About Us

Gwynn Brookes

Feldenkrais

Gwynn is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais PractitionerCM. She teaches individual lessons, or Functional Integration© lessons, at Turning Point, and teaches group classes, or Awareness Through Movement© classes, at Suigetsukan Dojo in Oakland.

Self-Defense

Gwynn has been teaching self-defense classes since 2004 with the Girl Army collective. Girl Army teaches women's self-defense to women and trans people. She also teaches group workshops which can range from a one day to a six week workshop. Gwen is also available to teach individual self-defense lessons.

Martial Arts

Gwynn received her Shodan in the arts of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu, Aikido, and the Japanese sword art Toyama Ryu in 2007 from Suigetsukan Dojo. Her teacher is Professor Michael Esmailzadeh.

Dance

Gwynn has an extensive background in ballet and modern dance. Prior to studying martial arts, she performed with modern dance companies in New York, Seattle and the Bay Area for fourteen years. Her love of dance infuses her Feldenkrais practice with humor and imagination.

Gregory E. LeBlanc, MSOM, L.Ac.

Chinese Medicine

Gregory holds a Masters degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from SAMRA University (1995) and is a licensed California acupuncturist (1996). In 1996 Gregory began a successful private practice in Los Angeles California; in 2006 he relocated to the Lake Merritt area of Oakland. He is a Board Certified acupuncturist and herbalist by the NCCAOM (1996). Gregory was a Professor of Acupuncture Anatomy at SAMRA University and is currently professor of Herb Pharmacology and Chinese nutrition at Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences. He has specialized training in acupuncture orthopedics (pain relief) under Dr. Hua Gu and also has been trained in the Chao Chen version of the Balance Method. Gregory has a private practice in Berkeley California and is on staff at Advanced Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in Oakland California.

Additional Interests and Activities:

Gregory is an instructor in the southern Chinese martial art Wing Chun. He has received training in Taoist Yoga, Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, Kouk Sun Do, Zen meditation and Advaita (John Wheeler). He was the Secretary for the Tenshin Cultural Arts Center in Burbank California and served as a staff instructor in the Japanese martial art Aikido. Gregory is a founding board member of the Golden Wind Zen Group, serving as the Executive Director for the Long Beach Zen center. He was a resident trainee at the Zen center of Los Angeles for four years, training under Taizan Maezumi Roshi. Gregory is abbot of Mountain Gate Zen Center and currently studies Zen with Paul Lynch, JDPSN.