Shifu Jesse Thundermoon began his study of Taiji, Qigong, Neigong and Daoist meditation with Master C.K. Chu in New York City in 1998. Through practice of his teachings, his students have been healed of chronic pain, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, anxiety, depression, weakness and stiffness. He teaches to spread the life changing health and spiritual benefits of these arts.
Shifu Thundermoon was a primary demonstrator on Master Chu’s demonstration team for 10 years, performing all of Master Chu’s forms including Tai Chi Short Form, Long Fast Form, San Shou (2-person fighting applications), Broadsword (dao), Double-edge sword (jian), Flute, and Two Person Flute forms.
He taught thousands of students Tai Chi & Qigong in New York City at Master Chu’s school, C.K. Chu Tai Chi, and the Tai Chi Chuan Center of New York, and was a founding instructor of the popular Bryant Park Tai Chi program. In 2008 he moved out of the city to Hudson Valley, where he founded his school, Complete Reality Tai Chi with Master Chu’s encouragement. Shifu Thundermoon continued to study for a total of 15 years with Master Chu up until his passing in 2013.
In addition to studying Master Chu’s complete curriculum at the most advanced levels, he also endured many years of hardship training under Master Chu, from extended duration meditations and Horse Stance, as well as grueling form corrections for many years.
In 2016 Shifu Thundermoon began his study of Bagua Zhang in the Cheng style. Bagua Zhang is the art of change and represented by walking the circle, and an internal Chinese martial art in the same family as Taiji. Shifu Thundermoon trains the Cheng style Turning Palms, Mother Palms, Linking Palms, 64 Palms, Jian (double-edge sword) and Dao (broadsword) and Qian (double-tipped spear). Under the guidance of Shifu Li Chunling he became the 2022 World Kuo Shu Bagua Weapons Champion with his Cheng style Dao form, as well as the 2023, 2022 and 2021 U.S. International Kuo Shu Bagua Weapons champion. He was accepted as a disciple of Li Chunling in 2023 and is a 6th generation Bagua Zhang lineage holder.
Titles:
2022 World Kuo Shu Bagua Weapons Champion (4 year title)
2023 Capital Classics China Open Internal Empty Hand Grandmaster
3 x U.S. International Kuo Shu Bagua Weapons Champion (2023, 2022, 2021)
2 x Capital Classics China Open Yang Taiji Quan Champion (2023, 2022)
2 x Capital Classics China Open Bagua Zhang Champion (2023, 2022)
2 x Capital Classics China Open Bagua Weapons Champion (2023, 2022)
Other Achievements:
2023 U.S. International Kuo Shu Light Heavyweight Limited Step Push Hands Silver Medalist
2x U.S. International Kuo Shu Bagua Zhang Silver Medalist (2023, 2022)
2023 Capital Classics China Open Taiji Jian Silver Medalist
2023 U.S. International Kuo Shu Taiji Jian (double-edge sword) Bronze Medalist
2021 U.S. International Kuo Shu Bagua Zhang Bronze Medalist
2019 U.S. International Kuo Shu Bagua Weapons Silver Medalist
2019 U.S. International Kuo Shu Bagua Zhang Bronze Medalist
2005 U.S. International Kuo Shu Taiji Push Hands Bronze Medalist
Seminars:
Master Sam Chin – Iliquan
Master Yang Jwingming – Taiji Quan, Chin Na, Qigong, Meditation, Taiji applications
Tim Cartmell – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Combat throws
Master Alex Dong – Taiji Quan
Master George Xu – Taiji Quan, Qigong, Liu He Ba Fa
Western Boxing and Judo – several teachers in Hudson Valley, NY
Karen Abramson – Free Tai Chi Instructor
Karen began her study of Taiji, Qigong, Neigong and Daoist Meditation in November 2018 with Shifu Thundermoon. She came to the practice with a number of long-term physical compromises, including chronic pain, damaged joints and arthritis with significant pain and loss of functionality and sleep. The immediate relief she experienced from Qigong and Taiji propelled her to practice and become the most dedicated of students.
Despite the pandemic Karen remained diligent in her practice and employed her wealth of patience which is needed to learn the long form, and later realized she wanted to be able share the benefits of Taiji and Qigong with our community through teaching. After much hard work Karen earned her Certification as a Free Tai Chi Instructor from Complete Reality Tai Chi in April 2023. She feels her journey has just begun, and looks forward to a lifetime of study and sharing these treasures with as many as she can.
As the principle instructor of the Hudson Valley Free Tai Chi Program, she has served as it’s steward, not only offering up to three classes a week and clocking 1800+ student hours in 2023 alone, but also with a cheerful demeanor that is always welcoming to all.