Every practitioner develops a feel for the body that goes beyond what any single test can tell you. For Brian Lau, that feel comes from decades of manual work woven directly into his acupuncture practice.
In this conversation, we sit down with Brian Lau and his student Grant Rettison to explore myofascial release in sports medicine acupuncture practice.
We discuss how Brian’s background in qigong, tai chi, and structural integration shaped his approach, why he keeps the language of the channel sinews central to his manual therapy, and how palpation itself becomes a form of diagnosis. Brian demonstrates live on the knee and forearm, showing how tissue that pulls, resists, or lacks pliability can guide both point selection and pattern differentiation.
We also explore the fascia as a fabric, the “canoeing” analogy for finding the right direction of treatment, and why unwinding restricted tissue helps restore the gliding surfaces that support movement and healing.
Know and visualize the underlying anatomy and target tissue when palpating and treating, try to sense the relative position and quality of this tissue. How this links with the entire body through the channel system, and how the tool used interacts with the target tissue.
I am certified in both Sports Medicine Acupuncture and Structural Integration, and since 2013 have been on faculty with the Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification (SMAC) program, where I teach anatomy, palpation, assessment and treatment of the channel sinews (jingjin), acupuncture and myofascial release techniques. I lead 1-to-5 day dissections for acupuncturists in many venues, and also for Physician Assistant students at the University of Tampa. I also teach anatomy and physiology, channel anatomy, and qigong at Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine in Bradenton, FL, where I lead 2- and 3-day dissections for the student body.
My main focus is on integrating Western anatomical information with the Chinese medical channel system, and I have developed an anatomical model of the channel system which I apply to acupuncture, manual therapy and movement.
I am also a longtime tai chi and qigong instructor. I own and operate Ideal Balance Center for Acupuncture and Sports Medicine in Tampa, Florida, and teach channel-based functional movement via my social media, “Jingjin Movement Training.
Learn more about Brian Lau and Sports Medicine Acupuncture. Connect with him on YouTube and Instagram for more educational content and updates.
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