Butterfly Palm Qi Pathway School
Hello Everyone: I am happy to re-introduce my system with a more traditional title for it which gives a better feel for what it is all about. I have been referring to my school and arts as “Butterfly Martial and Healing Arts” for quite some time now, almost 20 years. “Butterfly” is both the symbol of the system, a symbol of beauty and transformation; and a rare style of Shaolin internal kung fu. Great thanks to Sifu Ray Galea and his senior class-mate Liping Zhu for the translation of 蝴蝶掌气道派, “Butterfly Palm Qi Pathway School,” in the pinyin translation system this is, “Hu Die Zhang Qi Dao Pai.” The complete system is as follows:
-Butterfly Tai Chi System
-Butterfly Reiki System
-Butterfly Qigong, Min Zin, Meditation and Yoga System
-Shaolin Five Form Fist Ch’uan Fa
-Filipino Kali
Now, to be clear while I am the Chief Instructor and Sifu of this system, it doesn’t mean I am the head of all the styles. My teacher is the Headmaster of the White Lotus Shaolin Five Form Fist System, while I am a fully empowered Sifu in that system and former Chief Instructor of the school and system. I am a kali instructor with many years of experience, but I am not the head of a Filipino system. My teacher had his own way of teaching kali based upon his studies with many of the top FMA teachers, our style is mostly pekiti-tirsia kali, but has other elements drawn from my teachers vast experience. The head of PTK is Supreme Tuhon Leo T. Gaje, Jr., and for many years we have been aligned with his former Chief Instructor Bill McGrath.
The Butterfly Reiki System is my creation based upon training with a wide variety of reiki and related teachers, such as living legend grandmaster Dr. Maung Gyi. Dr. Gyi btw is totally behind what I am doing reiki- wise and loves my books. For those who don’t know, reiki healing arts are indeed for real and worthy of study- think like a special kind of Japanese “medical qigong,” though there is more to it than typical “medical qigong.” Myself, I don’t like the term “medical qigong” as it is misleading and limiting- the great value of qigong and reiki healing arts is in prevention and longevity and maintaining balance and harmony of spirit, mind and body- not fixing things after they are broken. But it is a well known term, anyway. I think to the traditional Chinese/ Asian mind and culture, “medicine” has a much broader understanding than the typical American one. I myself prefer referring to it as “Healing Qigong.” The goals of reiki healing arts and the Butterfly Reiki System, as taught by the Founder and preserved here, are indeed health and harmony of spirit, mind and body, #1. And ultimately attaining a special kind of satori known as “anshin ritsumei.”
Which brings us to Butterfly Qigong, Min Zin, Meditation and Yoga. These are grouped together as they are similar in intentions, though the actual methods and sources differ. I have been a life-long student of these arts, both auto-didactic and being blessed to learn from many top world-wide experts, too many to list. When I work with people interested in these arts and when I present to people/ groups/ organizations, I/we choose what best suits their needs and interests. There are multiple curriculums contained in this system.
As for the Butterfly Tai Chi System, the base and majority of it is the White Lotus Tai Chi System which I learned and was empowered as a lineage disciple and Sifu in over 30 years ago. Along the way I have been blessed to also study with and learn from quite a variety of other tai chi/ internal arts experts, along with the self-study; so the actual system now is sufficiently unique that I have just given it a new name. But I must obviously thank my teacher for his outstanding guidance and teaching.
For more information on these arts see my books, other blog posts on my website and the info. there in general.
Of course, the journey continues. I am still learning and studying, both in the auto-didactic way following my inner guidance, as well as with teachers. Teachers are everywhere if we have eyes to see them. To open our eyes we must open our hearts, and be humble and open to guidance. A “master” is nothing but a serious, lifelong student, after all. The Path Way to what the Chinese call the Wu Ji is Right Here, Right Now- under our feet and in our hearts- and everywhere. As my teacher liked to say, May The Blessings Be.
