JINHENG LI- 李金恒

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World Martial Arts Academy was founded in 1984 by Master Jinheng Li with the goal to promote and practice "Wushu" as a contemporary Chinese Sport, as well as a way of life to increase health, fitness and wellness in modern society.

 

• Former Senior Beijing Wushu Team Member, Beijing China 

• Founder, Head Instructor, World Martial Arts Academy, Arizona, USA 

• Director, World Martial Arts Grand Championship & Festival, Arizona, USA

• Beijing Wushu Flexible Weapons Gold Medalist

• United States Martial Arts Association Hall of Fame

 

 

Master Jinheng Li began his martial arts training at age 11, he was selected to attend the prestigious Beijing Sports School, alongside teammate and friend, Jet Li. This is a "live-in" school where students focus not only on their academic subjects but they also train several hours daily, 6 days a week under the tutelage of the best martial arts masters in China. He specialized in many Chinese traditional weapons, as well as numerous hand forms such as Northern Shaolin long fist, Southern Style Boxing, Hung Gar, Nanquan, Baji, Bagua, Chen & Yang Styles Tai Chi, Xingyi, Tongbei, etc. He is internationally known for his skill with the Rope Dart.

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CHRIS LOPILATO

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Chris Lopilato began his journey with Wushu in 2010 and became a student at World Martial Arts in 2011.  After 4 years of intense practice and competing in several events in the Western US, he obtained his Black Sash certification in 2015.

Mr. Lopilato has competed several times at ICMAC events in Las Vegas, Nv as well as CMAT in Berkeley, Ca. In that time received 8 gold medals, 5 silver medals, and 4 bronze.

He is now preparing to train for a busy tournament season with tournaments in Western California and possibly Shan Dong province, China.

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DUSTY SCHMIDT

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Coach Dusty Schmidt began practicing Wushu in high school and has been training for over 10 years. While attending school at Northern Arizona University (NAU), she founded and coached the NAU Wushu Team from 2009-2013. She has competed in several tournaments including ICMAC in Las Vegas, CMAT in Berkeley, and the Pan American Championships in Costa Rica, Argentina and Brazil. She specializes in Changquan (Northern empty-hand), Jianshu (straight sword), and Qiangshu (spear). Dusty has also studied the Hung Gar system, FanziQuan, Tai Chi, YingZhaoQuan (eagle claw) and ShuangGou (double hook swords).

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DAN SMITH

Sifu Dan Smith started training in TaeKwonDo, Hopkido, and traditional Jujitsu in 1990 and earned a black belt at age 13. He started studying Kenpo in his twenties and was given the rank of Yodan (4th Degree Black Belt). He has been studying Tai Chi and Wushu with Master Li since 2014 with an emphasis on Tai Chi Yang and Chen styles.

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MANBIR SINGH WAZIR

Coach Manbir has been practicing martial arts since age 7. He has achieved the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt at WMAA awarded by Master Li and Dan Smith. He also trained in TaeKwonDo, Hopkido, and Kenpo for 5 years under Sifu Dan Smith. He has been studying Tai Chi under Master Li since 2014. He studied Sanda with Coach Yang Pan for 2 years and brings over 10 years of teaching in experience in Karate, Tai Chi, and Sanda.

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