Master Maken Isakov

The beginning of the path

Maken Isakov was born on 20 June 1946. Before systematically taking up Chinese practices he went through serious athletic training. An archival sports record book of the "Dynamo" society confirms the rank of candidate master of sport in boxing; in 1982 it records prize-winning bouts and wins over other candidate masters of sport. In sambo, Maken Isakov held the first sporting rank, competed in 1983–1985 and became a regional champion in "Dynamo" society competitions.

In 1980 the Committee for Physical Culture and Sport under the USSR Council of Ministers issued him karate coach-instructor certificate No. 0561. In 1981 he completed another All-Union coaches' seminar in Minsk. By the early 1980s Maken Isakov already held an official coaching qualification in martial arts.

In parallel he developed as an artist: he worked as a set decorator in a drama theatre, then as a production designer for the regional TV studio and the regional committee for television and radio. In 1987 he completed a 288-hour professional development course in Moscow for TV production designers.

1976: the school begins

On 9 March 1976 Maken Isakov began teaching Eastern martial arts in Osh. This year later became the school's official starting point: a letter from the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the PRC to the Kyrgyz Republic dated 14 August 2006 explicitly refers to a school event as the celebration of "White Crane's" 30th anniversary.

In this early period Maken Isakov studied martial and internal practices with an émigré Chinese teacher, was introduced to qigong, and gradually formed his own methodical system. In 1984 the work took organisational shape as the "Ak Karkyra / White Crane" sport and health centre in Osh. Maken Isakov was its founder, director and chief instructor; a later official certificate lists him as general director of the Republican Sport and Health Centre "Ak Karkyra".

Physical-education degree and the Chinese school

In 1989 Maken Isakov graduated from the Uzbek State Institute of Physical Culture, majoring in "Physical Education", and received the qualification of a physical-education teacher. In the late 1980s he joined a circle of specialists studying under visiting Chinese masters Li Zongde and Ma Shiping. A separate line of work developed with master Liu Guanglai: Maken Isakov and his student Andrei Baev trained under him in Moscow for around three months.

In 1990–1991 Maken Isakov's qualification in wushu and taijiquan was formalised by documents from the USSR State Sports Committee, the Central Research Institute "Sport", and the Scientific-Practical Centre for Non-Traditional Health Methods. The certificates record a specialisation in Chinese health-oriented wushu gymnastics, and training and examinations in taijiquan — the 24, 40 and 48-form sets. Certificate No. 0113 awarded him the qualification "instructor-methodologist". The Kyrgyz Republican Federation of Wushu and Health Gymnastics separately granted him the right to teach wushu, taijiquan and qigong.

In the early 1990s Maken Isakov worked as head coach of All-Union certification seminars in taijiquan in Tashkent. During the same period he spent several years teaching officers of the state security services, later passing this work on to his student Mikhail Baev.

The Chelyabinsk period

In 1997 Maken Isakov moved to Chelyabinsk, and in 1998 founded the "White Crane" sport and health club there. The club developed taijiquan, qigong, internal work, tuishou, the combat application of forms, weapons work, instructor training and health programmes. From 1998 the "Zhuravlyonok" (Little Crane) project ran in Chelyabinsk for children and parents, combining breathing practice, relaxation, elements of wushu, taijiquan, qigong and acupressure massage.

In 2001–2002 Maken Isakov completed professional retraining at the Ural State Academy of Physical Culture in the programmes "Physical Culture and Sport", "Adaptive Physical Culture" and "Physical Culture of the East" — 510 hours in total, including qigong, feng shui, taijiquan, sports medicine, reflexology and physical rehabilitation. His certification thesis was titled "Teaching methodology of taiji-qigong 'Hun Yuan Gong'".

Training under Feng Zhiqiang

A new stage in Maken Isakov's training is linked to the Feng Zhiqiang Academy in Beijing. In October 2004 he completed a course in Chen Style Xinyi Hunyuan Taijiquan and passed the examination for the 24 and 38-form sets. On 29 October 2006 he passed the examination for the 48-form taijiquan set and taiji-tuishou. On 15 November 2007 — for the 38-form taiji-dao set and taiji-tuishou. The certificates are signed by Feng Zhiqiang.

In 2019 in Moscow, Maken Isakov performed at the Traditional Wushu League tournament-festival with a masterful demonstration of the 48-form jian (sword) set. In the international professional community he has also been recognised as a member of the Supreme Council of the World Traditional Wushu Association and as an honorary member of the Presidium of the Traditional Wushu Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The school and its students

Maken Isakov's school has shaped a wide circle of students — from taijiquan and qigong instructors to karate, kickboxing, sanda and hand-to-hand combat coaches, federation heads and independent school founders. Notable students include Usenkan Isakov, Mikhail and Andrei Baev, Nikolai Korneev, Zhaparali Maatov, Baiysh Orozov, Nurdoolot Ryspekov, Mirlan Tentimishev, Tagai Omurzhanov, Bakyt Kasymaliev, Emil Toktobaev, Nadyrbek Abdumalikov and others. The Chelyabinsk line was carried on by Sergei Rogovoy, Valdas Narovski, Azamat Chinasov and other students.

In 2026 Maken Isakov's 80th birthday and the school's 50th anniversary were celebrated in Bishkek. Over half a century, "Ak Karkyra / White Crane" grew from the first groups in Osh into a branching tradition that unites martial arts, taijiquan, qigong, movement work, paired practice, weapons and the training of teachers.