The Ancient Wisdom Experience

Ancient Wisdom for The New You was founded in 2011 by Dr. Andrew von Plitt, ND, long before he was a doctor, to help people of all ages stay healthy and active through Tai Chi and Qigong.  

What started out as in-person classes taught in the Amador County, California area, turned into an online learning experience available to people around the world.  There are currently over 300 free instruction videos produced by Dr. von Plitt available on YouTube, with more on the way. 

The goal of Ancient Wisdom for The New You is to help improve the vitality of every community it reaches.  We sincerely hope you will join us on this journey. 

Your Instructor

Dr. von Plitt began his martial arts training at the age of 12 at the Ross Aikido Dojo in Jackson, CA where he studied Aikido, Kickboxing, Japanese sword work, and was introduced to the art or Tai Chi under the instruction of Sensei Paul Ross.  In his spare time he studied everything he could get his hands on about Chinese martial arts and developed a fascination with them.  He would watch videos and read books then practice hard to perfect each technique he acquired from these sources.  While in high school he began saving money for a trip to China to study Traditional Chinese Martial Arts (TCMA) under the masters.

When he graduated high school he traveled to China where he began his formal training in TCMA.  In China his training schedule was 6 to 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, plus extra training he would do in his spare time.  He studied Songshan Shaolin Quan and Sanda (Chinese Kickboxing) under a Shaolin monk which he addressed as Zhang Shifu.  During the first day of training Master Zhang asked Andrew how long he had been training in Shaolin because his form and technique were so good.  When Andrew informed Master Zhang that he had never received any formal training in Shaolin Kung Fu before arriving in China, Master Zhang did not believe him.  Andrew also studied Yang Style Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan), Qin Na (Chin Na), Shuai Jiao, and Qigong from Hu Shifu and Lin Shifu, Bajiquan from Lin Shifu, and Northern Shaolin Quan from Hao Shifu.

When Andrew returned to the USA he continued studying and training in his spare time and began teaching a small Tai Chi class at New York Fitness in Jackson, CA.  During this time he began to realize how much he enjoyed teaching and helping people.  He decided to take his training to the next level and began saving for a return trip to China.  He also began studying the Ko Sutemi Seiei Kan Style of Karate under Sensei Rodney Peoples.

Andrew attended the Kun Yu Shan Shaolin Martial Arts Academy during his second stay in China, where he studied Yang Style and Chen Style Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan), Yongchunquan (Wing Chun Chuan), Bajiquan, Sanda, Qigong, Qin Na, Shuai Jiao, and Xinyiquan under the tutelage of Master Guo Xin Min.  On top of the 6 to 8 hours of training, 5 days a week, Andrew would often train on weekends and during breaks between classes.  He advanced quickly and was awarded the title of "Excellent International Student" twice during his stay.  He also competed in local and international TCMA tournaments, in which he won 5 gold medals.

Before returning home, Andrew earned the rank of 4th Duan in TCMA (which is equivalent to a 4th degree black belt in Non-Chinese martial arts) and an Advanced Level TCMA Coaching Certificate.  Both the rank and the teaching credential were issued by the Chinese Wushu International Development Center (CWIDC).  As Andrew was preparing to leave the Kun Yu Shan academy, Master Guo took him into his office and told Andrew that his martial arts skills were very good and he should consider teaching professionally when he returned to the United States.

Andrew took his master's advice and taught Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) and Qigong (Chi Kung) classes at New York Fitness in Jackson, CA and at the KSW Karate Dojo in Jackson, CA from 2011 to 2015.  He earned his black belt in the Ko Sutemi Seiei Kan Style of Karate in December 2015.  Andrew's passions are to help people improve their health and to help spread TCMA as far as he can.  

Dr. von Plitt graduated from the National University of Natural Medicine and is currently a practicing naturopathic doctor in the Portland, Oregon area.  He has two YouTube channels now.  The first YouTube channel is where he posts free instructional Taijiquan and Qigong videos.  The second YouTube channel is dedicated to sharing information regarding natural medicine. 

To book an appointment to see Dr. von Plitt visit NuturaClinic.com or call 503.214.2474