Wudang Is Huge
Where Do I Begin?

   Wudang West Cultural Heritage Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit wellness ministry based in Oakland, California. This organization was founded on the traditional values and principles of the Wudang mountain Daoist/Taoist monastics, and aims to practice and preserve their rich cultural legacy.

   Wudang West has been proudly servicing its community within the greater San Francisco Bay Area and beyond by providing world class holistic wellness treatment and classical Daoist/Taoist education since dragon year, 2012.

   Religious and spiritual affiliations aside, Daoism/Taoism could be best described as a type of paradigm or functional worldview. It's basically an ancient Chinese version of what we understand as the scientific method. Quite literally, every fine art, skill, or craft in China is rooted in the simple principles of the Dao/Tao.

   Often called "The Great Way," it ironically has no fixed method or singular mode of expression. It encourages each person to seek, discover, and cultivate their own individual relationship to life and living. 

   Tai Chi, by strict definition, can translate as a type harmony among dueling opposites. It's more of a philosophy, value, or condition than anything else. 

   Today, Tai Chi is commonly understood to be a type of slow, meditative movement art. It has distinct martial roots, but is primarily practiced for its various health benefits.

   Though not as common as Tai Chi, Yoga, or Pilates, Qigong is another type of holositic movement practice rooted in Chinese tradition that is slowly growing in popularity.

   Qi/Chi is often described as a type of energy or life force. It can also be term to describe the air we breath. Gong/Kung, on the other hand, speaks to a type of work or skill developed over time. That said, Qigong is simply a way to optimize your energy and breath with skillful intention through all your years.

   All though this material is martial in nature, it should not be attempted in a real physical altercation. This content would be closer linked to "Health Defense" than "Self Defense." 

   Moreover, when we learn self defense, the safety of the dojo is nothing like a real life situation. If you're not being challenged under high stress, you're better off learning how to run than you are learning how to fight.

   It has often been said, "This practice will meet you where you are," and will "Take you where you want to go." It's also been said that "If you can smile, you can heal."

   In that regard, if you have a wellness goal in mind and you're excited to get there, this practice just might be right for you.

   Absolutely not. There are no needles in our curriculum. Although we do utilize various acu/trigger points in practice, it's for external massage purposes only. This is a non-invasive system.

   The short answer, yes.

   Generally speaking, all tea comes from the same plant - camellia sinensis, and all of it has caffeine. Other teas derived from herbs or flowers will likely not have caffeine in them, but may have other stimulating properties.

   If you are sensitive to caffeine, it would be advised to drink your tea no later than lunchtime. You can also do an extra rinse when brewing to help flush the caffeine out before consuming.