Donald Rubbo

Donald Rubbo (born February 3rd, 1957) is a martial and internal arts teacher and author. He teaches extensively, nationally and internationally, on how the martial and internal arts are vehicles for self-transformation, and on healing with the mind.

Early Years

Donald was born in New York City, New York, the third of six children born to Admondo Dondes (Don) and Maria Rubbo.

Donald’s father, Don Sr., was a gifted artist and an influential teacher. Don Sr. instilled in his son the belief that “Art is Life, and Life is Art.” Don Sr. has been described as “the Father of Pop Art,” and was a mentor to Peter Max and Tom Daly, among many. Peter Max exclaimed to Donald in 2005, “Your father taught us all!” The poster for the first “The Godfather” movie, which is the graphic of a hand holding puppet strings, was created by Don Rubbo Sr.

Donald grew up in one of the first artist lofts in New York City’s Greenwich Village, on 365 Canal Street (the former Canal Street Lumber), and his father’s friends and guests included Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist, and Tom Daly.

Martial and Healing Arts

Donald started studying karate in 1969, at the age of 12, in New York City, and then Shaolin Kung Fu at Five Tigers Martial Arts on Chambers Street.

Having moved to San Francisco in 1976, Donald studied Shaolin Kungfu with Grandmaster Kuo Lien Ying and Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Chuan, Shaolin Kungfu, Xingyiquan, Spear, Tai Chi Broad Sword, Tai Chi Double-Edge Sword, Tai Chi Staff, Xingyiquan I Chuan, Nei Gung and Qigong from Bing Gong, Kuo Lien Ying's top disciple.

Donald met his future wife, Cheryl Lynne Pickens, daughter of J.P. Pickens at Kuo Lien Ying's class in 1976, they married in 1992. They teach together at Rubbo Art of Energy.

Forms Donald has studied:
Six Healing Sounds, Inner Smile, Iron Shirt Qigong (Angela Wu)
Yin Style Baguazhang Eight Storing Chi and Developing Sensitivity Exercises, Luo Han Patting (Xie Peiqi)

Primordial Qigong, Lotus Qigong, Wisdom Patting (Twist & Pat Spinal Qigong) (Master Zhu Hui,)

Baguazhang, Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan, Tui Na, Spinal Qigong, Marriage of Heaven and Earth, Dragon Tiger, Bend the Bow Shoot the Arrow (Bruce Kumar Frantzis)

Healing Hands Qigong, Medical Qigong (Master Yang Yuan Jing)

Martial and Healing Arts Career

In 1980 Donald founded Rubbo Art of Energy, in Marin County, California. He and his wife continue the centuries old Chinese tradition of teaching the internal arts outdoors.

In 1995 Donald was invited by Marin General Hospital’s Humanities Department to develop a Qigong health program, which was among the first Qigong programs offered in hospitals in the nation. This class, moved to a different location, is still running as the Rubbo Free Wellness Class. In 1997 Donald also designed a Qigong program for Kaiser Hospital in Terra Linda, California.

Donald and Cheryl Lynne Rubbo are honored as a co-creators of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day, and have been Bay Area coordinators for World Tai Chi and Qigong Day since 1998.

In 2002, Donald was featured in "The Empty Vessel Magazine", "A Journal of Contemporary Taoism", interviewed by Robert Bergman for his expertise in Primordial Qigong, in the article "Primordial Qigong, A Gem from the Treasure Chest of Taoist Mystical Qigong".

Beginning in 2004, Donald’s students have founded Martial Arts schools in Israel and Switzerland.

The Rubbos have expanded their activities into writing, and their first book,"Extraordinary Breath - Making the Power of Deep Breathing Work for You", is being published by Xlibris this spring.

Organization

In 1997, Donald and Cheryl Lynne co-founded the Paul D. Pickens II Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization. The mission of PDP II Research Foundation is to support integrative modalities, to improve the health and quality of life of the community through public education, research, health programs and training of health-care providers and other practitioners. The Foundation was founded in memory of Cheryl Lynne’s brother Paul D. Pickens II, who passed away from AIDS-related complications in 1995. PDP II Research Foundation’s philosophy of healing and wellness is based on the belief that true healing starts from within.

In 2007 Donald and Cheryl Lynne developed BreatheStrong, a subsidiary of PDP II Research Foundation, a global outreach program to raise awareness about the profound health benefits of deep breathing, and to foster the growth of connected communities working together for peace, encouraging the integration of wisdom and compassion into daily living. BreatheStrong is a system of deep breathing exercises coupled with self-directed and activity-dependent neuroplasticity to effect positive changes in mood, health and wellbeing.

Professional Affiliiations and Awards

Donald is a co-founder, past president and honorary chairman of the Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association, a nonprofit educational organization.

In 2004, Donald was nominated as a hero in on http://www.VolvoForLifeAwards.com, a grassroots campaign organized by Volvo to recognize and reward everyday heroes across America.

In 2004, Donald and his wife were featured on “NEW MORNING TV,” Hallmark Channel’s Faith and Values series about ordinary men and women who are doing extraordinary things. This daily series discussed important issues and translated faith and values, medical knowledge, humor, common sense and wisdom into practical and universal stories. The show featured interviews of the Rubbos and their students, and the Rubbos teaching internal arts in Gerstle Park, San Rafael, California.

Books

* "Extraordinary Breath, Making the power of deep breathing work for you." (2008), ISBN 978-1436326339 ISBN 978-1436326346.

Videos

"Long Life Exercises for Health" (2002)

External links

* [http://www.CultivateChi.com CultivateChi.com]
* [http://www.BreatheStrong.org BreatheStrong.org]
* [http://5tigers.ch/d/workshops.htm Hediger/Yap]
* [http://worldtaichiday.com/FounderCoFoundersNamerica.html World Tai Chi and Qigong Day Co-Founders]