Personal
Training Philosophy: I train for spiritual enlightenment,
physical well being, mental dexterity and self-defense.
Motto:
“Worldly fools search the four corners of the Earth seeking exotic
masters, not knowing that their own mind is the master they seek.”
-- Bodhidarma
Like
most people of my generation in America, I was first introduced
to kung fu through the popular culture martial arts’ explosion
of the 1970’s. The first time I witnessed kung fu movements,
I was awed, inspired and forever changed. But I was young and
unfocused, so many years passed in which martial arts remained
a peripheral fascination, but still was not a serious endeavor.
This
changed in 1998 after a series of events led me to Sifu Arthur
Berry and the Kung Fu Club of DeKalb. As before, I was immediately
drawn into the beauty, suppleness, and apparent power of Chinese
kung fu. I was also impressed by Sifu Berry’s knowledge,
experience and laid-back, yet serious manner in which he conducted
his class. I enrolled that night.
When
I first joined, I knew little about martial arts aside from what
I learned earlier from pop culture and some cursory knowledge
I had picked up. It didn’t take long, however, before I
began to be lured deeper and deeper into the martial world.
It has always been my philosophy that you really can’t grasp a
concept, understand it, until you take it and look at it comprehensively
from all angles. I
applied this philosophy to kung fu, and as a direct result, I
began experimenting with using martial arts as a tool to teach
certain principles that would be beneficial to the practitioner
not only in a martial arts setting, but in the “real world” as
well. With Sifu Berry’s assistance I developed a youth program
(Twelve Roads Youth Program) that I hope to one day implement.
Also, I collaborated with Sifu Berry and other dedicated students
to create the Chuan Fa T’sang Shu, The Kung Fu Club of DeKalb’s
martial library.In the past I have participated in numerous martial
arts tournaments throughout the Midwest garnering dozens of trophies,
awards and certificates. Through my training with Sifu Berry I
have begun the process of mastering several forms, both weapon
and weaponless, as well as a multitude of combat techniques.
I
have had the honor of training and learning from Sifus Scott Loxley,
Pat Spangler, Zeke Sunleaf, Neal Daley, Dan Cabrera and George
Raetzke. I hope to one day follow in the footsteps of Sifu
Berry and be a great instructor, excellent role model and an endearing
friend to my students.
