For centuries, the deep connection between Kung Fu and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has shaped holistic healing practices, blending martial arts with ancient medical wisdom. Miles Coleman, a dedicated practitioner and sole inheritor of the Gao family healing methods, shares how his extensive study of internal martial arts, trauma medicine, and Taoist healing traditions informs his approach to wellness. In this interview for Mystic Mag, he reveals the unique aspects of his lineage, the principles of Da Ke (trauma medicine), and the spiritual depth behind true healing.
How has your deep study of Kung Fu influenced your approach to Traditional Chinese Medicine and healing practices?
Traditional Chinese Medicine shares many concepts with kung fu Practice. If you study any kung fu, especially “internal methods” like Tai Ji Chuan, Hsing I, and Bagua, these arts are based on spiritual, mental and physical concepts found in Chinese medicine and spirituality. They are reflections of Chinese Culture as a whole, and when you study either medicine or Kung fu you are studying the Chinese culture’s “world view.”
The 5 branches of Chinese Medicine – Acupuncture, Food therapy, Tuina, Herbalism and Qi gong were often employed in Chinese martial practice to facilitate training and recovery and often provided an occupation and source of money for Kung fu teachers. As for myself, I practice certain martial and energetic arts to make me a more effective healer.
As the sole inheritor of the Goa family healing methods, what unique aspects of this 800-year-old tradition set it apart from other TCM practices?
It’s often said that there are 2 kinds of TCM. Traditional COMMUNIST Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. The meaning behind this is that The Communist government integrated Standardized Traditional practices, along with western medicine, to create a system with which to effectively treat their large populations. While effective, they attempted to “lop off” many of the old profound ideas they viewed as Feudal and Archaic and the source of all that was wrong in China at that time. In the Gao tradition much of that information was held onto and used as a living method and never died out.
Much of what I’m speaking about is Taoist concepts of creation and the journey of life from incarnation thru transition (death) and why we are here and the role of health, death and Karma or Heavenly will. As such, in this method you are treating someone’s “spiritual journey,” not just a disease or problem they have. In this tradition, we are often looking at the reasons why someone doesn’t get better and how we facilitate the change needing to happen. Often my teacher consulted the I-ching in such cases for advice.
What are the key principles of Da Ke (trauma medicine), and how do they apply to both martial arts and general healthcare?
Da Ke was and is a speciality of Kung fu. As the practice was extremely rigorous and at times dangerous, Da Ke became “the sports medicine” of its day. It developed methods to meet ALL the needs of Kung fu practitioners. If we are just talking about its ability to heal physical trauma, then the basic statement of fact Is: “There can be no pain if there is not a fundamental blockage of Qi and Blood.” Pain is often Called “BI SYNDROME” or Blockage Syndrome. What Goes Along with this is the idea of “6 Evils” or environmental Qi manifestations that can invade or arise internally.
Along with this, one often has to TONIFY or strengthen certain organs or vital substances in order to prevent the injury from not healing or becoming chronic. If I take a typical case of, say, “arthritic pain” then it may be Qi and Blood stagnation with wind cold damp evils and I also need to tonify liver and kidney. Keep in mind that in TCM we are treating Broad patterns (like seasons) and this allows us to make the treatment protocol specific to that individual. TCM often says “one disease many formulas, one formula many diseases” This talks about TCM’s approach to Treating “what is” not a one size fits all approach that’s the hallmark of western medicine.
How do you integrate spiritual healing, such as Shen Kung and Taoist practices, into your herbal and martial arts teachings?
Integration of spiritual methods is difficult and often dealt with on a case-by-case basis for those who really desire it. Not all cases require it, and even in those cases that do, the clients are often resistant. The reason for this is the fact that disease serves a purpose. Often people resist the reasons or purpose of the illness, and what it’s trying to teach them about their lives.
Remember that the seeds of both good and poor health are always present, no matter what the state of health is. As far as martial arts go, there is great interest now in Taoist and Buddhist practice. When I teach martial students, they learn the whole Truth with nothing held back, but that is reflective of the current state of consciousness and understanding they embody.
What are some of the biggest challenges and rewards of training students to become Kung Fu Herbalists through your online herb school?
Training Herbalists is a great way to improve humanity and pay back the divine for the gifts and responsibilities I’ve been given. I think the challenge of it is to find the “right” people who not only truly desire to learn and become High level Practitioners, but who also have “the Calling” for it ( Karma/Heavenly Will). It’s a demanding calling often with financial and other struggles, but so rewarding when you “fix” something no one else has been able to help! We are often just “witnesses” to people’s stories (lives), and the most powerful thing we can do is to be fully present in the moment, and with what they are sharing.
