Sifu Arthur Berry 1979 founder

 

In 1972, Sifu Arthur Berry began his formal study of the martial arts. For 6 months, he studied an Okinawan style of Karate called Isshin Ryu at a local YMCA. Later that year, Sifu Berry discovered the ancient art of Chinese Kung-Fu.

From 1972 to 1975, he pursued the study of Green Dragon Tai Praying Mantis Kung-Fu. Between 1975 and 1977, Sifu studied Kaju Kempo, a Japanese Karate system known for both its strength and throws. 1977 marked a major turning point in the martial life of Sifu Arthur Berry. It was during this year that he met Chin Ho Yin, a Grand Master of Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu. It was Sifu Berry's honor and privilege to train under Grand Master Yin over the next six years.

1980 was another critical year in the development of Sifu Arthur Berry. That year, he earned his teacher's rank in Green Dragon Tai Praying Mantis Kung-Fu, while continuing an exhaustive study of Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu under the tutelage of Grand Master Yin. However, it was in this same year that Sifu Berry began to share the gift of Kung-Fu that he had endeavored for so long to master. As a result, Sifu Berry founded and opened the Chinese Kung-Fu Club of DeKalb, Illinois and has taught Chinese Kung-Fu to over 1,000 students.

Sifu Berry's Chinese Kung-Fu school emphasizes the true meaning of Kung-Fu, teaching history, mind/body training, and martial applications as they were taught to him by Grand Master Yin. Sifu Berry has competed in the black belt division of countless tournaments throughout the Midwest over the years. His efforts have earned him hundreds of trophies, awards and accolades. Additionally, Sifu Berry has been a tournament official since 1980 and continues to have an active role in the tournament scene across the Midwest.

Many of Sifu Berry's students have followed in his knowledgeable footsteps. Students from the Chinese Kung-Fu Club of DeKalb have participated in open tournaments, winning numerous trophies and awards in sparring, forms, two-man forms, and weapons divisions. A select few of Sifu Berry's students have earned the privilege of becoming teachers themselves and have carried on the traditions of Chinese Kung-Fu as passed down to them from Grand Master Yin.

Sifu Berry has been a distinguished member of the Midwest Kung-Fu Association, the American Karate Association, the Academy of Oriental Fighting Arts, and the American Kempo Bu-Jutsu Karate Association (AKBKA).

Sifu Berry's instructors include:

*Chin Ho Yin - www.chinesekungfucenter.com/master.html - Grand Master of Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu and a Buddhist Shaolin Monk of the Shaolin Temple in China. 5 plus years

*Lanard Martin - Instructor of the Green Dragon system of Tai Praying Mantis Kung-Fu and Chinese Boxing. 5 years

*Andy Torok - www.kikarate.com - A master of the Kaju Kempo Japanese Karate system. Master Torok's school is located in DeKalb, Illinois. 3 years

*Larry Daniel - National Karate champion and instructor of Isshin Ryu Karate, Kung-Fu and a specialist in martial arts weaponry. 6 years

*Keychun Song - www.songskungfu.com - Master of 7 Star Praying Mantis, Shaolin Kung-Fu and of the 18 weapons of Kung-Fu. 2 years