"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."
Lao Tzu
ABOUT
Javier Martinez, founder of
Tao Movement
In a few words
Javier currently studies Tai Chi and Internal Energy Arts of the Taoist Water Method with Paul Cavel, senior instructor of lineage holder Master Bruce Frantzis. He has been teaching this material since 2021.
Thanks to an extensive background on sports science and the western model of anatomy and biomechanics, Javier is able to bridge the gap between the ancient Taoist technology from the East and the modern scientific understanding developed in the West.
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A longer read - A journey from fire to water
Javier has been passionate about martial arts all his life, accumulating more than 25 years of experience in traditional martial arts and combat sports.
He started practising traditional Karate Shotokai with Suichi Saito at the age of eight in Donostia (San Sebastian), in the north of Spain. In his twenties, he trained Wing Tsun Kung Fu with Sifu Jose Manuel Cortes, from the Ip Man lineage as passed down by Leung Ting, achieving a 2nd Technician Degree.
After moving to the UK, he joined a boxing club at the age of twenty-nine, falling in love with the sweet science of western boxing and the intensity of the training. Around this time he also starts teaching self-defence and Wing Tsun to small groups of students in the parks of London.
Martial arts and combat sports defined his movement practice for years, a practice that relies upon very hard and intense training, a very fiery and Yang approach.
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The importance of Yin
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In 2011, he specialised in strength and conditioning for the fight athlete, with significant focus on bodyweight and kettlebell training. Even though at that point of his life he was extremely fit and every single blood test confirmed that he was in good health, that was only in the outside. The internal environment was a different story.
At this point, stress, anxiety and frustration started manifesting physical illness, sending him to the hospital for surgery in 2012. This was a wake up call that made him realise the importance of having a balanced approach to training, and a more relaxed approach to life: he immediately included Tai Chi Chuan in his practice, adding a softer and more relaxing discipline to his routine – the Yin element that had been missing.
From 2013 to 2019, he trained the Wu style of Tai Chi Chuan in the school founded by Gary Wragg in London, disciple of Eddie Wu Kwong Yu.
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An exploration of movement in search of knowledge and freedom of motion
Understanding the limitations of his movement practice, and moved for a passion to learn more about the human body, in 2015 he started exploring other disciplines including Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga, calisthenics, gymnastics, animal flow, the Ido Portal Method and soft acrobatics.
He also qualified as a Sports Massage Therapist in 2016 and focused on the study of functional training and human biomechanics according to the western model of sports science.
In 2018 he becomes a yoga teacher and studies his 300h advanced teacher training with yoga anatomy specialist Jason Crandell.
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The journey into the Taoist Internal Arts of the Water Tradition
In 2019, Javier meets Paul Cavel, founder of the Tai Chi Space, in London, who at the time was teaching NeiGong of the Taoist Water Method. Highly impressed by the depth of the material presented, from this point onwards, Paul becomes his primary teacher, learning Taoist NeiGong, Wu Tai Chi, Yang Tai Chi, Dragon and Tiger Medical QiGong and Meditation from him, starting a journey of self development and cultivation that continues today.
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In 2021, he spends 3 months in the mountains of southern Spain training privately with Paul Cavel. During this period of intense training, not only his understanding of and his skills in the Taoist Internal Arts of the Water Tradition improve significantly, but unexpected healing happened too, changing his quality of life immensely - excruciating pain that he experienced on a daily basis from the surgery in 2012 dissolved almost completely.
This healing experience, amongst other amazing physical and energetic transformations experienced during this 3 months retreat, made Javier re-evaluate what is possible and what is not, as well as his own training and public teaching going forward.
Upon his return to the UK in April 2021, training and sharing the ancient Taoist Internal Energy Arts of the Water Method becomes his primary interest.
With infinite gratitude, Javier thanks his teacher Paul Cavel, who generously shares his knowledge with him, making this journey possible.
Training with Paul Cavel in California, 2024
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Yang Style Tai Chi Level 2, The Tai Chi Space, by Paul Cavel
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Taoist NeiGong Level 2, The Tai Chi Space, by Paul Cavel
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Dragon and Tiger Medical QiGong Level 3, Energy Arts, by Paul Cavel
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Foundational QiGong Level 3, Energy Arts, by Paul Cavel
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5 Elements Medical QiGong, White Tiger QiGong, by Tevia Feng
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Sacred Energy Arts QiGong Level 1 by Matthew Cohen
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Zen Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher in training, Zen Ways, with Daizan Roshi
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E-RYT (Expert Registered Yoga Teacher) – 500h by Jason Crandell
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YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider), Yoga Alliance USA
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Co-lead Tutor at Virgin Active 200h Yoga Teacher Training
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Wing Tsun Kung Fu 2nd Degree Technician by Sifu Jose Manuel Cortes
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Level 3 Personal Trainer since 2012
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Boxing Amateur Competition – representing LeftHook Boxing Club in 2017, UK
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End-Range Mobility by Ricky Warren (Bodyweight Gurus)
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CrossFit Gymnastics Certified Specialist
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Animal Flow Level 1
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Sports Massage Therapist Level 3
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Degree in Technical Architecture by the University of Navarra, Spain