Donald Rubbo

Donald Rubbo (born 3 February 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. He is married to Cheryl Lynne Pickens Rubbo.
Early years
Donald was born in New York City, New York, the third of six children born to Don Rubbo Sr, and Maria Rubbo.
Donald’s father, Don Rubbo Sr., was a gifted artist and an influential teacher. Don Rubbo Sr. has been described as “the Father of Pop Art,” and was a mentor to Peter Max and Tom Daly, among many. Peter Max told Donald in 2003, “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.
Martial and Healing Arts Career
In 1980 Donald founded Rubbo Art of Energy, in Marin County, California.
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. In 1997 Donald also designed a Qigong program for Kaiser Hospital in Terra Linda, California.
Donald and Cheryl Lynne Rubbo are co-creators, along with founder Bill Douglas, of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day, and have sponsored World Tai Chi and Qigong Day events since 1998.
In 2002, Donald was featured in The Empty Vessel Magazine, A Journal of Contemporary Taoism, interviewed by Robert Bergman on Primordial Qigong, in the article Primordial Qigong, A Gem from the Treasure Chest of Taoist Mystical Qigong.
Donald Rubbo published Extraordinary Breath - Making the Power of Deep Breathing Work for You, in 2008, and Primordial Qigong, A Gem from the Treasure Chest of Taoist Mystical Qigong in 2009.
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 improve health and elevate consciousness worldwide by raising awareness of the profound health benefits of ancient healing systems. The Foundation was founded in memory of Cheryl Lynne’s brother Paul D. Pickens II, who died 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 Extraordinary Breath, 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. The Extraordinary Breath 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.
* Primordial Qigong - A Gem from the Treasure Chest of Taoist Mystical Qiqong (2009), ISBN 13-9780615369747 ISBN 10 - 061536974X.
Videos
Long Life Exercises for Health (2002)

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