About:

My Physio & Tai Chi story

Meet your Physio and Tai Chi Teacher, Anthony Patruno

“It is in every fibre of my being to teach and to share. It just feels right. It is in my heart and soul. I have taught and mentored thousands of physiotherapists, patients and martial arts students. I am patient, kind and easy to connect with. Teaching is a thing that I know I do well.”

My journey into physiotherapy began in the early 1980s, though not in the way you might expect. I was originally studying engineering when a growing passion for Kung Fu sparked a much deeper interest in the human body — how it moves, heals and adapts. What began as a hobby soon became a lifelong pursuit of understanding movement, health and wellbeing.

That passion, together with a desire to live out my faith through serving and helping others, led me to change direction and study physiotherapy.

After graduating from Cumberland College of Health Sciences in 1989, I began my career at The Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, where I found my niche in adult musculoskeletal physiotherapy and aged care.

Over the past 30+ years, I’ve had the privilege of working not only as a clinician, but also as an educator — mentoring more than 1,000 physiotherapy students from major NSW universities and helping shape the next generation of physiotherapists. I also spent 15 years as a registration examiner for overseas-trained physiotherapists through ACOP/APC.

Today, I continue to combine my background in physiotherapy and martial arts to support people in improving their movement, strength, balance and overall wellbeing.

I am registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and am a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

Farewelling the POWH Physiotherapy team after 34 great years of clinical work and musculoskeletal physiotherapy educating..

For 35 years I grew up in the wonderful physio family at Prince of Wales Hospital. From new graduate through to being a senior. It was the best place to learn my craft.

Training with my teacher and mentor Mr Larry Friedberg

My teacher and mentor Mr Larry Friedberg from Tai Chi Sydney. Training with me in my early days and now sharing with his knowledge with my Refined Moves students.

The East-West Journey

All through my adult life my passion and interest in martial arts has remained strong. I have studied and taught Kung Fu, Japanese JuJutsu, Kenjutsu, Aikido, Tai Chi and Qigong. And have achieved more than one black belt during 40 years of training (everyone wants to know if you have a black belt!). My physiotherapy empowers my martial arts understanding and teaching. Each martial art form informs and empowers every other martial art form I practice and teach. And all my martial arts skills and insights have refined my hands-on physiotherapy technique and exercise prescription insight.

Wealth is using your life well.

True wealth is not the accumulation of money or “success”. It’s knowing that you have used your life and your time well, and developed yourself as best you can. It’s living to do good for your family, others, your community and your world. It’s consistently living in a loving, compassionate and deliberate way with integrity and purpose.

In addition to running Refined Moves and spending time with my family, I give back to my community by volunteering at:

- Bowral Vinnies

- Vinnies Creative Space (as a Tai Chi/Qigong teacher)

- Corpus Christi Church Bowral (as a musician)

-Vinnies Sleepout Participant to support the Homeless

Refined Moves engaged in community service

Curious about the methods I use?