Master Yuan Xiu Gang began studying wushu at an early age in his hometown in Hubei province; learning one of the family styles from the area. At age 16 he traveled to the Shaolin temple to learn Shaolin wushu, focusing mainly on sparring. During Master Yuan's time at Shaolin he suffered greatly from rheumatism and other physical afflictions that affected his training greatly.

After long debate, Master Yuan eventually left Shaolin and traveled to Wudang to learn internal wushu in order to heal himself and become stronger. Master Yuan began his training at Wudang under Master Zhong Yun Long. Master Yuan trained extensively and eventually became a monk living in Zi Xiao Gong (Purple Heaven Palace), where he lived for three years.

While living as a monk, Master Yuan practiced and learned Daoist wushu, music, chanting, and medicine. After his master retired from teaching, Master Yuan eventually took over most of the teaching duties at the school built just outside of Zi Xiao Gong.

In 2004 Master Yuan opened his own academy, the Wudang Daoist Traditional Kung Fu Academy, in Wudang, where he continues to teach and share his knowledge with the world.

In 2009 Master Yuan opened the first traditional learning program for foreigners. It is a five year program with students from all over the world. It is Master Yuan's hope that after these students have graduated from the program that they will return to their home countries to open schools of their own and share Wudang wushu with the rest of the world.

After the end of the 5 year program Master Yuan will be retiring from teaching to focus on his own practice.  He will also be traveling to the schools opened by those who graduated from the program to help them with teaching and learning to run their schools.