Category: teachers

A young “Jedi” in the making Shifu Peter Tam Hoy, or just Peter, as he had asked to be addressed at the time I had met him.

A pioneer in Chinese Martial Arts,

A traditional based Shifu, adapting his art in the traditional way of past masters to the realities of todays fighting contest.

In Korea martial arts masters are called (sabeomnim) 사범님 Shifu Roger Hagood, one of Mr. Park’s more publicly known students arrived in Korea in 1976 part of the 101st Airborne (“Screaming Eagles”) stationed in Camp Hovey, Close to Camp Casey, home of the 2nd Infantry Division, his practice with Master Park would begin soon after […]

My first introduction into the world of taiji. Sam, as he liked to be called was in many ways ahead of his time. Having come from a hard style back ground his hands were gnarled not with age but with the training he did as a much younger man toughing them on coconut trees growing on […]

A young teenager would walk into a small gym close to the famous Golden Gate park in San Francisco.  Shifu Staples, greeting me in his warm yet quiet way, not understanding what I would find entering a world I would never leave. Mike offered a small history of the White Crane style and then led […]

Martial artist, adventure , photographer An interesting teacher, specializing in Chinese swordsmanship ​ “Originally from Holland, Maarten (Maahrtun) Sebastiaan Franks Spijker arrived in China in 2005 at 18 years of age to study Gongfu. After struggling to find authentic traditional arts for many years (but studying Sanda and exploring the country in the meantime), he […]

張永良師傅
1920–2020

Master Zhang Youngliang, was born in 1920. He started his martial arts training at age of 5, until 14.

Shifu Michelle Gong, Followed her dream as a young girl growing up in a small rural village in China. She learned taiji as young  teenager,  traveling to the “temple of heaven” in Beijing to study under the taiji masters, and would later go on to win an international competition in 2009. Her dream would lead […]

“Wang Yongquan, Chonglu’s son, was interested in martial arts since childhood and when seven started to study Buku (“wrestling” in Manchu language) and became very sturdy and his movements were strong and vigorous. At the age of eight he often accompanied father to Yang’s house. Mr.Jianhou liked Yongquan as he was a very bright kid […]

“After many years of practice you will know” Professor Ken Wen Chi, “亓冠文” Said in answer to a question born out of frustration. The lotus is the most beautiful flower, whose petals open one by one. But it will only grow in the mud. In order to grow and gain wisdom, first you must have […]