emphasizes that ethical conduct and character development are central values. In fact, certain Qigong practices within the system focus on cultivating virtues alongside physical training.
The “Spring Rain Qigong” Program
The video Todd mentioned in his message is called Spring Rain Qigong, a practice developed within the Nine Dragon Qigong family of exercises. The name symbolizes rejuvenation and renewal—much like gentle rain nourishing new growth.
Spring Rain Qigong is designed to be accessible. The movements are simple and primarily physical, making it an excellent starting point for beginners. Practitioners can perform the exercises seated or standing, which makes the program especially useful for seniors or individuals with limited mobility.
The practice introduces key principles found throughout internal arts training, including:
- Proper body structure
- Relaxation without tension
- Coordinated breathing
- Joint opening and closing
- Mindful movement
- Foundational energy work
As students progress, the exercises gradually prepare them for more advanced internal training, including circular movement and silk-reeling principles that are also fundamental in Chen-style Tai Chi.
The program is available through an online internal arts platform hosted by Dr. John Painter, where subscribers can access a broad library of Li Family system teachings.
Helping Seniors Improve Balance and Prevent Falls
One of the most meaningful parts of Dr. Nishikawa’s work today involves teaching seniors. Her training in neurobiology plays a major role in how she approaches this work.
Falls are a major concern for older adults, and research shows they often occur not because of tripping, but because of poor weight shifting and loss of balance. When a person’s center of mass moves outside their base of support, stability is compromised.
Dr. Nishikawa uses exercises inspired by Bagua principles to help seniors improve balance, coordination, and body awareness. These sessions focus on controlled weight shifting, posture alignment, and gradual progression in movement complexity.
To measure progress, she sometimes uses assessment methods associated with fall prevention programs, including tests that evaluate:
- Standing and walking transitions
- Leg strength through repeated chair stands
- Balance through staged stability exercises
Over time, many students report increased confidence, better flexibility, improved range of motion, and stronger legs. Perhaps most importantly, they begin to feel less afraid of falling.
According to Dr. Nishikawa, the circular walking used in Bagua resembles techniques developed decades ago in physical therapy to improve vestibular and balance function. Both approaches challenge the brain to constantly track spatial orientation, visual changes, and body alignment.
This is where Dr. Nishikawa’s scientific background intersects beautifully with traditional martial arts practice.
The Importance of Consistent Practice
When asked how often people should practice, Dr. Nishikawa gave a realistic answer: consistency matters more than intensity.
While daily practice is ideal, even once or twice a week can produce benefits—especially for seniors who are walking gradually and safely. Many of her sessions last about thirty minutes of movement, along with time spent talking with students about their physical condition and adapting exercises to their needs.
That relationship between teacher and student becomes an important part of the process.
Interestingly, she has observed that older students often show more patience than younger ones in their 60s. Rather than seeking quick results, older students are willing to commit to steady improvement over time.
She adopts the STEADI method promoted by Center of Disease Control or CDC to measure her students before the training and after a period of training. She found out there are measurable improvements in senior’s balance.
What Comes Next: Flying Dragon Qigong
Dr. Nishikawa is currently developing a new program called Flying Dragon Qigong, which builds upon the foundation established by Spring Rain Qigong.
While Spring Rain emphasizes physical movement, Flying Dragon introduces more internal focus and mental coordination. Students begin forming deeper connections between mind, posture, and movement through specific hand positions and visualization elements.
Teaching this type of internal practice through video presents new challenges, since instructors cannot easily observe what students are experiencing internally. Nevertheless, she is excited to see how practitioners respond once the program is released.
A Meeting of Science and Tradition
Our conversation with Dr. Bronwen Nishikawa revealed something inspiring: the ancient wisdom of internal martial arts and modern scientific understanding do not have to exist separately. In many ways, they complement each other.
Her work shows how principles developed centuries ago—balance, alignment, breath, awareness, and controlled movement—can still help people today, especially those seeking healthier aging and greater confidence in their bodies.
For readers who followed the story that led to this interview, it all began with a message from one student sharing how a practice changed his life and helped his father. Sometimes the most meaningful stories in the martial arts world begin exactly like that: quietly, person by person, movement by movement.
And for someone like me who has spent years writing about Tai Chi and internal arts, those are the stories worth telling. You are welcome to share some stories with me.