JOSE M. TORRES, L.Ac. - Of Mexican descent, Jose is a first generation native of Los Angeles. His interest in Asian philosophy began at the age of 10 when his father Daniel enrolled him at Eagle Rock Tang Soo Do under the tutelage of MASTER TERRY McMEEKIN and ANTHONY DiSTEFANO 3rd dan. While in High School, he began the study of Tai Chi Chuan (Tai Ji Quan) under SIFU MICHAEL SHAMAN at CHI Studio & Gallery in Atwater Village of Los Angeles, with whom he continued to study while in college.  As a student at UCLA he also studied Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Since then he has mainly focused on the study and practice of Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan), as well as other “motion arts” in the U.S. and in China.

Jose holds a B.A. degree in Chinese Language and Literature from UCLA, as well as a M.Sc. degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Dong-Guk Royal University in Los Angeles. He has been an acupuncture apprentice at hospitals both in, Bao-Tou, China and in Bangkok, Thailand with Dr. Varayut Stitstian, president of the Acupuncture Medical Association of Thailand. Besides his lifelong endeavor as a natural healer, Jose is very passionate about public health, community development, and the proliferation of the arts within society. Jose (known as "Doc Torres" is a frequent contributor of articles on health and alternative healing and medicine to "BODIES IN SPACE" e-zine.

Currently Jose is a Licensed Acupuncturist in private practice in Columbus, GA. He also teaches Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan) and Qigong (Chi Kung) to help bring greater health to the residents of this area of the country.