Dr. John Painter is the man responsible for preserving Daoqiquan ("Martial Way of Vitality") and its component arts and transmitting them from the Li family lineage to several thousand students over the last 50 years. He travels twice every year to Saskatoon (the ends of the earth from his viewpoint, the centre of the universe from ours!) to share his very deep knowledge on health, vitality, and martial skills.

It is a rare opportunity to study with one of the world’s best living martial artists of the last half-century. Dr.
Painter inherited the entire Daoqiquan (“Martial Way of Vitality”) system from Li, Long-Dao and is, thus, the world’s authority on the Li Family Arts.

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In Chinese martial arts, Qinna,  擒拿, or seizing and locking, is considered to be a very high level martial skill. When applied properly, the results can be devastating! Experts can break joints or restrain opponents, as needed. When a Qinna expert has gotten hold of you, it can feel as if you are wrestling with a ferocious tiger! Qinna, however, is a "high maintenance, low-percentage" skill like a jump, spinning, axe kick. It takes a long time to learn, many hours of practice to develop adaptability with, and just the right conditions to apply against an uncooperative enemy. In the Li family arts, we train to interrupt and disrupt the enemy's attempt to lock, hold, wrestle or throw us. It is far easier to stymie an attempt to hold you than most people think.

Dunshu, 遁 屬, "Escaping methods" are ways of interrupting holds in the process of being applied and releasing grips that have been established. It is important to learn to escape from grabs and holds as these are ways in which people control each other whether for abduction purposes, to restrain you so you can be freely beaten, or to prevent you from leaving an area.

Join us as Dr. John Painter, head of the Li family Daoqiquan (Martial Way of Vitality) shares many of the principles, tactics, and methods of Dunshu, Escaping from Grasps and Holds this weekend. Magnetic Body, Water to Ice, Five Circles, Non-Resistance, and Song (Release of Tension) are just a few of the principles we will study.