Robert Hoffman, DAOM, LAc

Robert is the dean of doctoral programs at Yo San University where he also received his master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. He received his doctorate (DAOM) from Five Branches University in San Jose, and is currently a Phd candidate at Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University in Hangzhou, China. Rob travels to China several times a year for additional study and clinical rotations at the Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University Hospital. His current research is in the use of mushrooms as adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment, and the role of mushrooms in T cell regulation. Rob was previously a senior herbalist at Dragon Herbs, under the guidance of Ron Teeguarden. In addition to his formal education, Rob has also been studying with classical Chinese medicine scholars Jeffrey Yuen, Elisabeth Rochat de le Vallee, and Sabine Wilms.

Rob has traveled throughout the world to better his understanding of Chinese medicine, spirituality, and martial arts. He has spent time with many teachers, monks and hermits in the mountains of China, often sleeping in caves, fasting, and meditating. In 2009, just before entering Chinese medicine school, Rob completed the Shikoku 88 Temple Buddhist pilgrimage, a solo 1000-mile walk around the island of Shikoku in southern Japan.

Rob's interest in Asian culture and medicine began at an early age, starting martial arts at the age of 15 with his first teacher, isshin-ryu karate champion Sensei Pattie Booth. After moving to Los Angeles to work in the music industry, he began studying jeet kune do at South Bay JKD, and then hung gar kung fu with Sifu Buck Sam Kong. His desire to study Chinese internal arts led him to Master Zi, and Yang style taiji (tai chi). With Master Zi, Rob has had the opportunity to study with many great teachers such as Zhang Hong Mei, Master Su Zifang, and Master Julius Baker. Rob has studied the Yang 108 long form with Sifu James Wing Woo, Yangjia michuan with Oso Tayari Casel, and qigong with Michael Winn, Ken Cohen, and several teachers in the Ni Family lineage. He continues his studies of xingyi and bagua with Shifu Jonathan Wang, and regularly travels to Nanjing, China to study Chen style taiji with Shifu's Gao Xiu Bao and Gao Xiu Ming. Rob is also a certified Kundalini yoga teacher, and has studied and taken teacher trainings in Tibetan Heart Yoga, and Yoga Naga.

Prior his career in Chinese medicine, Rob spent over 20 years in the music industry as a producer, songwriter and recording engineer working with artists such as Christina Aguilera, Michael Jackson, and Quincy Jones. He still produces and mixes for artists around the world.