Dr. John Painter began training in the Chinese arts of Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, acupressure, Chinese massotherapy, herbs, traditional weapons, and Neigong in 1957 with Li, Long-dao from the Emei mountain region of Sichuan Province in China.

He has been teaching Chinese internal martial arts and QiGong for over 30 years. He instructs Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, QiGong and Daoist courses at the Gompa Center in Arlington, Texas. He has been a bodyguard for numerous film and television stars and has appeared in three full-length motion pictures as an actor. Dr. Painter has also been interviewed on national television and magazines like Vogue and National Star, promoting the internal arts. His specialty is Baguazhang, a Chinese internal system. Dr. Painter was elected to the Inside Kung Fu Hall of Fame and was called "one of the most sought after Chinese martial arts seminar instructors in America" by Black Belt magazine.

As a captain in the American Rangers Martial Law Enforcement Institute, Dr. Painter instructs law enforcement officers throughout the United States in defensive tactics called PKC (TM) based on Baguazhang and Xingyiquan. 

After the September 11 tragedy, Dr. Painter became heavily involved with developing special methods for the nation’s security law enforcement agencies and has been recommended to the FAA by the US Marshals service as a trainer for the US Air Marshals programs. Dr. Painter is also a member of the board of advisors for the American Society of Internal Arts.

Dr. Painter holds a Ph.D. in naturopathic medicine from Sussex College in England.