The Association for Traditional Studies is a 501c3 not for profit dedicated to the preservation, documentation and dissemination of China’s Traditional arts and knowledge. ATS has been working in China since 1991, and its founder, Andrew Nugent-Head, has lived in China since 1986.
To find out more about ATS and the importance of preserving traditional knowledge, click here.
The World of Chen Xiuyuan, Online
The first three courses of the Chen Xiuyuan Chinese medicine series is available online. Visit our Chinese Medicine page to see these videos or click here. DVDs with Chinese text to be released Summer 2010.
Online Videos, Free to Watch
As part of ATS’ mission to disseminate traditional knowledge, we are posting non-royalty generating videos for fee on our site for you to watch. Chinese Medicine can be found here; Martial Arts page videos here.
The Rolling Hand Saber Form of Yin Style Bagua, Online
A simple walk-through version featuring three different real swords is now available online. Based on the original saber form taught by He Jinbao, Andrew Nugent-Head changed pattern to fit within the octogon of the trigrams and follow the sequence of YSB’s animal systems. Visit our Martial Arts page to see these videos or click here. DVD coming Summer of 2010
ATS Focus: Dr. Li Hongxiang Project
Since 2005, most of ATS’ focus has been on 85 year old professor Li Hongxiang. Born and educated pre 1949, Dr. Li is the last traditional doctor left still practicing in the traditional way. Almost dying of tuberculosis in 1939, he was cured with Chinese medicine and became his doctor’s disciple in gratitude. He earned the highest rank of #1 in TCM licensing in 1946 and went on to become one of the most famous and outspoken doctors of traditional medicine outside the TCM university system.
Working with ATS, Dr. Li has spent the last two years writing a book on Chinese medicine to be translated and published by the association when finished. ATS is also filming candid discussions on the different aspects of Chinese medicine with Dr. Li and setting up a film series of the classic texts next year.
This is some of the most important work ATS has done to date, and Dr. Li is the last window left into China’s traditional past.
Support Our Work
The last traditional practitioners who were educated before 1949 are in their final years, and our mission is to document their rich experience and teachings before it dies with them. Their depth of knowledge in Chinese medicine, martial and cultural arts has simply not been fully passed on to the next generation and must be preserved now.
The greatest race for ATS is against time. Our window to record this knowledge is closing fast. Without your financial donations, volunteer work and pro bono services, we wouldn’t be able to continue our mission.
Your donations are tax deductible and are important to our success. To support our work and make a donation, click here.
Please also take a moment to visit the following companies who donate a portion of their profits to ATS:
Preserving, Documenting & Disseminating China’s Traditional Knowledge
The Association for Traditional Studies
Beijing, China: March through June
Teaching is currently on break through Chinese New Years. The next semester of classes runs from March 13th through June 12th.
These lectures are open to Chinese medicine practitioners and students only. Click here for more information
Portland, Oregon: April 16-18
Andrew Nugent-Head will be teaching a weekend seminar at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM):
•The Current State of Chinese Medicine in China (Friday 6:30pm-9pm)
•The Eight Functions of Qi & Their Use Diagnosis & Treatment in the Yin Style Bagua Medical Tradition (Saturday)
•An Introduction to the Daoyin Practices of Yin Style Bagua (Sunday)
Cost and enrollment are handled by the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine www.ocom.edu
•64 Attack Method Form of Yin Style Bagua: Several years ago, Andrew Nugent-Head created a form that connected all 64 attack methods together. Originally designed as a simple warm-up practice to run through all 8 animals’ striking methods, its movements and applications soon became his favorite practice. Currently in filming.
•Yin Style Bagua Butterfly Sword Form: In ATS’ search for quality sabers, we came across the live blade weapons from Cold Steel. Andrew Nugent-Head immediately purchased a large variety of them and ended up creating a Double Butterfly Sword form. Based on the octogon footwork and animal sections of the saber form, these weapons are now fully adapted to Yin Style Bagua’s style of fighting and training. Currently in filming.
•The Yin Style Bagua Short Staff Form: With the octogon-8 animal pattern adapted to both single and double handed weapons, Andrew Nugent-Head began using the form to train a variety of weapons: katanas, escrima sticks, medieval swords, and staffs of various lengths. The short staff became a favorite, blending single and double hand moves in one weapon. Currently in filming.
•The Yin Style Bagua Bodywork Protocols: Filmed in 2005, this 5 day seminar showcased the YSB hand techniques for treating specific illnesses and conditions. Filled with lectures, demonstrations, discussions & questions/answers, these put the Tangible Qi lectures into clinical application. Presented by Andrew Nugent-Head, MSOM
Thanks to a wonderful volunteer, ATS finally was able to submit the paperwork to become a distance learning provider with the NCCAOM. Now, Chinese medicine practitioners following the NCCOAM accreditation standards can obtain PDAs from ATS produced material. Visit our Chinese Medicine page for more information, or click here.
After almost 5 years of trying to find a quality manufacturer, ATS decided to work with Cold Steel’s unsurpassed quality of traditional weaponry from around the world. These are real weapons with live blades reproduced after studying originals in museums. Visit our Martial Arts page for more information, or click here.
