Sports Medicine Acupuncture (SMA) incorporates principles and techniques from Traditional Chinese Me
02/27/2026
With the new 2026-2027 SMAC Program starting in just a couple of weeks, we embrace the energy of this new year and encourage students who have been waiting to explore the SMAC Program to start now!
Get a 15% discount on SMAC PROGRAM Assessment & Treatment of Injury Module I: The Spine ~ ends AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT (PST)!
Don't forget ~ this sale ends at midnight tonight PST!
02/24/2026
The NEW 2026-2027 SMAC PROGRAM
“I am thrilled to announce that the 2026-2027 SMAC Program is entering an exciting new era. With Brian Lau, AP, C.SMA and Ian Armstrong L.Ac., C.SMA taking over as the instructors, the SMAC Program will be infused with new energy and an expanded vision. It's a pleasure to pass the torch to these experienced practitioners who bring their passion and profound clinical mastery into the classroom.
Building on the successful and clinically proven assessment and treatment techniques of Sports Medicine Acupuncture, Ian and Brian's extensive clinical and teaching experience will enrich and transcend what I started over a decade ago. This transition is not simply a continuation — it is an evolution.
With immense pride and confidence, I pass the chime to Ian and Brian, to bring this medicine to a new and elevated tier.””— Matt Callison
"Invaluable experience, it changed my practice. I am more confident because now I understand where my patient’s pain is! THANK YOU!"
Each participant will be involved in a 3-day cadaver dissection where they’ll have the opportunity to dissect, palpate and needle important structures under the guidance of the Brian Lau, AP, C.SMA and Joseph Bickle, L.Ac., C.SMA.
"Nothing can replace doing dissection firsthand, with your own hands and eyes. This class is imperative for the acupuncturist as you will return to your practice with a new vision of your patients that helps with improved treatment outcomes!"
THIS CLASS WILL SELL OUT FAST...so register NOW to join us for a unique opportunity like none other!
“I am thrilled to announce that the 2026-2027 SMAC Program is entering an exciting new era. With Brian Lau AP, C.SMA and Ian Armstrong L.Ac., C.SMA taking over as the instructors, the SMAC Program will be infused with this new energy and their expanded vision. It's a pleasure to pass the torch to these experienced practitioners who bring their passion and profound clinical mastery into the classroom.
Building from the successful and clinically proven assessment and treatment techniques of Sports Medicine Acupuncture, Ian and Brian's extensive clinical and teaching experience will enrich and transcend what I started over a decade ago. This transition is not simply a continuation — it is an evolution.
With immense pride and confidence, I pass the chime to Ian and Brian, to bring this medicine to a new and elevated tier.” — Matt Callison
In this upcoming FREE webinar, Brian Lau, Ian Armstrong and I share our experiences of ashi point needling and getting targeted results. However, if ashi point needling alone doesn't get the results the practitioner and patient are expecting and wanting, what can the practitioner do?
Here's what the audience will learn:
❶ Being thorough with assessment guides the practitioner in getting better treatment results.
❷ A few key acupuncture and ashi points that take pain away from particular areas of the body will be discussed.
❸ Knowing the underlying anatomical tissues being palpated and needled greatly benefits treatment results in many musculoskeletal pain patterns.
If you are ready to truly deepen and develop your knowledge and understanding of how to treat musculoskeletal injuries, our new 2026-2027 SMAC Program starts in just a few weeks.
Each participant will be involved in a 3-day cadaver dissection where they’ll have the opportunity to dissect, palpate and needle important structures under the guidance of the Brian Lau, AP, C.SMA and Joseph Bickle, L.Ac., C.SMA.
Nothing can replace doing dissection first hand, with your own hands and eyes. This class is imperative for the acupuncturist as you will return to your practice with a new vision of your patients that helps with improved treatment outcomes!
THIS CLASS WILL SELL OUT FAST...so register NOW to join us for a unique opportunity like none other!
Today marks the start of the Fire-Horse Year, also known as the Red Horse, which is said to bring momentum, bold action and reinvention!
Coincidentally, February 17, 2026 also marks a New Moon Solar Eclipse in Aquarius, which even further intensifies these themes of fresh starts and transformation.
My new T-Shirt will say: “2026 ~ Hang on we are going for a bumpy horse ride this year!”
With the new 2026-2027 SMAC Program starting in just a couple of weeks, we embrace this energy and encourage students who have been waiting to explore the SMAC Program to start now!
Get a 15% discount on SMAC PROGRAM Assessment & Treatment of Injury Module I: The Spine ~ ends February 28, 2026 at 12:00 am PST.
Don't forget ~ this sale ends February 28, 2026 at 12:00 am PST!
02/10/2026
📣 Our February SMA newsletter is here!
Attention Acupuncture Community...our latest newsletter has just been sent out and it’s full of important info and valuable tools for all of you who are passionate about sports medicine and acupuncture.
CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS: If you don’t see it in your inbox, check your Spam or Promotions folders (and drag it over to your Inbox)!
NOT A SUBSCRIBER YET? Don’t miss out on future updates and exclusive content! Sign up now to stay in the loop and get all the latest news delivered straight to you every month: https://www.sportsmedicineacupuncture.com/connect-with-us/
Each participant will be involved in a 3-day cadaver dissection where they’ll have the opportunity to dissect, palpate and needle important structures under the guidance of the Brian Lau AP, C.SMA and Joseph Bickle L.Ac., C.SMA.
Nothing can replace doing dissection first hand, with your own hands and eyes. This class is imperative for the acupuncturist as you will return to your practice with a new vision of your patients that helps with improved treatment outcomes!
THIS CLASS WILL SELL OUT FAST...so register NOW to join us for a unique opportunity like none other!
DON’T MISS OUT!!! This is my LAST SMAC Program class (we added a NEW section as the other two sold out)!
One final section of MODULE IV: The Neck, Shoulder & Upper Extremity Assessment & Treatment of Injury has been added February 19-22, 2026 in San Diego, CA!
“I have been to a lot of orthopedic seminars and this is by far the most informative and has many applicable techniques and acupuncture protocols that I have ever seen.” I can now trouble shoot my patients' pain patterns. Fantastic course in differential diagnosis!” ~ Erik Issacman L.Ac
MIV: Neck, Shoulder & Upper Extremity
🗓️ February 19-22, 2026
📍 Marina Village Conference Center (San Diego, CA)
Lhasa OMS sent out a very kind tribute honoring my work in the field of traditional Chinese medicine and Orthopedic and Sports Medicine. They are also offering a 10% discount on the SMA Textbook and all SMAC online courses until January 31!
This is the last SMAC Program class that I'll be teaching. I am handing it over to two extremely qualified practitioners and prior SMAC Program teachers — Ian Armstrong L.Ac, C.SMA and Brian Lau AP, C.SMA.
“The best course I have ever taken, hands-down. I have learned exceptional techniques that I can apply to my immediately to my patients!”
Jim K. L.Ac.
01/20/2026
Registration is now open for the NEW 2026-2027 Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification (SMAC) Program starting March 2026 in San Diego, CA & Bradenton, FL!
Seasoned instructors of the SMAC Program — Brian Lau AP, C.SMA and Ian Armstrong L.Ac., C.SMA — will now be teaching the in-person courses. They will continue to provide students with skills, techniques and protocols that are immediately applicable and get real clinic results, even with challenging cases!
This is one of the most comprehensive acupuncture programs available. Practitioners will learn to refine their skills in palpation, postural assessment, orthopedic and neurological exams including manual muscle testing. They’ll then learn how to combine these findings with the TCM diagnostics to create innovative and comprehensive treatments including special needling and myofascial techniques, in addition to learning exercise prescriptions to help support and maintain gains between treatments.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sports Medicine Acupuncture/AcuSport Education posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Contact The Practice
Send a message to Sports Medicine Acupuncture/AcuSport Education:
AcuSport Education is a subsidiary company of AcuSport Seminar Series, Inc. We are a sports medicine acupuncture education company devoted to raising educational standards of licensed acupuncturists in the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Sports Medicine. We are committed to training licensed acupuncturists around the globe to accurately assess and treat sport, orthopedic and work-related injuries. Our goal is for graduates of the Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification Program to successfully manage the patient and their injury from the initial assessment, through treatment and rehabilitation and onto injury prevention.
Sports Medicine Acupuncture (SMA) incorporates principles and techniques from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Sports Medicine to assess and treat the patient’s injury from a true integrated perspective.
SMA uses functional anatomy, range of motion testing, orthopedic examinations, manual muscle testing and palpation to identify the injured tissues. Postural and concomitant muscle imbalances are assessed through static and functional movements which guide the practitioner to understand how and why the injury occurred. This assessment is integrated into the TCM channel systems (jing luo, jing jin) to diagnose and treat the excess (shi) and deficient (xu) conditions involving the channels and the injured tissue. SMA emphasizes the importance of determining an accurate organ (zang fu) differential diagnosis to ensure an individualized treatment plan for the patient and their injury.
Sports Medicine Acupuncture is strongly rooted in TCM and respects its simplicity and complexity. Integrating Western Sports Medicine with the genius of Traditional Chinese Medicine is a continuous and life-long endeavor.
Sports Medicine Acupuncture is a registered trademark on the United States principal register. Use of the Sports Medicine Acupuncture license is granted by AcuSport Education after all program requirements have been completed and is exclusive to SMA Licensed Practitioners who have graduated from the Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification program.
