Master Marilyn Cooper, bio/resume
My primary teachers have been Grand Master Kuo Lien Ying and Grand Master Peter Kwok. Kuo taught me traditional Kung Fu and how to train; consistently, and to practice, practice, practice. Peter Kwok taught me a series of traditional forms and systems in an orderly progression from beginner to intermediate to advanced level. Kuo stressed the health and performance aspects, and Peter stressed making the forms function equally for fighting, for health and for performance.
I practice spontaneous style push hands under Zhao Guohong.
For pure health and spirituality, I practice Wudang Qigong from David Wei and meditation from India.
I practice spontaneous style push hands under Zhao Guohong.
For pure health and spirituality, I practice Wudang Qigong from David Wei and meditation from India.

Starting out in the mid-1960s as an art student, I emerged years later, a Kung Fu artist.
I have been the subject of numerous feature newspaper articles and television interviews. My articles on kung fu have been published in Inside Kung Fu, Taijiquan Journal, Kung Fu/T’ai Chi magazines and e-zine and other news media. I have performed at universities and masters’ demonstrations, fund-raisers for United Way, the victims of 9/11, and the tsunami. I opened my first Kung Fu school in 1980 in New York City, and have been teaching Kung Fu ever since. I founded a national non-profit institute called Pushing for Peace, whose mission is to promote a T’ai Chi program designed to help prevent youth violence and promote mental and physical health. The Peace Games are now taught all over the world.
I have been the subject of numerous feature newspaper articles and television interviews. My articles on kung fu have been published in Inside Kung Fu, Taijiquan Journal, Kung Fu/T’ai Chi magazines and e-zine and other news media. I have performed at universities and masters’ demonstrations, fund-raisers for United Way, the victims of 9/11, and the tsunami. I opened my first Kung Fu school in 1980 in New York City, and have been teaching Kung Fu ever since. I founded a national non-profit institute called Pushing for Peace, whose mission is to promote a T’ai Chi program designed to help prevent youth violence and promote mental and physical health. The Peace Games are now taught all over the world.
Career Highlights
2015: Created two-person Tai Chi form for youth in Oakland, Ca. & Africa
2015: Taught Peace Games, Tai Chi Connection Group, Ft Lauderdale, Fl.
2014: Taught Peace Games, 88 and 64 Tai Chi Ch’uan, Maui, Hi.
2014: Taught Peace Games, Tai Chi, Portland, Or.
2014: Taught Peace Games, Chin Na, Push Hands, Little Creek Kung Fu School, Kent Island, MD.
2014: Taught Peace Games, Rudramandir, Berkeley, CA.
2013: Taught Peace Games, Progressive School of Long Island, N.Y. for staff development
2013: Taught Peace Games, NeoHumanist Global Educational Summit, Yderfors, Sw.
2013: Taught Qigong, Shaolin, Tai Chi, Peace Games, R.O.O.T.S. summer camp, Maui, HI.
2013: Taught Peace Games, Tai Chi apps, push hands, Stroudsburg, Pa., Annapolis, Md.
2013: Featured Presenter, Rancho La Puerta’s Tai Chi Week, Tecate, MX.
2012: Co-taught w/push hands master Zhao Guohong, Baltimore, Annapolis Md.
2012: Presented Peace Games for anti-bullying month, Jack London Square, Oakland, CA.
2012: Taught Peace Games, Niroga Institute, Berkeley, CA.
2012: Taught push hands, Peace Games, Jing Ying Academy, Annapolis, MD.
2012: Taught Peace Games, Lehigh University Peace Studies Dept., Bethlehem, PA.
2012: Taught Peace Games, Spirit Rock Buddhist Retreat Center, Woodacre, CA.
2012: Presented Peace Games at conference for mediators, Oakland, CA.
2012: Taught Tai Chi/Qigong to returning vets w/PTSD, Berkeley, CA.
2011: Taught T’ai Chi Ch’uan applications, Ashland, Ore.
2011: Taught T’ai Chi Ch’uan workshop, push hands, Paris, Fr.
2011: Taught Tai Chi Ch’uan workshop, Basel, Sw.
2011: Presented “Four Hands” (push hands), GPYTC conference, Lk Tahoe, CA.
2002, ‘03, ‘04: Performed in Masters’ Demos, Kuoshu tournament, Baltimore, MD.
2003: Performed Masters’ Demo, Canton, OH.
1997: Won international gold medal in T’ai Chi, Orlando, Fl.
1996: Won national gold medal for T’ai Chi, Baltimore, MD.
1995: Won gold medal for Chin Na, World Wushu competition, Baltimore, MD.
1988: Performed Chin Na, Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, NY.
1987: Won 3 titles and Grand Championship, national tournament, S. Plainfield, N.J.
1987: Profiled on “ESPN Inside Sports,” Clifton, N.J.
Employment
2012~now: Teaches Kung Fu, Shaolin Lohan Institute., Oakland, CA.
2006~now: Teaches Kung Fu, TCC, Orinda, Berkeley, Oakland, CA.
2011: Taught vets with PTSD, Berkeley, CA.
2010, 2011: Taught Peace Games, Kung Fu, Head Royce, Oakland, CA.
2006, 2009: Taught push hands, Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, Berkeley, CA.
1984-2006: Trained several Kung Fu/T’ai Chi teachers now running own schools
2005: Taught T’ai Chi Ch’uan, Kirby Sports Center, Lafayette College, Lafayette, PA.
2003 – 2005: Adjunct T’ai Chi Prof., Northampton C. C., Bartonsville, PA.
2001: Co-founded the Visual and Performing Arts Center w/Kathy Kroll, Stbg, PA.
2001- 2003: Taught T’ai Chi to K – 5th graders, St Paul’s Lutheran School, E. Stbg, PA.
1999:Taught Kung Fu, Blair Academy High School, Blairstown, NJ.
1999: Taught “Tai Chi for Children,” GPYTC conference, Pt. Reyes, CA.
1998: Taught T’ai Chi Ch’uan applications, GPYTC Conference, San Francisco, CA.
1998: Taught Tai Chi for Children, the T’ai Chi Farm, Warwick, NY.
1996: Founded the Cultural Collective Art Center, Stbg, PA.
1996: Taught Taoism, T’ai Chi, Comparative Religions, Moravian Academy, Beth., PA.
1993: Taught differently-abled youth, Pennsylvania Center for the Arts, Stbg, PA.
1983: Opened the “Little River Kung Fu School,” Bangor, PA.
1980: Opened the “New York Kung Fu Loft” N.Y.C.
1971: Taught at risk teens, Mission Youth Center, San Francisco, CA.
2015: Taught Peace Games, Tai Chi Connection Group, Ft Lauderdale, Fl.
2014: Taught Peace Games, 88 and 64 Tai Chi Ch’uan, Maui, Hi.
2014: Taught Peace Games, Tai Chi, Portland, Or.
2014: Taught Peace Games, Chin Na, Push Hands, Little Creek Kung Fu School, Kent Island, MD.
2014: Taught Peace Games, Rudramandir, Berkeley, CA.
2013: Taught Peace Games, Progressive School of Long Island, N.Y. for staff development
2013: Taught Peace Games, NeoHumanist Global Educational Summit, Yderfors, Sw.
2013: Taught Qigong, Shaolin, Tai Chi, Peace Games, R.O.O.T.S. summer camp, Maui, HI.
2013: Taught Peace Games, Tai Chi apps, push hands, Stroudsburg, Pa., Annapolis, Md.
2013: Featured Presenter, Rancho La Puerta’s Tai Chi Week, Tecate, MX.
2012: Co-taught w/push hands master Zhao Guohong, Baltimore, Annapolis Md.
2012: Presented Peace Games for anti-bullying month, Jack London Square, Oakland, CA.
2012: Taught Peace Games, Niroga Institute, Berkeley, CA.
2012: Taught push hands, Peace Games, Jing Ying Academy, Annapolis, MD.
2012: Taught Peace Games, Lehigh University Peace Studies Dept., Bethlehem, PA.
2012: Taught Peace Games, Spirit Rock Buddhist Retreat Center, Woodacre, CA.
2012: Presented Peace Games at conference for mediators, Oakland, CA.
2012: Taught Tai Chi/Qigong to returning vets w/PTSD, Berkeley, CA.
2011: Taught T’ai Chi Ch’uan applications, Ashland, Ore.
2011: Taught T’ai Chi Ch’uan workshop, push hands, Paris, Fr.
2011: Taught Tai Chi Ch’uan workshop, Basel, Sw.
2011: Presented “Four Hands” (push hands), GPYTC conference, Lk Tahoe, CA.
2002, ‘03, ‘04: Performed in Masters’ Demos, Kuoshu tournament, Baltimore, MD.
2003: Performed Masters’ Demo, Canton, OH.
1997: Won international gold medal in T’ai Chi, Orlando, Fl.
1996: Won national gold medal for T’ai Chi, Baltimore, MD.
1995: Won gold medal for Chin Na, World Wushu competition, Baltimore, MD.
1988: Performed Chin Na, Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, NY.
1987: Won 3 titles and Grand Championship, national tournament, S. Plainfield, N.J.
1987: Profiled on “ESPN Inside Sports,” Clifton, N.J.
Employment
2012~now: Teaches Kung Fu, Shaolin Lohan Institute., Oakland, CA.
2006~now: Teaches Kung Fu, TCC, Orinda, Berkeley, Oakland, CA.
2011: Taught vets with PTSD, Berkeley, CA.
2010, 2011: Taught Peace Games, Kung Fu, Head Royce, Oakland, CA.
2006, 2009: Taught push hands, Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, Berkeley, CA.
1984-2006: Trained several Kung Fu/T’ai Chi teachers now running own schools
2005: Taught T’ai Chi Ch’uan, Kirby Sports Center, Lafayette College, Lafayette, PA.
2003 – 2005: Adjunct T’ai Chi Prof., Northampton C. C., Bartonsville, PA.
2001: Co-founded the Visual and Performing Arts Center w/Kathy Kroll, Stbg, PA.
2001- 2003: Taught T’ai Chi to K – 5th graders, St Paul’s Lutheran School, E. Stbg, PA.
1999:Taught Kung Fu, Blair Academy High School, Blairstown, NJ.
1999: Taught “Tai Chi for Children,” GPYTC conference, Pt. Reyes, CA.
1998: Taught T’ai Chi Ch’uan applications, GPYTC Conference, San Francisco, CA.
1998: Taught Tai Chi for Children, the T’ai Chi Farm, Warwick, NY.
1996: Founded the Cultural Collective Art Center, Stbg, PA.
1996: Taught Taoism, T’ai Chi, Comparative Religions, Moravian Academy, Beth., PA.
1993: Taught differently-abled youth, Pennsylvania Center for the Arts, Stbg, PA.
1983: Opened the “Little River Kung Fu School,” Bangor, PA.
1980: Opened the “New York Kung Fu Loft” N.Y.C.
1971: Taught at risk teens, Mission Youth Center, San Francisco, CA.