Memphis Martial Arts
Memphis Martial Arts is home to a variety of arts, each with its own unique approach. Come and see why we think these are some of the best in the city!
Aikido: Style and Instructor information
Hung Gar Kung Fu: Style and Instructor information
Kempo Karate: Style and Instructor information
Kyokushinkai Karate: Style and Instructor information
Wing Chun Kung Fu: Style and Instructor information
AIKIDO
Aikido is one of the world's newest, most mysterious martial arts, incorporating graceful dance-like maneuvers with the ancient combat skills of Japan's most famous fighting arts. By training the mind as well as the body, Aikido unlocks hidden strengths in even the smallest person, young or old, male or female. Aikido teaches defense without aggression, control without humiliation.
John Thomas, Sensei
Jerry Leek, Sensei - 901.201.9822
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HUNG GAR KUNG FU
Hung Gar is one of many styles of traditional Chinese martial arts that falls under the catch-all term "Kung Fu" which means "Hard Work" in Chinese. Hung Gar is a southern Chinese hard style kung fu with powerful strikes and swift movements. It is also a soft style with its use of arcs, circles and spirals. It is famous for its low solid stances and no-nonsense formidable strikes and blocks including "Tiger Claw" technique.
Hung Gar Kung Fu Instructor:
Si-Hing Thomas Vaughn - 206.605.2579 or
2nd degree black belt, Taekwondo
Instructor, Hung Gar Kung Fu
Thomas Vaughn has been involved in martial arts since 1986 when he joined the United States TaeKwon Do Federation (USTF) and the International TaeKwon Do Federation (ITF). In 1991, he earned the permanent rank of 1st Dan (First Degree Black Belt) with the USTF/ITF. In 1994 he earned the permanent rank of 2nd Dan (Second Degree Black Belt) with the USTF/ITF.
Searching for something different, between 1995 and 2008 Thomas trained at various martial arts schools until finding the Seattle Kung Fu Club (SKFC) in 2008. Since 2008, Thomas trained under Grand Master Leong at the Seattle Kung Fu Club, in Seattle, WA, USA and then under Sifu Jason Bartlett of Applied Combat Martial Arts. To this day, Thomas trains under Sifu Jason Bartlett.
Currently Thomas teaches Applied Combat Hung Gar Kung Fu from the Memphis Martial Arts Center in Memphis, TN.
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KEMPO KARATE
Okinawan Kempo Karate Jitsu is a classical system of karate encompassing a great deal more than punching and kicking. The techniques are those that were used by the ancient warriors of the Ryukyu Islands. It is these that separate Okinawan Kempo from the modern and traditional forms of karate.
Kempo: a martial art that includes grappling techniques (tuite), vital point strikes (kyusho jitsu), and weapons techniques (kobudo). These are not separate arts or additions to karate, but are contained in the original art.
Karate: The art of self-defense using the whole body, including the Empty hand, T'ang hand, or China hand.
Jitsu: The science and study of karate through training the mind as well as the body.
Kempo Karate Instructors:
Sensei Clif Bullard - 901.275.1636 or email
4th degree black belt, Kempo
1st degree black sash and certified instructor, Ching Jwa Gung Fu
Certified Instructor, Dayan ("Wild Goose") Qi Gong
Clif Bullard began his martial arts training in 1984 at the University of Mississippi's Isshinryu Karate Club under Sensei Robert Holly. After moving to Memphis in 1986, he studied at the Ching Jwa ("Golden Talon") Gung Fu school under Sifu William Vardeman and was awarded both his black sash and his Sifu certification in 1991.
In 1994 he attended his first pressure point seminar, taught by Eli McCoy of Milan, TN. This caused him to realize that there was a much deeper level of knowledge which he hadn't seen before, and he began studying Kempo and Aikido under one of Master McCoy's students, Gary Chase of Memphis Aiki-kai. He was awarded his first-degree black belt for Ryukyu Kempo in 2001.
In 2003 Clif moved to Nashville where he continued his Kempo training with Steve Cooper of Cooper Karate and Jujutsu Center. Under Master Cooper he climbed to the rank of third-degree black belt. In 2007, Clif moved back to Memphis and resumed his Ryukyu Kempo training with Master Chase. In July, 2008 Clif was promoted to the rank of Master (fourth-degree black belt).
In addition to continuing his Kempo training, in 2011 Clif also received his instructor's certification for Wild Goose Qi Gong.
Sensei Bullard is proud to be an affiliate of Dillman Karate International.
Sensei Ralph White
2nd degree black belt, Kempo
1st degree black belt, Aikido
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KYOKUSHINKAI KARATE
Kyokushinkai is a hard Japanese style of Karate, founded by Mas Oyama. It is very similar to Shotokan, and in fact has some roots in Shotokan since Oyama studied some under Funakoshi. He is probably best known for killing bulls with his techniques, and for breaking the horns off the living bulls with his bare hands. (They were already slated for the slaughter house that same day, whether he was able to do such or not, so the owner didn't see a problem with letting him try such.)
Kyokushinkai Instructor:
Sensei Jason Taylor - email
2nd degree black belt
Jason Taylor has been working with karate since shortly before his sixteenth birthday, under the instruction of Robert Kendall, from Ro-Ken Karate club, here in the Memphis Area. He earned his Shodan under Robert Kendall, and then went to help out a friend with his class. He recieved his Nidan from Fred Gable at KiShinTaiDo. After a while, they went their seperate ways, and Jason has been working in general, teaching privately since then. He has also worked to a minor degree with a few other things, but the focus is the Kyokushinkai-kan base he knows best.
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WING CHUN KUNG FU
Wing Chun Kung Fu is an effective, combat-tested system of self defense and fighting skills. It has been referred to as "Scientific Street Fighting." Wing Chun Kung Fu has been integrated into hundreds of military & law enforcement agencies training programs around the world such as the US Navy Seals, the FBI, CIA, and SWAT teams and anti-terrorist units.
The Legend of Wing Chun has it that a Nun named Ng Mui from the Shaolin Temple witnessed a fight between a crane and a snake and noted that neither animal used brute force in the confrontation. The fight inspired her to create a new system of fighting based on the concepts she had witnessed being used by the two animals.
She later taught a young girl by the name of Yim Wing Chun this system of self defense because a local thug threatened to force her to marry him. As a result Yim Wing Chun was able to defend herself with the boxing methods taught to her and later marry whomever she chose.
For more information, see Memphis Wing Chun Boxing Academy's blog page.
Wing Chun Instructors:
Si-Hing Ed Holt - 901.491.2027
Wing Chun Instructor, CPR and AED Certified
Si-Hing Nathan Walls - email
Wing Chun Instructor
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Aikido: Style and Instructor information
Hung Gar Kung Fu: Style and Instructor information
Kempo Karate: Style and Instructor information
Kyokushinkai Karate: Style and Instructor information
Wing Chun Kung Fu: Style and Instructor information
AIKIDO
Aikido is one of the world's newest, most mysterious martial arts, incorporating graceful dance-like maneuvers with the ancient combat skills of Japan's most famous fighting arts. By training the mind as well as the body, Aikido unlocks hidden strengths in even the smallest person, young or old, male or female. Aikido teaches defense without aggression, control without humiliation.
By embracing the laws of nature, the student learns to allow the aggressor to defeat himself. Without attacks or contests, Aikido aims at calming the mind in the face of stressful situations. It has been called the "zen of martial arts."
Aikido Instructors:John Thomas, Sensei
Jerry Leek, Sensei - 901.201.9822
Back to top
HUNG GAR KUNG FU
Hung Gar is one of many styles of traditional Chinese martial arts that falls under the catch-all term "Kung Fu" which means "Hard Work" in Chinese. Hung Gar is a southern Chinese hard style kung fu with powerful strikes and swift movements. It is also a soft style with its use of arcs, circles and spirals. It is famous for its low solid stances and no-nonsense formidable strikes and blocks including "Tiger Claw" technique.
Hung Gar Kung Fu Instructor:
Si-Hing Thomas Vaughn - 206.605.2579 or
2nd degree black belt, Taekwondo
Instructor, Hung Gar Kung Fu
Thomas Vaughn has been involved in martial arts since 1986 when he joined the United States TaeKwon Do Federation (USTF) and the International TaeKwon Do Federation (ITF). In 1991, he earned the permanent rank of 1st Dan (First Degree Black Belt) with the USTF/ITF. In 1994 he earned the permanent rank of 2nd Dan (Second Degree Black Belt) with the USTF/ITF.
Searching for something different, between 1995 and 2008 Thomas trained at various martial arts schools until finding the Seattle Kung Fu Club (SKFC) in 2008. Since 2008, Thomas trained under Grand Master Leong at the Seattle Kung Fu Club, in Seattle, WA, USA and then under Sifu Jason Bartlett of Applied Combat Martial Arts. To this day, Thomas trains under Sifu Jason Bartlett.
Currently Thomas teaches Applied Combat Hung Gar Kung Fu from the Memphis Martial Arts Center in Memphis, TN.
Back to top
KEMPO KARATE
Okinawan Kempo Karate Jitsu is a classical system of karate encompassing a great deal more than punching and kicking. The techniques are those that were used by the ancient warriors of the Ryukyu Islands. It is these that separate Okinawan Kempo from the modern and traditional forms of karate.
Kempo: a martial art that includes grappling techniques (tuite), vital point strikes (kyusho jitsu), and weapons techniques (kobudo). These are not separate arts or additions to karate, but are contained in the original art.
Karate: The art of self-defense using the whole body, including the Empty hand, T'ang hand, or China hand.
Jitsu: The science and study of karate through training the mind as well as the body.
Kempo Karate Instructors:
Sensei Clif Bullard - 901.275.1636 or email
4th degree black belt, Kempo
1st degree black sash and certified instructor, Ching Jwa Gung Fu
Certified Instructor, Dayan ("Wild Goose") Qi Gong
Clif Bullard began his martial arts training in 1984 at the University of Mississippi's Isshinryu Karate Club under Sensei Robert Holly. After moving to Memphis in 1986, he studied at the Ching Jwa ("Golden Talon") Gung Fu school under Sifu William Vardeman and was awarded both his black sash and his Sifu certification in 1991.
In 1994 he attended his first pressure point seminar, taught by Eli McCoy of Milan, TN. This caused him to realize that there was a much deeper level of knowledge which he hadn't seen before, and he began studying Kempo and Aikido under one of Master McCoy's students, Gary Chase of Memphis Aiki-kai. He was awarded his first-degree black belt for Ryukyu Kempo in 2001.
In 2003 Clif moved to Nashville where he continued his Kempo training with Steve Cooper of Cooper Karate and Jujutsu Center. Under Master Cooper he climbed to the rank of third-degree black belt. In 2007, Clif moved back to Memphis and resumed his Ryukyu Kempo training with Master Chase. In July, 2008 Clif was promoted to the rank of Master (fourth-degree black belt).
In addition to continuing his Kempo training, in 2011 Clif also received his instructor's certification for Wild Goose Qi Gong.
Sensei Bullard is proud to be an affiliate of Dillman Karate International.
Sensei Ralph White
2nd degree black belt, Kempo
1st degree black belt, Aikido
Back to top
KYOKUSHINKAI KARATE
Kyokushinkai is a hard Japanese style of Karate, founded by Mas Oyama. It is very similar to Shotokan, and in fact has some roots in Shotokan since Oyama studied some under Funakoshi. He is probably best known for killing bulls with his techniques, and for breaking the horns off the living bulls with his bare hands. (They were already slated for the slaughter house that same day, whether he was able to do such or not, so the owner didn't see a problem with letting him try such.)
Kyokushinkai Instructor:
Sensei Jason Taylor - email
2nd degree black belt
Jason Taylor has been working with karate since shortly before his sixteenth birthday, under the instruction of Robert Kendall, from Ro-Ken Karate club, here in the Memphis Area. He earned his Shodan under Robert Kendall, and then went to help out a friend with his class. He recieved his Nidan from Fred Gable at KiShinTaiDo. After a while, they went their seperate ways, and Jason has been working in general, teaching privately since then. He has also worked to a minor degree with a few other things, but the focus is the Kyokushinkai-kan base he knows best.
Back to top
WING CHUN KUNG FU
Wing Chun Kung Fu is an effective, combat-tested system of self defense and fighting skills. It has been referred to as "Scientific Street Fighting." Wing Chun Kung Fu has been integrated into hundreds of military & law enforcement agencies training programs around the world such as the US Navy Seals, the FBI, CIA, and SWAT teams and anti-terrorist units.
The Legend of Wing Chun has it that a Nun named Ng Mui from the Shaolin Temple witnessed a fight between a crane and a snake and noted that neither animal used brute force in the confrontation. The fight inspired her to create a new system of fighting based on the concepts she had witnessed being used by the two animals.
She later taught a young girl by the name of Yim Wing Chun this system of self defense because a local thug threatened to force her to marry him. As a result Yim Wing Chun was able to defend herself with the boxing methods taught to her and later marry whomever she chose.
For more information, see Memphis Wing Chun Boxing Academy's blog page.
Wing Chun Instructors:
Si-Hing Ed Holt - 901.491.2027
Wing Chun Instructor, CPR and AED Certified
Si-Hing Nathan Walls - email
Wing Chun Instructor
Back to top
SELF-CONTROL -
n; control of oneself, or of ones own emotions, desires, actions, etc. -- Websters New World Dictionary, 3rd College Edition
