Mike Symonds

Real name, Myke. Began "shadow boxing" at just 4 years of age through previous life experiences. Had various spiritual guides nudging in the right direction and helping find the right people or places, books or knowledge. In late teens became interested in philosophy, psychology and what we now call Life Arts. Later studied many mainstream Eastern philosophies and beliefs, and lived 12 years as a Mahayana Buddhist. Tao was always the goal, even though the author did not know of it when young.

Studied Indian Yoga, various meditations and energy skills with powerful effects.

Martial Arts seemed always to be the foundation on which building could grow. The study of External Martial Arts, Hard style or Physical, like most Karate and modern Shaolin, took about five years. After this, the Internal, or "soft arts", like T'ai Chi Ch'uan needed to be studied. The eager student was directed by a spiritual encounter to Prof. C. Chee Soo, and amazingly knowledgeable Master of Taoist internal Arts. After writing a polite letter, asking for opinion on his experiences, Myke was invited to the Master's Teacher Training classes, where studies of Lee/Li Taijiquan, Qigong, TCM - with Diet, K'ai Men (Taoist Yoga), Taoist Philosophy and related subject matter was studied intensely. In 1978 he was awarded his Teacher's grade and a school was opened in East Anglia, UK.

From there, studies continued, a wider school syllabus of sorts was developed to include Traditional Taoist Kung-fu (Tien Ti Tao Dao Quanshu) and the school flourished. This lead to various positions being held with a National Governing Body and later association with the UK branch of the ICKF (Trad. Chinese Arts), under which the school, The Way of Heaven & Earth - previously blessed by his Taoist Master, was fully tested and accepted as "Genuine traditional Chinese arts" by them.

The first book appeared in the 1980's as a tribute to prof. Chee Soo. The rest followed by demand. More are planned.