ERIC COGBILL, GUIDING TEACHER

Eric’s experience comes by way of unique and varying sources. He is a retired Police Officer and served for 14 years in Patrol and on the SWAT and Sniper teams. As an Officer, Eric gained relative training and firsthand experience dealing with human suffering and the many “problems” of life. This included specific training, actual field work, study and application of Sociology, Behavioral Science, Psychology and more. Eric will tell you that being an Officer is a lot like being a front lines, “street counselor”.

In his 14th year with the Police Department, an injury forced his early retirement. Through his practice, he has recovered his health and well-being. Both of which, suffered tremendously by this loss. Specifically the loss of “identity”.

Eric owes the place that he is now to the practice of the Wisdom Traditions and the Martial Arts. He has spent most of his life studying mindfulness and ontology through the vehicles of eastern religious practices. He began his journey with Daoism, an ancient and indigenous religion of China. He later found his way to the Japanese lineage of Buddhism called (Soto) Zen. He spent many years practicing Zen under his teacher and with the Sangha (community of practitioners). Eric received lay ordination from his teacher and also sat on the temples executive board. Eric now teaches an internal practice that we call Zanjyu (Suchness), which draws from eastern and western wisdom traditions and practices.

Eric has been studying the Martial Arts for more than 35 years and has trained in many styles and systems. From Aikido and Taiji to Kickboxing, Taijitsu and Kenpo. He later found his love and home in Wing Chun and has never looked back. Wing Chun blends seamlessly with our internal practices as it teaches us to deal with the present, and what is directly in front of us. We learn to attend to the very place that we stand. Our Wing Chun is infused with elements of Qigong, principles of awareness and intention and other influences from Eric’s many years of training and experience.

While self defense is certainly part of our program, Eric’s primary focus is on combining the internal and external practices in a way that wakes us up to the reality of the present moment and our lives as they are. Doing so, awakens the peace, joy and resilience that lies dormant in each one of us. Kung Fu for us, includes our practices of Wing Chun and Zanjyu but is much more. It is a life practice, a practice of personal cultivation and discovery, which greatly impacts and informs our daily lives, and the lives of those we touch.