American martial artist shares Taoist philosophy at Summer Davos

A sharing session on Taoist Philosophy at the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions — the World Economic Forum's Summer Davos Forum, held this year in Dalian, Liaoning province — drew interest on Tuesday, with an American martial artist using ancient wisdom to push back against the modern obsession with speed and progress.

Jake Pinnick makes a speech on Tuesday at a sharing session on Taoist Philosophy during the ongoing 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum's Summer Davos in Dalian, Liaoning province. [Photo by Wu Yong/chinadaily.com.cn]
Jake Pinnick, the 16th-generation inheritor of the Wudang Sanfeng School, guided the audience through tai chi movements and introduced Taoist health practices and philosophical concepts during the session. Born in 1990 in the state of Illinois, Pinnick grew up fascinated by Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan before traveling alone to Wudang Mountain in 2010 to study under Yuan Shimao, the 15th-generation inheritor of the school. He was accepted into the lineage in 2012 and received China's Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card in 2025.

Jake Pinnick demonstrates tai chi movements at the Summer Davos on Tuesday in Dalian, Liaoning province. [Photo by Wu Yong/chinadaily.com.cn]
With AI and technological innovation dominating the forum's agenda, Pinnick offered a different register. "Even in an era of rapid technological development, attention must still be paid to the spiritual world and physical health, and the inheritance and promotion of traditional cultures such as martial arts should be valued," he said. "They can help people understand themselves, provide more inspiration, and offer different perspectives."

Jake Pinnick practices tai chi at Wudang Mountain in Shiyan, Hubei province. [Photo by Cao Lingling/For chinadaily.com.cn]
He traced the connection between philosophy and technology, arguing that innovation originates in people's reflections on the world before evolving into broader scientific systems — and that the two need not be in tension.

"As life becomes faster-paced and pressure increases, practicing tai chi can relax our mind and body, reduce stress, and make us more composed and confident," he said.

Source: ChinaDaily