Thad Wong

Since beginning his training in Chinese martial arts as a teenager, Thad’s life has been shaped by the practical application of Daoist principles found throughout Chinese culture. His love of training and teaching gradually led him into the world of Chinese medicine, and together these two traditions have guided his ongoing growth into a more grounded, authentic, and wholehearted human being. These same principles continue to influence how he lives, teaches, and supports others to this day.

Thad excels at giving simple but powerful corrections that consistently guide his students toward a deeper experience of the core principles of the internal arts. Whether studying with him in person or online, students find that his precise feedback creates a satisfying and efficient path to skill development. Progress becomes clear and rapid, allowing each student to embody the wisdom and balance at the foundation of these practices.

Thad’s martial arts journey began in 1993 with the study of Southern Shaolin Kung Fu. He went on to earn a 5th degree black belt in this art and operated the New York CIty Shaolin Center from 2005 to 2011, teaching this lineage to many dedicated students. In 2010, he began studying Ba Gua Zhang and Qi Gong with his current teacher, Tom Bisio, under whom he has since become a senior-level instructor. Thad has also studied Xing Yi Quan with Tom, though he does not teach that art.

His internal martial arts training opened the door to Chinese medicine through the study of Traditional Tui Na and Zang Fu Organ Regulating Tui Na. He completed formal certification in  both of these systems under Tom in 2015. He also gained valuable clinical experience through apprenticing at 5th Street Acupuncture from 2012 to 2015. The Tui Na skills that he has developed enable him to directly support his students' progress in the internal arts with treatments.

Sobriety is another vital part of Thad’s life and work. Since February 2019, he has maintained sobriety through active engagement with the 12 steps. This spiritual framework of recovery has profoundly influenced his approach to teaching and treatment, bringing greater empathy, insight, and clarity to his service.

After decades of practice, what continues to inspire Thad most is witnessing meaningful change in the people that work with him. His aim is to share what he has learned and to help others move toward balance in body, mind, and spirit. When people can let go into that balanced state, they discover a deeper sense of peace and vitality—something Thad strives to embody and pass on in every class and treatment.