Jesse Harding

Director & Master Instructor
Villari’s Martial Arts of Middletown
7th Degree Black Belt | Master of Medical Qigong (M.M.Q.)

Jesse Harding is a 7th Degree Black Belt, Master of Medical Qigong, and Director of Villari’s Martial Arts of Middletown, where he has served as Director since 2003 and as Chief Instructor from 2003–2023. He has devoted his life to the study, practice, and teaching of the martial, meditative, and healing arts, integrating Shaolin Kempo Karate, Tai Chi, Qigong, and AMOK! edged-weapon combatives with meditation, Taoist philosophy, modern psychology, and holistic wellness.

Jesse began his martial arts journey in 1984, at Villari’s Martial Arts in Quincy MA with Master Don Spinks, inspired by the original Karate Kid film. Jesse began training with Master Andy Levine at Villari’s Middletown in 1992. His formal study of Tai Chi and Qigong began in 1994, marking the start of a lifelong immersion in the internal arts. He earned his first Tai Chi–Qigong Instructor certification in 1996 and has been teaching weekly Tai Chi and Qigong classes continuously since 1997. Over the past 25+ years, Jesse has taught an average of five Tai Chi–Qigong classes per week, totaling over 8,000 classes, and has devoted thousands of hours to personal training, practice, and study in the meditative arts of Tai Chi, Qigong, and Taoist Yoga. His teaching emphasizes these arts as accessible, practical, and transformative practices that cultivate vitality, emotional balance, resilience, and clarity—integrating mind, body, and spirit into a unified whole.

Jesse Harding is a licensed AMOK! Instructor (since 2008) who has trained consistently and directly with Tom Sotis since 1999. He has been teaching AMOK! through weekly classes and specialized workshops at Villari’s Martial Arts and other locations since 2001, dedicating countless hours to both personal training and instruction in this highly respected edged weapon solutions system. Jesse currently leads the AMOK! Sunday class, held two Sundays per month at FAF Gym, located in Holbrook MA from 9:00-11:00am (https://www.fafgym.net/). . Over the years, his commitment, leadership, and contribution to the AMOK! community have been recognized through multiple honors, including the AMOK! “Tribal Leader of the Year” Award. If interested in the AMOK! twice a month Sunday class in Holbrook, AMOK! Monthly Wed night Workshops held in Middletown RI, or private training in AMOK! reach out to Jesse.

Martial Arts & Combatives Training

7th Degree Black Belt – Master Instructor
Instructor of AMOK! Combatives (training regularly since 1999)
“Managing Criminal Assaults” Presenter & Instructor
International training experience in Southeast Asia, including:
- Philippines (2001, 2008)
- Thailand (2003, 2005)
Training with respected Grandmasters and Instructors, some including:
- Great Grandmaster Fred Villari (late 1980s to 2022: Countless Clinics, Events, Black Belt Tests, Intensive trainings)
- Senior Judan John Fritz (1994-2021, Monthly group, Weekend Intensives and monthly private sessions)
- Senior Judan Mark Grupposo (2001- present: monthly training, workshops, intensive trainings)
- Senior Judan Bob Bombalier (2007-present: weekly lessons, workshops, intensive trainings)
- Tom Sotis, AMOK! Founder (1999- present: countless camps, classes, workshops, private lessons over 27 years)
- Master Andy Levine (Founder of Villari’s of Middletown RI) 5th Dan Master Instructor (1992- present: countless classes, private sessions, workshops)
- Master Jay Van Schelt, 6th Dan Master and Tai Chi Master Instructor & Push Hands Champion (1998-2007, workshops, classes, intensives, private sessions)
- Tuhon- Grandmaster Nene Tortal (2008-2013, 2 week intensive in the Philippines and various workshops)
- Guru Edward Lebe (2008-2013, 2 week intensive in the Philippines, and various workshops)
- BaPak Willem De Thouars (2003-2013, various events, workshops with MARI)
- Guru Mike and May Williams with John Savage of MARI, Salem, MA (many Workshops, AMOK! events, intensives and 2 week intensive in Philippines, 2008)
- Dr Paul Lam, Tai Chi Master (2001- Certification weekend intensive: Tai Chi For Arthritis Instructor Certification)
- Tuhon- Grandmaster Leo Gaje Jr. (2001, 2 Week Intensive in the Philippines)
- Billy Blanks (Master Instructor, Black Belts in TKD & Karate, American actor, National point Karate champion in the 1980’s, creator of TaeBo) (1987- trained as his student as a child, in Quincy MA)
- and Many More Martial Influences

Internal Arts, Meditation & Medical Qigong

Advanced Certified T’ai Chi & Qi Gong Instructor
Certified Medical Qigong Practitioner (Nov. 2015)
Certified Medical Qigong Therapist (Dec. 2018)
Certified Medical Qigong Master (M.M.Q.) (Aug. 2021)
Currently working toward his Doctorate of Medical Qigong

Jesse has received multiple certifications in Tai Chi, Taoist Yoga (Dao Yin), and Qigong, and has taught Tai Chi and Qigong courses and workshops at a wide range of educational, wellness, and community institutions, including:

Villari’s Martial Arts
Salve Regina University
Portsmouth Senior Center
Edward King House (Newport)
Numerous additional community and educational venues throughout New England

He currently teaches ongoing Qigong courses at
Aquidneck Island Chiropractic
📍 1272 W. Main Road, The Green, Building 2, Middletown, RI 02842
🗓 Wednesdays, 5:00–6:15 PM

These classes focus on cultivating health, vitality, emotional regulation, stress reduction, and long-term well-being through traditional Medical Qigong practices adapted for modern life.

Education & Academic Appointments

B.A. Degrees in Philosophy, Psychology, and Religious Studies
M.A. in Holistic Counseling
C.A.G.S. in Expressive Art Therapy
Certified Life-Skills Coach

University Teaching

Adjunct Professor, Salve Regina University (2015–2022)
Courses taught include:
- Engaging the Taoist Experience
- The Art and Science of Meditation
- Quest for the Ultimate: World Religions
Professor of Philosophy (Online), AGM University (2022–2023)

Private Instruction & Ongoing Classes

Master Jesse teaches workshops, private sessions, and ongoing classes including certification courses in:

Martial Arts (Shaolin Kempo Karate)
Tai Chi
Medical Qigong
Meditation
Life-Skills Coaching

Private sessions are available in person at Villari’s Martial Arts and virtually via Zoom (by appointment).

Weekly Virtual Class:
🗓 Monday Mornings | 8:30–9:30 AM
🌐 Live Tai Chi–Qigong via Zoom

Weekly Wednesday Private Sessions (by appointment)

At Villari’s Martial Arts Middletown, RI

Contact & Online Presence

Jesse Harding

📧 Email: taichi.qigongwithjesse@gmail.com
📸 Instagram: @taichi.qigongwithjesse
https://www.instagram.com/taichi.qigongwithjesse/

🌐 Website: https://www.villaris-ri.com
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VillarisMiddletownRI

LIVESTRONG.COM VIDEO SERIES:

Watch Instructional Videos of Jesse Harding covering various topics of T’ai Chi and Qi-Gong (filmed in December 2013) by clicking each link, these videos were originally shot for LiveStrong.com and have been presented on the LiveStrong.com website.

1. “How to Study Martial Arts at Home”

2. “How Long does it take to earn a Yellow Belt in Kempo”

3. “How to Use a Walking Stick for Self-Defense”

4. “How to use Tai Chi for Combat”

5. “Proper Breathing in Tai Chi”

6. “Qi-Gong Movements for Beginners”

7. “How do I Learn the Tai Chi Step Walk”

8. “Tai Chi Exercises in a Chair”

9. “Instructions for the Tai Chi Prayer Wheel”

10. “Tai Chi Exercise with Visual Step by Step Instruction”

INTERVIEWS WITH JESSE HARDING:

You can watch some interviews with Jesse Harding on YouTube when he was on a television program called “Awake in the Dream” in September of 2012: