Shifu Bernard Shannon is a Shifu (Master Instructor) in Baguazhang and Yang Family Taijiquan holding certificates of instruction and lineage under the authority of the Taijiquan Federation of Taiwan (China), the Beijing Martial Arts Association (China), the Primordial Chaos Martial Healing Center (China), the International Institute of Medical Qigong (USA), and the Hsing Chen Internal Arts Association (USA).
Dr. Shannon has trained with such notable masters as Shifu Duan Zhi Liang, Shifu Jerry Alan Johnson, and Shifu John Bracy.
Shifu Duan is a 4th generation Bagua master whose grandfather Shifu Duan An Long was trained by Dong Hai Chuan, the founder of Baguazhang. Shifu Duan took Dr. Shannon deeper into his training by sharing principles of movement and energy that only someone who has trained for over 90 years can.
Shifu Johnson, his first Bagua teacher, is a 5th generation master under Master Duan who has studied with many masters and teachers and learned many styles of Bagua. Shifu Johnson taught Dr. Shannon the foundation for all of his internal martial training and Bagua fighting skills. It is through Shifu Johnson that Dr. Shannon completed his Shifu training.
Shifu Bracy is a 5th generation master who trained under Master Liu Xing Han. He made significant contributions to Dr. Shannon’s training by teaching the refinement of structural integration, continual movement, and the creation of a solid fascial connection.
Dr. Shannon started his martial training in the late 1980s and has trained in several styles including Muay Thai, Western Boxing, Judo, Jujistu, and Shorin Ryu Karate.
Shifu Duan Zhi Liang,
4th Generation Bagua Master
Shifu Shannon after completing fighting test .
(R to L) Shifu Charles Ganzon, Shifu Matt Weston, Shifu Jerry Alan Johnson (our Shifu), Shifu Bernard Shannon, and Brother Rob Grant.
Shifu Shannon is also a Doctor of Medical Qigong (DMQ) representing the International Institute of Medical Qigong as the Director of International Clinical Studies and the Director of the Palm Desert Branch.
Dr. Shannon received his Doctor of Medical Qigong (DMQ) from the Western District Medical Qigong Science and Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute (Beijing, China), License # 98029.08 and the International Institute of Medical Qigong (USA). He completed his residency training while treating patients at the Xi Yuan Hospital (Beijing, China). He received a promotion in clinical status to "Physician in Charge,” licensed by the Beijing Ministry of Public Health.
He has presented at the 7th World Congress on Qigong and the National Qigong Association’s 10th Annual National Conference. Dr. Shannon has written for Qi Journal co-authoring “A Journey into Daoist Mysticism” printed in the Summer Issue and authoring “Medical Qigong and Menopause: A Second Spring” in the upcoming Fall Issue. He wrote a chapter on the treatment of menopause with medical qigong therapy in the revision of the Chinese Medical Qigong Therapy: A Comprehensive Clinical Text by Professor Jerry Alan Johnson. Dr. Shannon’s work can be viewed in the Gynecology section in the fourth book entitled, Chinese Medical Qigong Therapy Volume 4: Prescription Exercises and Meditations, Treatment of Internal Diseases, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Gynecology, Neurology and Energetic Psychology.
He is authorized to grant Continuing Education Hours (CE) from the California State Board of Registered Nurses and the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences for Marriage and Family Life Therapist (M.F.T.) and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (L.C.S.W.).
Shifu Shannon began his studies of internal alchemy in the late 1980s with one of his martial arts instructors. Since that time, he has had many teachers and continues to deepen his practice.
In September 2004, Dr. Shannon accompanied Professor Jerry Alan Johnson to China to continue training in Daoist Magic (Esoteric Qigong and Shengong). While training in the Jiang Su province, Dr. Shannon was accepted as a Dizi (disciple) of Daoist master Min He and given the Daoist name Chi Shou meaning “He who preserves long life.” He was then indoctrinated into the Zheng Yi sect of Daoism, becoming an 80th Generation Disciple of the Mao Shan Monastery of the Shang Qing (Highest Clarity) branch. He and Professor Johnson became the first non-Chinese accepted as disciples of the Mao Shan Daoist Monastery.
In March 2005, Dr. Shannon and Professor Johnson returned to China further their studies on esoteric Daoist magic and exorcism. However, after several minutes of sharing our advanced training methods in Daoist spiritual skills and exorcistic techniques, they inquired about receiving our “Lu” (the spiritual register of talismans, hand seals, and incantations used for controlling spirits). Abbot Feng stated that the resident Mao Shan priests were not capable of initiating them into the most advanced levels of esoteric Daoist mysticism because many of these sacred texts had been destroyed during the Sino-Japanese War and by the Red Guard.
In order to continue their training in advanced Daoist mysticism, Abbot Feng suggested that they travel to the Celestial Masters Mansion in Jiangxi province, another Zheng Yi branch, where he had received his Lu and other advanced spiritual training.
After thanking the Abbot, they immediately changed our plans and made route to the Long Hu Shan region. Upon arriving at the monastery, they were greeted by the resident Abbot and gave him a letter of introduction that their teacher had prepared for this occasion. Upon reading the letter and hearing our requests, the Abbot immediately took them to meet the senior Abbot Zhang Jing Tao, the 65th Celestial Master, whose Daoist name is Da Ming.
While at the Celestial Masters Mansion, Senior Abbot Zhang Jing Tao, the 65th Celestial Master, personally examined Dr. Shannon and Professor Johnson, inviting them to become Dizi of the 65th Celestial Master and receive their Lu, becoming the first non-Chinese accepted as disciples of the Celestial Masters Monastery. Dr. Shannon was given the Daoist name Lou Hui which means “He who resonates bright energy.”
Immediately upon completion of the ceremony they were introduced to our new Daoist Master, Qiu Yu Song. Master Qiu is the senior most Fa Shi (Master of the laws of Heaven, Earth, and Man) within the Celestial Master's Mansion, and his expertise is well known in both the Zheng Yi (Orthodox Daoism) and Quan Zhen (Complete Reality) branches of Daoism. They were extremely blessed that he was their master because Master Qiu has not accepted students for many years. At that time Master Qiu taught them the skill of creating talismans and invocations to bind evil spirits.
