Shifu Nelson Ferreira Shifu Ferreira began studying martial arts when he was five years old, in New York City, under the guidance of his father in the art of Judo. By the age of six, his family moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he continued his studies. By the time he was ten, he wanted to try other arts. Over a period of seven years he studied many traditional disciplines including Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Aikido, Kendo, Tae Kwon Do and Muay Thai among others. In 1984, his mother (a Tai Chi Chuan Instructor and Acupuncturist) introduced him to Dr. Wu Chao-hsiang (also Wu Chaoxiang) and he started his study of Bei Shaolin Chuan (Northern Shaolin Technique). Nelson moved back to the US and in 1995 he founded the Zhong Yi Kung Fu Association in Madison, WI where he has dedicated himself to preserve his Master’s teachings and promote Kuoshu in the area. He has furthered his studies with Shifu Steve Kleppe a teacher under Master Lam Kwong-wing, Shifu Robert Louie a teacher under Master Wong Chia-man, and, his elder Kung Fu brother, Mr. Stan Henning. Shifu Ferreira has led the ZYKFA Competition Team to the following achievements: -3rd Place (Taolu) at the 1999 USCKF International Championships -1st Place (Taolu) at the 2000 USCKF International Championships -3rd Place (Taolu) at the 2002 USCKF International Championships -2nd Place (Lei Tai) at the 2003 USCKF International Championships -2nd Place (Taolu) at the 2004 USCKF International Championships -3rd Place (Lei Tai) at the 2004 USCKF International Championships -2nd Place (Lei Tai) at the 2005 USCKF International Championships -2nd Place (Lei Tai) at the 2006 USCKF International Championships -1st Place (Lei Tai) at the 2007 USKSF International Championships Shifu Ferreira was the Coach for the U.S. Kuoshu Team at the 1st Pan-American Kuoshu Championship held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (April, 2001) and 14 of his students were part of the US Team, he was also selected as a Coach for the US Team at the World Kuoshu Championships held in Sao Paulo, Brazil (November, 2003) where four of his students represented the US Team. In 2006 he was selected to coach the US Team, again, at the World Kuoshu Championships held in November in Singapore, with five of his students being selected as part of the US Team. He has led the US Team to a Third Place finish at the 2001 Pan-American Kuoshu Championships held in Brazil and a First Place finish at the World Kuoshu Tournament held in Singapore (2006). Currently Shifu Ferreira is the North Region Director, member of the Executive Committee and member of the Hall of Fame Committee for the United States Kuoshu Federation (USKSF), he is is also a certified judge (national) through the USKSF.

Instructor Brian Moellers Brian began studying Tang Soo Do in 1985 and has also studied Yang style Tai Chi Chuan. He began studying under Shifu Ferreira in 1996. Brian is an experienced San Shou and Tao Lu competitor since 1998. He was a member of Team USA for the 1st Pan-American Kuoshu Championship held in Brazil, April of 2001. He is the principal lion dancer for the Zhong Yi Lion Dance Troupe. He has had the opportunity to study with great teachers such as Shifu Lima and Shifu Kleppe. Currently he is an Instructor for the Shao Lin classes and is also the Referee General for Light Contact divisions at the USKSF North Region Tournament. Brian is also a certified judge (national) through the USCKF.

Instructor James Ciolkosz James started studying Chinese martial arts in 1984.  He studied kenpo for about 5 years along with a dusting of many other styles.  James began studying with Shifu Ferreira in 1996.  He won a silver medal at the 1997 International Kuoshu Championship held in Baltimore, MD in the Lei Tai (full-contact) division. James is certified as a ZYKFA Instructor (September 2006).  He also manufactures and supplies the linaments, such as "Tieh Da Jow" (Dit Dat Jow), for ZYKFA.

Instructor Neil Anderson Neil began his martial arts training in 1981 in the Korean art of Tae Kwon Do under Master J.B. Chung. He also studied Judo and Kendo during his youth. Neil began his study of Chinese martial arts in 1996 under Shifu Ferreira at the Zhong Yi Kung Fu Association. He also has researched the Bei Shao Lin style and Chinese martial arts in general for college projects. Neil is currently a member of the Tao Lu Team and an Instructor for the Shao Lin Youth program in which his son is an important member. His accomplishments in forms competitions have been: Most accomplished competitor in the First USKSF North Regional Tournament, held in Madison, WI May 2006 Bronze medal in Traditional Northern Open Hand at the International Chinese Kuoshu Championships - 2006 Gold medal in Traditional Straightsword at the International Chinese Kuoshu Championships - 2006 Best Male Taolu Competitor at the 2nd USKSF North Regional Tournament, held in Madison, WI May 2007

Instructor Rachel Spahr Rachel began studying under Shifu Ferreira in 1997. A competitor in Tao Lu since 1998, she has gone from a beginner to an advanced competitor in three years and she was a member of Team USA for the 1st Pan-American Kuoshu Championship held in Brazil, April of 2001 and again in 2006 for the 2nd World Kuoshu Championships held in Singapore. Besides her competition activities, she is also one of the dancers in the Zhong Yi Lion Dance Troupe and participates in the school's Kuoshu Lei Tai program. Currently she is an Instructor for Shao Lin classes. Her Lei Tai accomplishments include : -Silver medal in the womens Heavyweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2005. -Gold medal in the womens Heavyweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2006. -Silver medal in the womens Heavyweight division at the World Koushu Championships in 2006 (Singapore).

Instructor Mike Moody Mike began his martial arts training in Tae Kwon Do in 1987. He has also studied Aikido, Capoeira, Kendo, and European fencing. Mike is a Tui Na practitioner and operates his own business - Six Harmonies. He has studied under Shifu Ferreira since 1998. He was a member of Team USA for the 1st Pan-American Kuoshu Championship held in Brazil, April of 2001. He has had the opportunity to study with great teachers such as Shifu Lima and Shifu Kleppe. Currently he a Instructor for morning classes. Mike is also a certified judge (national) through the USCKF.

Instructor Jeff Emmanuelli Jeff began his martial arts training in 1982, under the guidance of his father, studying Tae Kwon Do and later on also studied Aikido. In 1999 he began his studies at ZYKFA under Shifu Ferreira. Jeff also participates in the ZYKFA Tao Lu Team, the Zhong Yi Lion Dance Troupe and was a member of Team USA for the I Pan-American Kuoshu Championship held in Brazil, April of 2001 and World Kuoshu Championship held in Brazil, November 2003. Jeff represented the US, for the third time, at the Second World Kuoshu Championships which was held in Singapore in 2006. Always looking to expand his knowledge of Chinese martial arts, Jeff studies Tai Chi Chuan under Shifu Elizabeth Jones. Currently he is an Instructor for Shao Lin classes and the Taolu Team Captain. Jeff is also a certified judge (national) through the USCKF.

Kevin Lozada Kevin has been studying under Shifu Ferreira since 1999. He also studied Wu style Tai Chi Chuan. Kevin is an accomplished Tao Lu competitor in both national and international events. He also performs with the Zhong Yi lion dances as an instrumentalist. Kevin was a member of Team USA for the 1st Pan-American Kuoshu Championship held in Brazil, April of 2001. He has had the opportunity to study under great teachers such as Shifu Lima, Shifu Kleppe, and Master Kwan Sai-hung. Currently he is an Assistant Instructor for the Youth Shao Lin classes.

Seth Finlayson Seth started studying martial arts at age ten in the Karate program at the local YMCA he later changed his study to Tae Kwon Do. In 1995 Seth joined the United States Air Force and served for four years. After leaving the military and returning to Wisconsin, Seth joined the Zhong Yi Kung Fu Association in early 2000. Seth is an experienced and proven Lei Tai competitor at the national, international and world levels. Seth was the team Captain of the ZYKFA Lei Tai Team from 2002 to 2004 and has led the team to a second and third place overall finish he also has represented the US in both the Pan-American and World Kuoshu Championships. Seth’s personal accomplishments have been: -Silver medal in the super heavyweight division at the I Pan-American Kuoshu Tournament in 2001. -Silver medal in the heavyweight B division at the International Koushu Championships in 2002. -Bronze in the heavyweight A division at the International Koushu Championships in 2003. -Fourth place in the heavyweight A division at the World Kuoshu Championships in 2003. -Gold Medal in the Heavyweight division at the 1st Wisconsin Chinese Kuoshu Tournament 2005. -Gold Medal in the Heavyweight division at the 1st North Regional Chinese Kuoshu Tournament 2006.

Minh Duc "Kimba" Tieu Kimba started his martial arts training at age 7, practicing judo for a short time.  Eventually,he turned to Tae Kwon Do in 1986, devoting approximately 13 years to its study - while occasionally wrestling for his high school.  In 2001, he joined ZYKFA and became a student of Bei Shao Lin Chuan under Shifu Ferreira.  Kimba has competed in local, national, and international events and is currently the Lei Tai Team Captain.  Most recently, he has earned medals as a member of both the Tao Lu and Kuoshu Lei Tai teams. Kimba represented the US in the World Kuoshu Championships held in Sao Paulo, Brazil 2003 and again in Singapore 2006 becoming a World Champion. His achievements in Kuoshu Lei Tai fighting have been: -Bronze medal in the Superlightweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2002. -Gold medal in the Superlightweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2003. -Silver medal in the Superlightweight division at the World Kuoshu Championships in 2003. -Bronze medal in the Lightweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2004. -Silver medal in the Lightweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2005. -Gold medal in the Superlightweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2006. -Gold medal in the Superlightweight division at the 2nd World Koushu Championships in 2006. -Gold medal in the Lightweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2007.

Andy Grindrod Andy began his training inTae Kwon Do as a youth, and then, at age 12, wrestled for 2 seasons in the YMCA youth league. He began studying Bei Shaolin Chuan under Shifu Fereirra in april of 2000, and joined the Leitai competition team in 2001. Andy is currently an assistant instructor for the Leitai team practice and has competed in regional, national and international leitai tournaments, receiving the following awards. -Silver medal in the Superlightweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2002. -Bronze medal in the Superlightweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2003. -Bronze medal in the Superlightweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2004. -Gold medal in the Superlightweight division at the USCKF North Regional Tournament in 2005. -Bronze medal in the Superlightweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2005. -4th place in the Superlightweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2006. -Silver medal in the Superlightweight division at the International Koushu Championships in 2007.

Tom Sandora Tom began studying martial arts in 2003 under the guidance of Shifu Nelson Ferreira.  He has trained with the ZYKFA San Shou, and Taolu teams and competed in the 2005 1st Wisconsin Kuoshu Lei Tai tournament taking a Silver medal in the men's Super Heavyweight division and in the 2005 U.S.C.K.F. International Kuoshu Championship Tournament taking a Bronze medal in the Heavyweight 'B' division.  He also performs as a musician in the ZYKFA Lion Dance troupe and is an Assistant Instructor for the adult Shaolin classes.

Jordan Peterson Jordan began studying Bei Shao Lin under Shifu Ferreira in 2003. He performs as an instrumentalist with the Zhong Yi Kung Fu Association's Lion Dance Troupe and administers the USKSF North Region web site. Jordan is an Assistant Instructor for the adult Shaolin classes and has a great understanding of strectching and muscle training methods. He is also a certified judge for the USKSF North Region.

Sven Lichty Profile coming soon

Paul Liss Paul started his formal martial arts training in 1986, learning the modern Yang style Tai Chi Chuan short form.  Over the next decade, he explored many styles including Shotokan Karate, Sanchin Ryu Karate, Northern Long Fist, and modern Yang style Tai Chi swordplay.  In 2004, Paul returned to the UW-Madison Chinese Wushu and Tai Chi club to continue to both study and teach the Chinese martial arts.  In 2006, he competed at the 1st North Regional Chinese Kuoshu Tournament in the Tai Chi division.  Impressed by the level of skill displayed by the ZYKFA competitors, Paul began studying Bei Shao Lin under Shifu Ferreira the following week.  He has also had the opportunity to study under great teachers such as Shifu Kleppe, Zhang Xiaoling, Liu Yu, Norm Petredean and Wang Yu. Paul is an Instructor to the Chinese Wushu Club at the University of Wisconsin - Madison

Andrew Ruis Andrew began studying Chinese martial arts in 2003, learning Yang and Chen Taiji Quan and Northern Longfist (Wushu). He has studied Bei Shaolin Quan with Shifu Ferreira since 2006, training with both the Lei Tai and Tao Lu teams. Andrew is an Instructor to the members of the Chinese Wushu Club at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a certified Personal Trainer.

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