Head teacher of the St. Louis Branch School of the Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu Academy
I began training the Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu system in Trenton, New Jersey, under Sifu Russell Chell, in March of 1992 as an Enter the Gate Student of Grandmaster Henry Yee.
I earned a master’s degree from Boston University in 1997 while working at a maximum security facility for the criminally insane.
We then moved to St. Louis, Missouri — my wife’s hometown — where I began teaching and promoting this style of kung fu.
As of 2022, I work as assistant superintendent for St. Louis Developmental Disabilities Treatment Center at the state hospital on Arsenal St.
I taught in my garage for two years before officially founding the St. Louis Branch in 1999 at 6132 Southwest Ave. We moved to our current location a little further down the street to 5828 Southwest Ave in 2001.
In 2001, I also became an Enter the Gate Student and in 2014 a Disciple of Grandmaster Henry Yee.
Over the years, many of my students have attended Grandmaster Yee’s annual Student Reunion and tested successfully in advancing their kung fu. We don’t compete in many tournaments, but my students often perform well in forms and sparring.