My Martial Bio
I was 5 years old when I first had my exposure to the martail arts, the Karate Kid. Mr. Miyagi was my hero, that man was the epitome of the Warrior Philosopher. A master of martial arts, and a man full of wisdom who used his two primary skills to truly benefit someone through a mentorship relationship that was built on the martial arts but extended far beyond mere combat techniques.
I was 6 years old when I first had my exposure to kung fu, the tv show. Kwai Chang Caine, he moved so smoothly and so powerfully (I was 6, give me a break) I fell in love with this element of kung fu. This began a lifelong obsession later tempered into a passion that had me reading books, watching movies, picking the brains of everyone who had any fighting experience trying to build a regimine of techniques. I practiced my basic stances, punches, kicks, and even tried to create joint manipulation techniques.
After many years of personnal practice and very slow progress, I had still not found an opportunity to really train under a real teacher. I was picky, I wanted to train under a kung fu teacher, not just any martial art. I also wanted a Christian teacher, who would not try to fill my head with any false doctrines. I prayed, Lord I will give it up if you want me too, but if you want me to train send me a godly man to teach me. And He did. My eldest brother began training while in college under Mark Kimzey who was an instructor of Xing Yi Quan (Hsing I Chuan; pronounced Shing ee Chwan) who was teaching kung fu at the college
My elder brother also began training under him when he went to college. He made it to green sash and after much begging and pushing on my part for him to show me stuff when he came back from school, he was given permission to teach me what I needed to test for my white sash. So he would come home for a visit and show me something. I would practice everyday and then he would show me something else. Finally, my father and I drove to St. Louis and I tested for my white sash on January 4th, 2001. That July I moved to St. Louis to begin my college, also at mobap. I trained both at college and at Shifu (father teacher) Kimzey's house testing for my black sash in Kanses City, MO on October 30th 2004. I graduated from college and received my Laoshi (teacher) title on April 30th 2005. In May of 2006 I moved back to my parents and began working closely with my church and trying to teach what I have learned.
I still make regular trips to St. Louis to see my teacher and train with him. I am a member in good standing in the American Tang Shou Tao Association and a pending member of the Gospel Martial Arts Union.
I currently hold the rank of 1st degree black sash and the title of instructor (laoshi) ATSTA Shen Long Xing Yi Quan style of Kung Fu and I serve the Master building His Kingdom as best I can.