About Russ McWhorter
Russ McWhorter began his martial arts journey over 35 years ago first studying kempo karate under Grandmaster Manuel Taningco at the Taningco Academy of Martial Arts (TAMA) in Dayton, Ohio. It was at TAMA where he got his start teaching the martial arts. From there, he went on to gain a broad experience in a wide variety of martial arts styles to include wing chun kung fu, kempo, Filipino martial arts, and grappling. In 2001, he began studying and eventually teaching wing chun kung fu and Yang-style tai chi under the late Master Randy K. Li of Overland Park, Kansas. It was while studying with Master Li that he first met Grandmaster Elaine Waters. Little did he suspect that some 10 years later that Master Waters' and his paths would cross again in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In a proverbial-like story, Grandmaster Waters came down from the mountains surrounding Buena Vista, Colorado to begin teaching tai chi and qigong in Colorado Springs. Since 2013, Mr. McWhorter has undergone extensive training under Grandmaster Waters in the principles of Yang-style tai chi as handed down by Great Grandmaster William C.C. Chen, and he has been teaching tai chi and qigong in Colorado Springs since 2017.
He continues studying tai chi, tai chi push hands, and qigong with Grandmaster Waters on a regular basis, as well as continued study in Filipino martial arts with Grandmaster Taningco and continued qigong studies under Dr. Roger Jahnke through the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC).
Russ McWhorter began his martial arts journey over 35 years ago first studying kempo karate under Grandmaster Manuel Taningco at the Taningco Academy of Martial Arts (TAMA) in Dayton, Ohio. It was at TAMA where he got his start teaching the martial arts. From there, he went on to gain a broad experience in a wide variety of martial arts styles to include wing chun kung fu, kempo, Filipino martial arts, and grappling. In 2001, he began studying and eventually teaching wing chun kung fu and Yang-style tai chi under the late Master Randy K. Li of Overland Park, Kansas. It was while studying with Master Li that he first met Grandmaster Elaine Waters. Little did he suspect that some 10 years later that Master Waters' and his paths would cross again in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In a proverbial-like story, Grandmaster Waters came down from the mountains surrounding Buena Vista, Colorado to begin teaching tai chi and qigong in Colorado Springs. Since 2013, Mr. McWhorter has undergone extensive training under Grandmaster Waters in the principles of Yang-style tai chi as handed down by Great Grandmaster William C.C. Chen, and he has been teaching tai chi and qigong in Colorado Springs since 2017.
He continues studying tai chi, tai chi push hands, and qigong with Grandmaster Waters on a regular basis, as well as continued study in Filipino martial arts with Grandmaster Taningco and continued qigong studies under Dr. Roger Jahnke through the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC).
Russ McWhorter's other martial arts career highlights:
– 7th Generation Yang Tai Chi
- Certified 'Integral Qigong Teacher-Level 1' (IIQTC)
- Certified 'Integral Tai Chi Teacher-Level 2' (IIQTC)
- Certified 'Healer Within Medical Qigong Practice Leader' (IIQTC)
- National-level Tai Chi judge at the Houston International Martial Arts & USAWKF National Championships
– Published in Inside Kung Fu magazine and Martial Arts Training magazine
- Head Tai Chi Instructor at the Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC), Bossier City, Louisiana (2005-2008)
- Certified black belt in kempo karate
– Active in the martial arts since 1986
– 7th Generation Yang Tai Chi
- Yang Lu-ch'an
- Yang Jianhou
- Yang Chengfu
- Cheng Man-ch'ing
- William C.C. Chen
- Elaine Waters
- Russ McWhorter
- Certified 'Integral Qigong Teacher-Level 1' (IIQTC)
- Certified 'Integral Tai Chi Teacher-Level 2' (IIQTC)
- Certified 'Healer Within Medical Qigong Practice Leader' (IIQTC)
- National-level Tai Chi judge at the Houston International Martial Arts & USAWKF National Championships
– Published in Inside Kung Fu magazine and Martial Arts Training magazine
- Head Tai Chi Instructor at the Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC), Bossier City, Louisiana (2005-2008)
- Certified black belt in kempo karate
– Active in the martial arts since 1986