2012 TAI CHI GALA PRESENTER BIOS:
(Listed in alphabetical order by surname)
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SYRACUSE KUNG FU/Yee's Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association http://myspace.com/syracusekf Syracuse, NY Ph: 315-395-3814
http://youtube.com/user/supyeekiusau
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Sifu Sharif Bey At age 5, Sf. Bey began his martial arts training in Tae Kwon Do and Wing Chun Kung Fu. He was introduced to Hung Ga Kung Fu in 1984. He absorbed the Kuntao teachings of GGM Reeders as taught by Ed “Tiny” Sealy, through his representative, Randy Elliot. In 1989 Sifu Bey began following Grandmaster Yee Chee Wai. After years of dedicated study, practice and participation, Sifu Sharif Bey was invited to participate in the Bai See (BaiShi) ceremony and in 2000 became a disciple of Grandmaster Yee. In 2008, in recognition of years of dedication, Sf. Bey was inducted into the Governing Board of Yee’s Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association.
In 2000 he began to teach publicly, and in 2004 founded "Syracuse Kung Fu." As an avid supporter of the community’s youth, Sifu Bey designed and implemented a number of programs, including a Gang Intervention program that not only provides mediation, court advocacy and conflict resolution services to youth, but also Gang Intelligence training for youth professionals. Syracuse Kung Fu, through the efforts of Sifu Bey, is one of the few complete Chinese Martial Arts schools in the Central New York Area, offering barehand and weapons training, history, philosophy/martial ethics, internal development, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Lion Dance.
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Clear's Tai Chi 3932 Morganton Rd.; Maryville, TN 37801 Ph: (865) 379-9997 Email: Sigung@clearstaichi.com Website: www.clearstaichi.com
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Sifu Richard Clear is shigong 3rd generation lineage holder in tai chi from Lee Ying Arng who was a senior student under Yang Chen Fu. Sf. Clear has studied directly with such famous masters as Ma Yeuh Liang, Wen Mei Yu, Dr Fred Wu, Liu Ji Fa, Ju Bong Yi, Pei Xi Rong, Willem de Thouars and Don Ethan Miller among others. Master Clear began teaching in 1985 and has over 30 years of continuous study in tai chi (tai ji), qigong (chi kung) & internal martial arts, along with some other external styles. He has produced his own videos and books to help people learn in-person as well as online. His school in Tennessee hosts workshops and other events. He is also an adept practitioner of iron body skills and related martial arts and qigong practices.
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Boston Baguazhang PO Box 35 North Quincy, MA 02171-0001 Ph: (617) 595-8097 Email: info@BostonBaguazhang.com Website: www.BostonBaguazhang.com |
Shifu Dale Dugas founded Coiling Dragon Internal Arts Association. He holds over 30 years of martial arts experience and black belts in numerous Chinese and Japanese martial arts. With his BA in Japanese Studies, he lived in Iwate Prefecture, Japan while working for two boards of eduation. He also appeared on National Japanese TV. He was introduced to the Chinese internal arts (xingyiquan, taijiquan and baguazhang) and qigong methods under Taoist Master, Kwan Sai Hung. In 2006, Dr. John Painter and Shifu Castaldo certified Dugas as an instructor of the Jiulong Baguazhang system. After having been exposed to different martial systems over the years, Dugas has made a personal vow to follow Dr. Painter to propagate the Daoqiquan and Jiulong Systems. In addition to his 15+ years of uninterrupted training in 3 methods of Iron Palm, Sf. Dugas also continues his research in shuai jiao, qinna, kettlebells training, and has extensive practical knowledge of dit da ke (trauma medicinal skills). Sf. Dugas is finishing his Masters Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at New England School of Acupuncture. He maintains a Chinese herbal pharmacy and sells both dit da jow and other supplies via his company, CDIA Supplies: http://www.coilingdragon.com/store/.
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Wu Mei Kung Fu Association; 219 Sullivan St.; New York, NY 10012 Ph: 917-885-8598 http://www.wumei.com |
Sifu Angel Chan Lo Born in Hong Kong and speaking both the Mandarin and the Cantonese dialects of Chinese, Sf. Lo has great understanding of the traditional Chinese Arts. She is a stellar role model for women, as she gracefully combines the responsibilities of being a self-created woman business owner, teacher of Wu Mei Pai kung fu system, and wife of kung fu Master Ken Lo.
Sifu/Simo practices Wu Mei Pai Kung Fu for health, fitness, and spiritual and physical balance. She is a living example of how the Wu Mei Pai kung fu system can be well utilized by women in a seemingly male-dominated arena.
Although she is highly accomplished, people always remark how they enjoy her down-to-earth and approachable personality.
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Wu Mei Kung Fu Association; 219 Sullivan St.; New York, NY 10012 Ph: 917-885-8598 |
Shifu Ken Lo's mastery of the eastern arts runs very deep and reflects his great love of learning and teaching. From 1963 onward, Sifu Lo has studied or been an inner-door disciple of many arts, including: the Japanese martial arts, Praying Mantis kung fu, Ed Parker's Kempo Kung Fu, yoga, hypnotherapy, Zen Buddhist meditation, Vadha, feng shui, poetics, Face Reading, Palmistry and Hand Writing Analysis, as well as Tibetan Buddhism. He is also known for his masterful work in Chinese calligraphy and the rare "Cha Dao" (the Chinese Art of Tea).
Sifu Lo is an active member of the Chinese martial arts community, having sat on many boards and directed at the executive level of numerous martial arts foundations. He is also a National Advisor to the USA Wu Shu Kung Fu Federation.
Sf. Ken Lo is the founding Director of the Wu Mei Kung Fu Association and is the highest authority of Wu Mei Kung Fu worldwide and is recognized by the Chinese government as an authentic traditional Chinese Martial arts master. He is the founding Director of the China Arts Council, whose mission is to preserve and promote traditional Chinese cultural arts in the West.
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Capital District T'ai Chi and Kung Fu Association Mailing Address: 29 W. Dillenbeck Drive; Albany NY 12203 Studio Address: 1095 Central Ave.; Albany NY 12206 (Behind Little Anthony’s Pizza) Ph: (518) 459-6869 Email: sales@jiangtaichi.com Website: www.JiangTaiChi.com Click here for group trips to China, including Wudang Mtn! |
Master Jianye Jiang began his wushu studies at age 5, under tutelage from masters such as Yu Mingwei, Yu Hai, Ruizhang Zhao and Yongxiang Zhou. He completed his BA and masters degrees from Qufu University and Shanghai Physical Education Institute. He's been a tournament judge in the US and China, and is a board member of the USA National Tai Chi Chuan Federation. Master Jiang has acted in movies produced in China, Japan and Australia, and himself has produced over 300 instructional videos in Chinese martial arts and qigong. In addition to being a wushu expert and teacher of over 30 years, Master Jiang is also a master calligrapher, having won national and international awards. Sales proceeds of his prize-winning calligraphy have raised over $10,000 in donations to the Shandong Disabled Association in order to better the lives of those living with disabilities.
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Capital District T'ai Chi and Kung Fu Association Mailing Address: 29 W. Dillenbeck Drive; Albany NY 12203 Studio Address: 1095 Central Ave.; Albany NY 12206 (Behind Little Anthony’s Pizza) Ph: (518) 459-6869 Email: sales@jiangtaichi.com Website: www.JiangTaiChi.com |
Master Yuzhi Lu is the wife of Master Jiang. She co-owns and operates their wushu and qigong school in Albany, NY. She is also involved in the production of their vast array of instructional videos and other projects, such as their annual group trips to China. Master Lu has studied wushu since age 12. She received her bachelors degree from the Physical Education Dept. of Qufu University in China and has instructed there for over 16 years. She then continued her wushu sutdies in Beijing, Shanghai and Shandong Province. She is certified and experienced to teach many forms of wushu and qigong healing therapies.
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The Gompa PO Box 1777 Arlington, TX 76004-1777 Ph: (817) 860-0129 Email: theGompa@aol.com websitwww.thegompa.com |
Dr. John Painter began his training as a young boy in Chinese and internal martial and healing arts with Master Li, Long-dao of Sichuan province. He studied with the master from 1957 to 1969. From there he went on to study Chinese medicine, massage and acupressure with Dr. Pao, Sun-Lung of Hong Kong and Tibetan yoga and meditation with Lama Trangu Rinpoche. He attended Texas Tech University majoring in psychology and theater arts. Dr. Painter holds a Ph.D. in naturopathic medicine and is listed in Who’s Who in the Chinese Martial Arts. He was elected to the Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame and was twice elected to the Inside Kung Fu Magazine Hall of Fame. Dr. Painter has appeared in feature films and on many martial arts magazine covers. He is the author of hundreds of articles on Chinese medicine, healing principles and the internal martial arts. Dr. Painter has also been heavily involved in medical and scientific research involving the study of qi life force energy, through work with the Life Sciences Qi Research Institute. He has received awards from NASA and other science organizations for his work. A Captain in the American Rangers Law Enforcement Martial Training Institute, Dr. Painter is considered one of the world’s foremost experts in practical, hand-to-hand combat training. His private client list includes members of the Israeli military combat training corp., FBI, DEA, US Army Rangers, US Army Special Forces, and US Marine Military Police officers.
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Patience Tai Chi PO Box 350-352; Brooklyn, NY 11235 Ph: (718) 332-3477 Email: Staff@PatienceTaiChi.com Website: www.PatienceTaiChi.com |
Shifu William C. Phillips is one of the few remaining active links to grandmaster Cheng Man-Ching who was the most famous disciple of Grandmaster Yang Cheng-Fu. Though holding several high ranking black belts in the Japanese Arts, including jiu-jitsu, Sf. Phillips' specialty is taijiquan, which he was first introduced to by Sf. Stan Israel. He also studied under Prof. Cheng's senior students and then spent many years being self-taught. From 1988-1998 Sf. Phillips also studied under Master Zhang Lu-Ping. Sf. Phillips has been a judge at many tournaments and travelled the country teaching seminars, including at Master Jou's Tai Chi Farm. Sf. Phillips also ran a holistic health weekend at the Fallsview in the Catskill Mountains for 12 years, and held Cheng Man-Ching Tai Chi Family gatherings for the 100th and 101th Anniversaries of Professor's birth. Sf. Phillips has made a number of TV appearances on programs such as The O'Reilly Report and Brent Garber's Health Update, and has been featured in many publications including USA Today, Inside Kung Fu and Men's Health. He is completing a book on taiji, and is working on a breathing and advanced form correction video to complement his very successful DVDs teaching Professor Cheng's 37-Posture Yang Short Form and Push Hands. Sf. Phillips is well-known for producing students who excel in push hands and who have won many national and international championships.
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International Dachengdao Inc. 83-02 A , Third Floor, Broadway, Elmhurst Queens, NY 11373 Ph: (646) 279-1428 Email: dachengdao@yahoo.com Website: www.dachengdao.com |
Master Wang Ren-Gang is the 5th generation lineage holder for northern Hao Style Plum Blossom Mantis under Hao Wei Zhi, as well as 3rd generation lineage holder for Dachengquan (yiquan) under Wang Xuan Jie, and 6th generation disciple for Sanxi Style Xingyiquan and Cheng Style Baguazhang under Li Tai Liang. He is considered as the world's leading expert of the Mantis 2-hand Sword. He is the president of International Dachengdao, Inc., a director of training on the Board of Directors for the Civil Aid Society, and is a certifying master of the International Kung Fu Federation. Master Wang has been featured in several international martial arts magazines, travels for exhibitions and tournament judging and teaches seminars worldwide. He trains stunt fighters for movies and is the NY State Director of the World Stunt Association. Master Wang taught both kung fu and art at the 2006 Mensa World Gathering in Walt Disney World. His short film, "The Lesson" won several indie festival awards. Master Wang currently owns a school in Elmhurst, Queens (NYC).
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Internal Gardens Tai Chi, LLC 418 Rt. 23; Ste. D Franklin, NJ 07416 Ph: (973) 827-8805 Email: InternalGardens@Yahoo.com Website: www.InternalGardens.com Website: www.TaiChiGala.com |
Shifu Loretta M. Wollering is lineage holder of Master Jou Tsung Hwa's teachings in taijiquan and Daoist (Taoist) practices. She used these methods to cure herself of a knee injury and Crohn's Disease while finishing graduate school. In 1990 she underwent baishi ceremony in apprenticeship to Jou. At that time she also managed Master Jou's famous school, "The Tai Chi Farm" and directed his Zhang San Feng Festival and events. She accompanied him in the US and internationally as an assistant instructor and served as an editor on the last edition of his best-selling book, The Dao of Taijiquan. Sf. Wollering has appeared in publications and TV news and has authored several articles, a chapter in a book, ebooks and a DVD. She has won numerous awards, including the Community Leadership Award from the President's Council on Fitness and Sports (Washington, DC). She is also a member of the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the International Independent Martial Artists' Association. She owns and teaches in a formal school of taijiquan in northern NJ. She has simplified the name of Master Jou's Zhang San Feng Festival as the "Tai Chi Gala" and runs it in his honor and tradition for all enthusiasts of the Chinese internal arts to share and enjoy. She is also an officer of the NJ Order of the Eastern Star. She is currently finishing her master practitioner certification in NLP as well as certification in hypnosis.
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Nam Pai Academy 33 Harrison Ave., 7th Fl, Boston, MA; 02228 Ph: (617) 451-9888 Email: mantis108@aol.com
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Shifu Donald Wong is a fascinating grandmaster in the Chinese martial arts and qigong world. He heads a traditional kung fu school in Chinatown of Boston, Massachusetts and owns a restaurant specializing in traditional Chinese cuisine. He also is a Massachusetts republican representative who is concerned to protect practitioners of martial arts and holistic healing arts from unfair legislation and government interference. He welcomes any support you may be able to offer in helping him with this noble goal. Master Wong has studied with a host of marital arts masters and Taoist adepts – some of them choosing to live an almost hermitic lifestyle and rarely taking on any students. Master Wong has also participated in a number of medical and investigative studies on qigong and the ability to externalize qi. He is known for his remarkable skills to help others with this seemingly endless talent. His kind and humble demeanor belies his deep level of experience and skills, and makes him a joy to be around.
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