History of Golden Breath American Tai Chi

Golden Breath founder Robert Kassof was pursuing a career in martial arts, studying White Crane Kung Fu in New York in the late 1960's. A few years later, he became seriously ill with a condition that eventually left him partially paralyzed, to the point where he couldn't hold a cup of water in his hands. He was eventually hospitalized and underwent an operation in an attempt to correct this condition. This didn't work and he was forced to rely on daily medication.

During this time, Robert was also attending several martial arts programs through the Chinese Medical Association. One of these classes proved to be a turning point in Robert's life: Norma Chow, a martial artist of great standing, affiliated with the University of Southern California, explained the ancient "internal system" and demonstrated its ease of movement. She showed how, using the principles of this system, that the soft, flexible and subtle can defeat the hard and unyielding, and how one can use such softness to achieve a balance between health and illness.

SiBok Robert Kassof, founder of Golden Breath Tai Chi System, originally earned a Black Sash in White Crane Gung Fu in 1971.  In 1974, he joined the American Karate and Kung Fu Association as a teacher of White Crane.  In the early 1970's, he had a life threatening illness that led him to study with Master Pau. Master Pau was an internal teacher of his lineage and taught Dragon Ba Gua, Hsing-i, Su Tai Chi, and internal healing practices.  From Master Pau, he earned the title SiBok.  Through Master Pau, SiBok learned internal healing movements of Master Pau's system and a "Way" that allowed him to become in touch with his own inner Presence and insight.  With this insight and gratitude to God, SiBok was able to regain his health and to develop the movements of the Golden Breath American Tai Chi System as they are today.