Dragon Gate Sanctuary
Introduction, Product Reviews
In early 2011 a friend (Thank you! to ZerosTao) referred me to dvds available through Dragon Gate Sanctuary, based in Hawaii.
Lao Xie, Sifu Christopher Lee Matsuo, Grandmaster of Dragon Gate Sanctuary.
I bought several DGS dvds (ordering info at bottom of page) and I've been extremely impressed by the methods and presentation. In the few dvds that I've seen, the methods are accessable to beginners, yet embody the most central and profound esoteric principles. The presentations are among the most wise, clear, principled, balanced and funniest that I've seen.
So. Here I'm going to briefly review several of Sifu Matsuo's dvds and explain a bit of why I think they're so brilliant. I'll do that in terms of the fundamental principles that I wrote long ago in this site's overview page, symbolized by my "jade sutra" graphic. Please review that page; it's concise.
"It is individual integration with forces larger than the individual,
in a way that both transcends and supports the individual,
that lends cultivation effectiveness, stability, and grace."
The "larger forces" and relevant mechanics are:
1. Emptiness and Light,
which are most skillfully integrated via the central channel (sushumna). Special potentcies reside at the intersections of the central channel and the major chakras, places I call the "deep-centers". Typically within most traditional systems, central channel and deep-center methods are very advanced: difficult to get access to the methods, very subtle and still, difficult to accomplish. However, the central channel is super key for the process of harmony, refinement, deep integration.
2. Heaven ~ human ~ Earth
integration through the connective tissue continuum of fascia ~ tendon ~ ligament ~ bone marrow. (Joints are the confluence of those layers; the spine is a special stack of joints.) These "sinew changing" teachings are typically found within the three Taoist internal martial arts: tai ji, xing yi, and bagua. It's generally difficult to find the more profound teachings and, once found, it generally takes years of in-person instruction in order to really absorb the unusual postures and movements.
While the above two paragraphs may sound like unintelligable spiritual high-techery, the beauty of the dvds that I'm about to review is that they present relevant methods that are accessable to everyone. Simply, wisely, safely.
DVD REVIEWS CLICK ON DVD THUMBNAILS TO ENLARGE
Kwan Yin Magnetic Qigong
This dvd is key for harmonization, is very simple and accessible. If you get nothing else from my website at all, get this dvd. In fact, if you wanted only one qigong practice, period, get this dvd.
KYMG has a number of parts, individually simple, that are keys to a series of central issues. Don't overwhelm yourself by trying to learn it all at once; don't rush beyond the pace of your own process. Just like learning anything with a number of parts: Practice small managable pieces, either exclusively or by emphasis, within a single session. Gradually over time your skills will build and you'll become fluent with more of the whole.
TIP: Once you get a feel for how the hands work in magnetic qigong, with a little creativity you can also do some of the most simple movements with your feet - in any comfortable position in which both legs are free or even standing on one leg, working the free foot in relation to the center line.
Ganesha magnetic
NOTE:
Sometimes the KYMQ dvd is hard to find or not listed on the various DGS websites. Per an e-mail conversation with Sifu Matsuo, the Kwan Yin Magnetic Qigong dvd is available for purchase for $108 via paypal to the e-mail address DragonGateSanctuary@gmail.com. Just include in the paypal message area what item you are ordering and make sure that your mailing address is correct.
Hirai Family Mudras, Deep Fatigue Flows
The first mudra in this dvd is used to
clarify and strengthen the core, top to bottom, at a more physical layer than
the magnetic qigong. Powerfully effective. The first mudra is more
than worth the price of the dvd and there's considerable teachings after that.
Both the "Kwan Yin Magnetic Qigong" and
the "Hirai Family Mudras, Deep Fatigue Flows" are included in DGS's 3-in-1
dvd. 
In my opinion, the above dvds would be suitable for a wide range of people: from someone who needs actual healing, to someone who simply wants to de-stress and harmonize after work, all the way through to being supportive of advanced completion meditations. If a new-comer to the qigong scene were to swoop in and just buy one product and be done with it, I'd suggest the Kwan Yin Magnetic Qigong or the 3-in-1. (I mean this in the broad scope of all of the products I've seen in nearly 30 years of looking.)
Bagua Circle Walking: Single and Double Palm Change
Again, the first thing shown in this dvd ... is accessable, priceless, and does the right things. The "Kunlun Dragon Posture" (KDP) is a simple standing posture that 1) gently opens all of the joints, 2) opens to heaven and earth (assists "macrocosmic orbit"), and includes two simple mudra variations that prompt 3) gentle undulations of the upper and lower spine. 1,2,3 all in one posture!!! If the only thing you get out of this dvd is this first standing posture, even if you have zero interest in bagua, the dvd is still worth its weight in gold. Following the standing posture there's a progressive series of squats exercises followed by extensive demonstration of bagua applications. (p.s. From what I hear, the KDP is also taught in other DGS dvd/s; I don't know which one/s.)
My only caution about the KDP is that sometimes you'll sway between heaven and earth as kelp in the ocean, gently opening all of the joints. It could be too much if a beginner has overwhelming stability issues and such a person might be better off starting with any of the more stable rooting postures found commonly.
TIP: After you've established comfort w/ KDP, you might include palm (acupoint laogong p-8) & sole (yongquan kid-1) breathing.
CONCLUSION
As I've mentioned, I've only watched a few of DGS's dvds. This page is meant to be only an introduction: I don't intend to review further DGS dvds. If you look, you'll find that Dragon Gate Sanctuary has many, many dvds on topics (broadly stated) such as: Taoist internal martial arts (especially extensive in bagua), esoteric medicine, energetics, acupressure, extensive hand mudra trainings (from healing to martial to subtle spiritual), mantra, deity yoga, Buddhism.
DGS ORDERING DVDs:
You may order any of the dvds on this webpage directly from DGS via PayPal to the e-mail address DragonGateSanctuary@gmail.com.
single dvd: $108
3-in-1 dvd: $200
Same direct ordering opportunity
applies for the
large collection of DGS dvds shown on facebook. Just include in the paypal
message area which item you are ordering and make sure that your mailing address
is correct. (Thank you! to Sifu
Matsuo for making this material directly available.)
Dragon Gate Sanctuary has over 100 dvds available.
However, generally only a smaller selection is listed for sale on the various
DGS websites at any one time, and things shift. New material occasionally
shows up.
- Dragon Gate Sanctuary's ebay page
- Dragon Gate Sanctuary's youtube channel
- Facebook page, fb photoset of dvd collection
If you need further help, you can e-mail DGS directly at DragonGateSanctuary@gmail.com.
DISCUSSION
There's also discussion of DGS at TheTaoBums.com in the discussion thread entitled "Sifu Chris Matsuo" as well as in other threads that you can find through searching. (Of course the quality of discourse varies; it's an open forum.)