National Qigong Association ~ Level III Advanced Qigong Instructor
World Ki Gong Club ~ Level IV Advanced Ki Gong Instructor
Usui Reiki Ryoho ~ Master Practitioner and Teacher
Usui Shiki Ryoho ~ Master Practitioner and Teacher
World Tang Soo Do Association ~ Second Degree Black Belt
South West Institute of Healing Arts ~ Certified Toe Reader
Reflexologist, teacher, healer and Ordained Minister
John began his martial arts training in the spring of 2000 after moving to the United States from Germany. He began a T’ai Chi Ch’uan course at Elmhurst Park District, as means to improve his overall health and sense of balance. He found his first classes hugely frustrating yet fascinating, they very quickly became very rewarding and hugely beneficial.
In November 2001 John began training in the Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do. He trained hard for his first test, and was promoted directly to Orange Belt with stripe, a proud moment for him. He began assisting with the childrens class the day after that promotion, and slowly moved into teaching as his knowledge and rank grew. Taking advantage of an amazing opportunity, in the spring of 2002 he spent a month backpacking round China. During that trip he had the opportunity to practise T’ai Chi Ch’uan and Qi Gong in the parks with the locals, and gain some advice from them, he also took formal lessons at a gym in Shanghai. Somewhere in China there is a video of John practising the T'ai Chi sword form with a group in Shanghai. In the fall of 2004 John tested for and was awarded the rank of First Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do karate.
Attending the third World Ki Gong Club clinic in Myrtle Beach, SC in early 2005, John received over 22 hours of practise and instruction over a day and a half. While there he was certified as World Ki Gong Club Level III - Intermediate Instructor on Grandmaster Jae C. Shin’s personal recommendation.
John was hired by Eagle Academy of Martial Arts as an Instructor and staff member shortly after receiving his 'Green Card' in the spring of 2005. There he continued his study of Tang Soo Do, and began studying the Korean art of Hapkido.
The World Ki Gong Club clinic in 2006 was held in Santa Cruz, California. At the end of the clinic John was promoted to World Ki Gong Club Level IV - Advanced Instructor.
At the World Ki Gong Club clinic in Monterey in 2007 John presented his Chinese Health Balls class as a part of the clinic schedule. In the spring testing cycle of 2007 John tested for and was awarded the rank of Second Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do karate.
Later in 2007 he was a member of The World Tang Soo Do delegation travelling to China and South Korea. Whilst there they visited Beijing Sports University to meet Master Zhang Guangde, head of the Qi Gong department and to see demonstrations of his students. In Xi'an the team visited one of the largest 'Wu Shu' schools in China, whilst there they witnessed demonstrations by some of China's finest students, then demonstrated their skills for the Wu Shu students. After the demonstrations they took some time to learn from, and teach the students. The highlight of the trip was a visit to the Chen village, the birthplace of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. There the team visited the Chen Temple and a number of the T'ai Chi schools in the area; including that of Chen, Er Hu a 20th generation disciple of Chen style T'ai Chi Ch'uan. He and his students demonstrated the many aspects of T'ai Chi, from the simpler open hand forms through to the complex twin sword forms.
In South Korea the team visited the studio of Master Kang, Shin-Chul; coach to the Iranian Olympic Tae Kwon Do team. There they had the opportunity to see his students, and also the Iranian team training, and to show some of the training methods used in the World Tang Soo Do Association.
John has found his teaching has helped develop his understanding of the martial arts, their true depths, and the connection between martial arts, qi gong, accupressure, accupuncture, reflexology, reiki, traditional Chinese medicine and the I Ching. To truly undertsand martial arts he has found you need to understand all these aspects, to learn how to heal as well as defend.
He has found that it is a real joy to watch students grow and learn, whether they are four years old, or ninety-nine years young. Martial arts has something for everyone, whatever their age, whatever their experience, whatever their ability, that disability is no barrier to improving your health and life.
In September 2010 he was awarded Level III ~ Advanced Qigong Instructor certification by the National Qigong Association.
As both an Usui Shiki Ryoho, and Usui Reiki Ryoho certified Master Practitioner & Teacher John is available for Reiki treatments in your own home.
John is an Ordained Minister, and is available for weddings, commitment ceremonies, vow renewals, house blessings and dedications, wellness blessings, rites of passage, living funerals, funerals and memorial rememberances.
As part of his continued education John holds Continuing Education Credits in; "Certificate in Complementary and Alternative Medicine", "Certificate in Spirituality and Healing" and "Certificate in Gerontology" all accredited by the 'American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation'. He also holds a "Certificate of Achievement" from FEMA for completion of the independant study course IS-00022 Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Awareness.
As a health & fitness Instructor John is a lifetime member of both the 'World Tang Soo Do Association' and the 'World Ki Gong Club'.
He is also a professional member of the 'National Qigong Association' and the 'Reiki Council'.
