INSTRUCTORS
SIFU KEVIN WALLE
DARWIN, AUSTRALIA australiawutang.com.au
Sifu Kevin Walle began his training with Master Wong in mid-1988 when he was 16. Over the course of his training he has learned Praying Mantis, Long Fist Kung Fu, Chen Tai Chi, Ba Qua Zhang, Baji Chuan, PiQua Zhang, and Qi Kung exercises along with many traditional weapons. He received many awards from International Kung Fu Tournaments. He was accepted as one the disciples of Wu Tan in 2000 and also was given the title of Sifu (Kung Fu teacher) in 2007. Sifu Kevin has written articles in Inside Kung Fu and hosted several Kung Fu workshops at Darwin. Sifu Walle maintains contact with Master Kurt Wong and continues his training, research, and studies in Chinese martial arts (Guosho). Currently he is residing in Darwin, Australia, where he has been teaching at Australia Wu Tang since 2006.
SIFU JACOB CARPENTER
Sifu Jacob came to Wu Tan in 1996, after participating in UAA's Tai-Chi class. In 2000 Jacob was chosen to be among Master Wong's first official disciples. He then started practicing in the Baji and Piqua lineages of Wu Tan. Through Wu Tan, in addition to Baji/Pigua Jacob has practiced Yang style and Chen Style Tai-Chi, several styles of Praying Mantis, Yin Bagua, Long Fist (Jia Men Chang Chuan) as well as various and accompanying Qigong and weapons. He has brought back several medals from tournaments in Ohio in 2000 and Las Vegas in 2008 and 2011. Sifu Jacob has previously taught Tai-Chi Ball and Adult beginner Chen Style Tai-Chi. Currently Jacob teaches the Kids Kung fu class (8-16 year olds).
SIFU PAOLO CASTANEDA
OSLO, NORWAY www.oslowutan.com
Sifu Paolo Castaneda began his studies in Chinese martial arts under Master Kurt Wong in the late 90s. He initially learned northern Praying Mantis, Chen style Tai-Chi Chuan, and Jiao men Long Fist. Paolo was accepted as a third generation disciple in the Wu-Tan tradition under Master Wong in 2000. This allowed him the opportunity to study the arts of Grandmaster Liu Yun-Qiao: Baji, Pigua zhang, and Bagua zhang. During his time training at Wu-Tan, Paolo was promoted as Sifu for Wu Tan. Since then he has written several articles on Chinese martial arts in publications such as Inside Kung Fu and RAPID Journal. Sifu Castaneda was also recently elected Secretary General for the newly formed Norwegian Chinese Kuoshu Federation (NCKF). Currently, Sifu Castaneda maintains contact with Master Kurt Wong and continues his training, research, and studies in Chinese martial arts (Guosho).
SIFU BYRON ALLEN
Sifu Byron began his training at Wu Tan in 1998 when he started to study Tai Chi to reinforce his physical therapy following a skydiving injury that got him discharged from the Army. Sifu Byron's main focuses of study are Tai-Chi Chuan, Bagua zhang, Baji, and Piqua. In 2000 he began his discipleship under Master Wong. After being exposed to all of the styles at Wu Tan, Byron became a Sifu under the direction and lineage of Master Kurt Wong. He has received awards from both Ohio and Las Vegas International Tournaments and later served as one of the Judges for those Tournaments. Currently Sifu Byron teaches Baqua and Tai Chi Lab at Wu Tan Alaska and offers Tai Chi classes at the University of Alaska (UAA).
DAN BOLINDER
PRAYING MANTIS INTENSIVE & FUNDAMENTALS
Dan Bolinder grew up in the Mat-Su Valley. He started with Alaska Wu Tan in the summer of 2000. The first classes he participated in were Long Fist and Chen Tai-Chi, and within a couple years started to train in Praying Mantis. In 2003 he began teaching Kung Fu under Master Kurt Wong's tutelage. Dan then took his discipleship under Master Wong accompanied by Grandmaster Su Yu Chang and began training in Baji and Pigua. Since then he has been dedicated to making Kung Fu his life work. He has worked on many seminars under Master Kurt Wong's guidance since 2006, including making multiple trips to Norway to assist with teaching. He hopes to teach and share with students at Alaska Wu Tan, and contribute to the continuing health and integrity of the school for many years to come.
KRYSTAL SCHOTT
Krystal Schott started taking classes in 2001. Her first teachers were Sifu Paolo Castaneda for Long Fist and Emily Walle for Women's Kung Fu which included Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan. Later on she was taking classes from both Sifu Byron Allen and Sifu Kevin Walle. In 2003 Krystal was allowed to take more advanced classes that were overseen and taught by Master Wong. In 2004 she was accepted as a disciple under Master Wong. Krystal studied Praying Mantis, Advanced Chen Tai Chi, Baji, Piqua and weapons with Master Wong and is currently offering Tai Chi Saber class at the school. Krystal has received many awards from both Ohio and Las Vegas Tournaments and continues her studies at Wu Tan Alaska.
RYAN LIU
Ryan started his Kung Fu training at 10 years of age under Sifu Jacob Carpenter in 2001. He continued his studies in Praying Mantis, Tai Chi, Baji and weapons under Master Wong for many years and later became one of the disciples of Master Wong. He participated in many demos and exhibitions in both Fur Rondy Martial Arts Expo and Chinese New Year Celebrations. He has been teaching the youth class for middle and high school students since 2010.
ADAM LEWIS
Adam began practicing Chinese martial arts in Louisiana in late 1998 under Carlos Aguilar and David Sherman. He studied various styles there including praying mantis (7-star and meihua), I-Hsing, Bagua, Tai Chi, and majong law horn. Adam first attended Wu Tan Alaska in 2004 while working a summer job in Alaska. He returned to Anchorage in 2007 with a permanent job and immediately began practicing at Wu Tan again. Since that time, he has studied Praying Mantis (8-step and 7-star), Chen Tai Chi, Long fist, and Baji. He became a disciple of Master Kurt Wong in 2010 and has helped teach the beginning Kung Fu class since 2010.
NICK LYNCH
Nick was born and raised in Alaska, and studied a variety of martial arts before coming to Wu Tan in the late 90s. Nick studied Chen Tai Chi, Praying Mantis and various weapon forms from Master Wong and later became a disciple of Master Wong. Nick attended 2011 Vegas International Kung Fu Tournament and placed number 1 in Baqua weapon category. His focuses are Bagua Zhang, Tai Chi Chuan, Baji Quan and Piqua Zhang. He is currently assisting in teaching Tai Chi and Baqua for Alaska Wu Tan.
PETER RYAN
Before Peter Ryan came to Wu Tan Alaska, he acquired 4th Dan (4th degree black belt) in Shorin Ryu, (Shobayashi) under Master Eizo Shimabukuro, 5th Dan (5th degree black belt) in Oyata Shin Shu Ho and 6th Dan (6th degree black belt) in Ryukyu Kempo, both under Taika Seiyu Oyata. In 2003 Peter started classes in Wu Tan Alaska and was accepted as a disciple in 2004; his primary focus was Tai Chi, Long Fist and Weapons training. Peter is interested in the health aspects of Chinese Kung Fu, developing balance, flexibility and intrinsic energy, as well as the martial applications. He found a new home at Wu Tan and currently assists teaching in both Low Impact Tai Chi and Beginning Tai Chi classes on Mondays and Thursdays.
HAROLD JONES "JONEZY"
CHEN TAI CHI AT UAA (UAA Catalog / Class Schedule)
Jonezy was introduced to Wu Tan Alaska through Anchorage Community School program in 2005. In 2008 he became an assistant instructor for Tai Chi class at the University of Alaska. In the fall of 2010 he was accepted as a disciple under Master Wong. He has been studying Tai Chi, Praying Mantis, Baqua, Baji and various weapons under Master Wong since 2009 and is currently teaching Tai Chi class at UAA and assists in teaching both Kung Fu and Tai Chi for Wu Tan Alaska.
