Understanding Chinese Medicine (San Francisco)

Understanding Chinese Medicine

Over the course of 8 weeks, students will learn about "Qi" (the life force), Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Tongue & Pulse diagnosis, Yin and Yang, 5 Elements, and the Chinese concept of internal organs. Discover more about this traditional medicine, which has provided health and relief for over 2,500 years.

Date: Thursdays
October 14 - December 9, 2010

Time: 6 - 8pm


Fee: $100 Regular
         $90 students w/Current I.D. and senior citizen ages 62+

Location: ACTCM San Francisco
Pioneer Square Campus
Classroom H
555 De Haro Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

There are two ways you can register:
1) Download a Registration Form and send it along with payment to:
    ACTCM Admissions Office
    455 Arkansas Street
    San Francisco, CA  94107

2) Register by phone. Call the Admissions Office at (415) 401-0464.

Instructor Bio:
Dmitri Kotenkov began practicing martial arts in 1976, at the age of 16, in Moscow, in what was then the Soviet Union. He studied Shotokan Karate and Kiokushinkai Karate with various teachers. A search for a more internal and health-oriented discipline brought him to T’ai Chi Ch’uan in 1987.

Dmitri sees the practice of T’ai Chi as a perfect union of the healing aspect of Yoga with the challenges and excitement of rigorous martial training. After being certified by the Moscow Scientific Society of Physical Therapists and Recreation Workers as an Instructor of Oriental Physical-Fitness Arts, in 1989, Dmitri began teaching T’ai Chi as a full time instructor with the Center of Oriental Fighting Arts (a part of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR).

In 1990, the Inner Research Institute (IRI), located in San Francisco, California, extended an invitation to Dmitri Kotenkov and his wife Elena to study T’ai Chi at the IRI School of T’ai Chi Ch’uan. Dmitri served as an Intern Assistant at IRI from 1991 to 2004, learning advanced aspects of the art, and upon completion of his apprenticeship with Martin Inn, founded the “Attaining Harmony” School of T’ai Chi Ch’uan.

During the past 25 years, Dmitri has continued studying and training in Chinese martial and healing arts. He is a Certified Oriental Sports Trainer, a Certified Herbalist (Dmitri graduated from the Institute of Chinese Herbology, in Oakland, California, in 2003) and a Certified Instructor of T’ai Chi Ch’uan (Yang Style). Dmitri received certification to teach Short Form, Advanced Form Correction, Sword, Push-Hands, Ta Lu and San Shou from the Inner Research Institute School of T’ai Chi Ch’uan in 1996.

Dmitri’s teaching has been greatly influenced by years of traditional Rinzai Zen training, where the practice of martial and cultural arts are integrated with Buddhist practice. His classes emphasize both the martial vigor of authentic Yang Style T’ai Chi and the refinement and depth of Taoist philosophy.