Jason Deatherage has studied a wide range of martial arts since his childhood. Starting with Tae Kwon Do and Karate, Jason moved on to study Aikido, Kenjutsu and Iaido for many years, then Serrada and Balintawak Eskrima, before spending a decade intensively learning the Ma Family Kung Fu Style known as Ba Ying Quan (8 Shadows Fist). After becoming an international Gold Medalist in tournament weapons fighting, Jason began to teach the use of traditional weapons in the Piercing Cloud style, and continues to teach empty hand martial arts in various styles. Jason has been published in Deep Water Magazine, American Survival Guide, Kungfu/TaiChi Magazine, Personal and Home Defense Magazine, among others.
Aram Masee is a professional Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner who has a long history with the marital arts. Over the last 30 years, Aram has practiced Hapkido, Aikido, Kungfu, and traditional weapons practice in the Piercing Cloud style. As an instructor in Piercing Cloud, Aram brings his extensive medical and health experience into play, providing a critical balance to the martial content of the style. Aram is the Chief Instructor of the Kelowna Piercing Cloud study group.
Kevin Wallbridge has been training since 1985. His areas of expertise are Chinese external martial arts including Northern Shaolin, Zhaquan; Chinese internal martial arts including Taijiquan (Yang and Chen styles), Xingyiquan (Henan and Hebei styles), Baguazhang (Liang, Cheng, Fu, Yin Fu, and Ba Xian styles); Classical Chinese weaponry including straight sword, spear, single edged swords; Qigong including hard and soft martial styles, Daoist meditation and internal alchemy, medical Qigong and Emei sword Qigong.
Kevin has lived and studied in China. He is a co-founder of the prestigious Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences school of Chinese medicine. He is a medical anthropologist who is also trained as an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist. His scientific and medical background combined with his ability to translate ancient Chinese texts means he is able to bring a high degree of practical clarity to the often over-mystified world of Chinese martial arts.
He has trained with several re-known teachers including the late Grandmaster Xu Gongwei, a graduate of the Nanjing Guoshu institute. He has also trained the complete Yang Taijiquan curriculum with Sam Masich. He is a gold medal winning competitor at National and Provincial tournaments and a silver medal winner at the international level (all for Taijiquan and Baguazhang).
Kevin has lived and studied in China. He is a co-founder of the prestigious Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences school of Chinese medicine. He is a medical anthropologist who is also trained as an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist. His scientific and medical background combined with his ability to translate ancient Chinese texts means he is able to bring a high degree of practical clarity to the often over-mystified world of Chinese martial arts.
He has trained with several re-known teachers including the late Grandmaster Xu Gongwei, a graduate of the Nanjing Guoshu institute. He has also trained the complete Yang Taijiquan curriculum with Sam Masich. He is a gold medal winning competitor at National and Provincial tournaments and a silver medal winner at the international level (all for Taijiquan and Baguazhang).
Shifu Neil Ripski is a uniquely talented martial artist who has spent the last 25 years intensively studying and teaching the ancient Ma Family Kung Fu system now known as BaYingQuan, or 8 Shadows Fist. As the sole surviving lineage holder of BaYingQuan, Neil is a world expert on combative Drunken Boxing, and runs a successful full-time residential program for serious students of the art. His hunger for knowledge and learning never ceases, and Neil is a human encyclopedia of the Chinese martial arts.