Lan Tran has over 40 years of experience in martial arts training and 26 years teaching experience. He founded Internal Fusion Martial Arts in 2012 to teach students principles of movement and awareness across different internal martial arts styles. Currently he teaches classes in tai chi, push hands, hsing-i, and baji. He also studies I Liq Chuan and has tested and passed levels 1 and 2. Lan seeks to share his knowledge of martial arts, history, culture and social issues through hands-on practical experience and discussion of learning processes.
A growing body of research shows that arts-based teaching and learning has the power to energize and promote student engagement by increasing opportunities for students to articulate their learning in many different ways. It is particularly effective for students who tend to struggle with the fast-paced and highly structured nature of mainstream education, which favours primarily cognitive and verbal forms of teaching and assessment. This study contributes to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) by reporting on the learning experiences of third-year child and youth care (CYC) students involved in an arts-based self-portrait assignment.
A growing body of research shows that arts-based teaching and learning has the power to energize and promote student engagement by increasing opportunities for students to articulate their learning in many different ways. It is particularly effective for students who tend to struggle with the fast-paced and highly structured nature of mainstream education, which favours primarily cognitive and verbal forms of teaching and assessment. This study contributes to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) by reporting on the learning experiences of third-year child and youth care (CYC) students involved in an arts-based self-portrait assignment.
1. LAN TRAN
4919 Monument Road, Philadelphia, PA 19131
sifulantran@verizon.net
215-868-0419
Objective:
Experienced Master of Martial Arts with 40 years of training and 26 years of teaching interested in sharing his
wealth of knowledge in classroom settings that combine discussion of meta-cognition (learning about learning
and the processes of learning), history, culture, and social issues with hands-on, practical experience of basic
principles of martial arts. Founder of Internal Fusion Martial Arts in 2012. Began I Liq Chuan training March
2014.
Martial Art Teaching and Training, History and Study
Internal Fusion Martial Art Philadelphia,PA 19131
Founder and Master Teacher. Teach an array of martial arts classes including Tai Chi principles, Push Hands,
Hsing-I and Baji. Design curriculum to meet students’ needs. Fall 2013- present
Internal Fusion Martial Arts’ mission is to train students in concepts of movement and awareness of universal
internal principles that span the variety of internal martial arts rather than solely in forms or technique vocabulary.
Internal Fusion’s approach is to explore the unifying principles of Yin/Yang in relation to structure, shape, timing,
expansion and compression, biomechanical energetics, movement quality, space and rhythm. Hands-on
instruction coupled with clear explanations serves to empower students to take-charge of their own training by
helping them to become more aware, mindful learners.
I Liq Chuan 2014 – Present Monmouth Junction,NJ
Began studying I Liq Chuan: Martial Art of Awareness in March 2014 after attending a workshop with
Grandmaster Sam Chin at a seminar hosted in Boston, MA. Train monthly with Wai Tang, Ph.D., ILC instructor
(level 6) in New Jersey. Tested and passed ILC Level I and II student levels in Feb. 2015.
Ba’z Tai Chi Studio, Manayunk 1999-2004 Philadelphia,PA 19128
Assistant Instructor. Taught a variety of martial arts classes—beginner to advanced—particularly Tai Chi Quan,
Hsing-I, and Baji classes. 2004 – 2013
Wu Shen Tao Health and Martial Art Academy 1991-1995 Takoma Park, MD
20913
School Co-founder and Instructor. Opened school with Sifu Paul Ramos in 1991. Responsible for all aspects of
the business, from marketing and recruiting of students, teaching classes in Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan, managing
budget, evaluating student progress.
Shen Mi Chuan Martial Arts 1987-1991 Silver Spring,
MD 20913
Lead Teacher. Offered instruction in Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan to ages teen to adult. Created and implemented
Kids Kung Fu program to develop positive mental attitude and discipline, 1986-2001
Batiste Martial Arts Academy 1983-1987 Bethesda, MD 20852
Head Instructor. Offered classes in American Tae Kwon Do (TKD). Achieved 2nd
Dan ranking in the Jhoon
Rhee System of TKD under Master Rodney Batiste. 1983-1986
Shorin Ryu Okinawan Karate 1976-1983 Rockville, MD
20850
Top Student Teacher. Trained under Master Clarence Murray III. Engaged in intensive self-study and
competition. Achieved 1st
Dan,1976-1982
2. 2
College and University Academic Courses
Adjunct instructor for undergraduate 3 credit class:
AST 324 Martial Arts and the Diaspora: Arts of Awareness,Ways of Life. Cabrini College. (Spring terms 2015;
2014).
Adjunct instructor for graduate 3 credit:
Folk 579: 640: Moved to Learn—Martial Arts, Embodied Cognition & the Arts of Awareness in Everyday Life
University of Pennsylvania. Master of Liberal Arts Program (MLA),College of Liberal and Professional Studies.
(Spring term 2015)
Academic Presentations, Grants, Conferences
SEPCHE (South Eastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education) Poster Presentation. Celebration of
Scholarship. 12 May 2015 Presente d with my co-investigator, Nancy L. Watterson,Ph.D.. Grant awarded as part
of the initiative “Building Faculty Capacity for 21st Century Teaching.” Poster presentation, “Moved to Learn:
Assessing Students' Awareness of Learning Processes through Mindful Martial Arts,” highlighted the use of
metacognitive strategies that combine movement and stillness, mindfulness and martial arts.
Fourth Annual Faculty Research and Scholarship Celebration. "AST 324: Martial Arts & The Diaspora: Learning
About Learning, Learning The Process of Learning. ” Cabrini College. 5 May 2015.What do martial arts,
movement, and mindfulness have in common? As research in, with, and about AST 324 reveals, traditional
seminar content combines well with body-based practices in balance, alignment, attentiveness, effortless power
and ease.Students learn first-hand how they can influence their own motivation, focus, life-purpose.By
documenting our teaching as research,my co-instructor Nancy Watterson and I discover anew how students can
learn about global cultures by first turning to the “geography” of their own body and mind.
History Forum: “Where Body-based Learning Meets Mindful Martial Arts.” Co-presented with Sifu Lan Tran,
adjunct instructor 1 Nov. 2014.
Grants Awarded
Externally Funded
SEPCHE (South Eastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education) Initiative. Co-author/co-investigator. Grant
awarded as part of the initiative “Building Faculty Capacity for 21st
Century Teaching.” Research proposal, titled
“Moved to Learn: Assessing Students' Awareness of Learning Processes through Mindful Martial Arts,” explores the
use of metacognitive strategies that combine movement and stillness, mindfulness and martial arts.” (Grant received
September 2014)
Internally Funded
Cabrini College Faculty Summer Development Grant. Partnered with Dr. Nancy Watterson on “Moved to Learn:
Ongoing Training in I Liq Chuan: Improving Students' Awareness of Learning Processes through Mindful Martial
Arts.” May 2015.
Cabrini College Faculty Summer Development Grant. “Partnered with Dr. Nancy Watterson on Moved to Learn:
Internal Fusion and AST 400—Martial Arts and the Diaspora: Ways of Life.” 2014.
Co-Administrator of Principles of the Internal Arts – A selective on-line forum comprised of master martial arts teachers
for the exchange and study of internal arts from various systems. Mission: “Group members speak plainly of internal arts
practices with the hope that all may find common understanding or learn something new. Through polite discourse we
seek ways to improve ourselves and share with the spirit ” Also contribute regularly to other prominent martial arts fora,
3. 3
keeping abreast of most current translations of Tai Chi classics, best practices in teaching, and on-going debates, thereby
fostering international dialogue.
Tournament Judge
Wong People Tournament. Washington, D.C., 2004 - present
International Chinese Martial Arts Competition. Washington, D.C., 2011- 2012
Gift of Tai Chi Tournament. Baltimore, MD, 2009-2011
Siu Lum Academy of South Philadelphia Annual Tournament. Philadelphia, PA, 1998-2001
Seminar Organizer, Master Teacher
Mindfulness Movements and Energetics Chi Movement Arts Center, S. Philadelphia, PA 19147
Movement Energetics, Part I, June 2013
Peng, Lu, Ji, An: Movement Energetics Part II, September 2013
Online Instructional Resources, Designer
Create, film, edit and publish a variety of instructional videos demonstrating engaged pedagogies used with students of
diverse abilities and with other master teachers from around the region using YouTube and other social media outlets
Sifu Lan Tran - "The Lighter Touch" Part 15-10-2013
Mind/Intent Connection
Full PLAYLIST (of 20+ instructional videos)
Selected Public Presentations / Demonstrations
Youth Empowerment “Save Our Kids Thru Martial Arts” at University City High School, Philadelphia, PA, 2011
Annual Chinese New Year Celebration, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology.
Hsing-I demo with Andre Wiley, 2010
Wong People Master’s Demonstration Washington, D.C., 2000-2013
Actor, Film
Last Days Of The Saga . Created and directed by Kaloni Davis, 2013.
Martial Arts Education and Training
Tai Chi Chuan, Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan training, 1986 to present
Wu Tan System. Trained with Sifu John Chen. Black belt received, 2004
American Tae Kwon Do. 2nd
Dan earned in four short years, 1982-1986
Shorin Ryu Okinawan Karate. Trained under Master Clarence Murray III, 1978-1982
Judo training. Training began at age 6, 1972 - 1977
Selected Honors and Awards
Undefeated Men’s Advanced Tai Chi Form. Wutan Federation Annual Tournament, Canton, Ohio, 1999 - 2004
1st place in Yang Style Pushing Hands ICKF. Kuoshu International Tournament, Towson, MD, 2003
2nd place Yang Style Men’s Advanced ICKF. Kuoshu International Tournament, , Towson, MD, 2003
Semi-Pro Winner Men’s Open Form Division. Dennis Brown Capitol Classics, Washington, D.C., 1982
1st Place Battle of the Valley, Men’s Advanced Tae Kwon Do Form/Kata, Hagerstown, MD, 1982