Instructors
JINHENG LI- 李金恒
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.
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Former Senior Beijing Wushu Team Member, Beijing China
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Founder, Head Instructor, World Martial Arts Academy, Arizona, USA
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Director, World Martial Arts Grand Championship & Festival, Arizona, USA
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Beijing Wushu Flexible Weapons Gold Medalist
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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.
CHRIS LOPILATO
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.
DUSTY SCHMIDT
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 the US, 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, TaiChi, YingZhaoQuan (eagle claw) and ShuangGou (double hook swords).
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.
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.
RAYMUNDO HERNANDEZ-DOMINGUEZ
Coach Raymundo has been training Wushu for 10 years. He previously trained Tae Kwon Do and Kickboxing throughout high school and college before starting Wushu. He received his black sash in the summer of 2023 from World Martial Arts Academy under the direction of Master Li Jinheng and Coach Dusty Schmidt. He currently teaches Introduction to Modern Wushu and specializes in Changquan, Daoshu, and Gunshu.
TIM RICKABY
Coach Tim has been training in wushu for over 2 decades. He received his black belt from World Martial Arts Academy in 2022. He began teaching in 2023. He specializes in nanquan (Southern fist) and traditional Southern weapons.
IVO MISE
Sifu Ivo (Ivo Mise) brings over 30 years of combined martial arts experience, blending traditional lineage training with practical, real-world application. He served 11 years as a Use of Force and Self-Defense Instructor for a world top-tier security company, specializing in applied defensive tactics and high-pressure response training.
Sifu Ivo began training in Wing Chun, spending a couple of years under Sifu Angela Minerva of the Samuel Kwok lineage, followed by several years under Sifu Sol Black of the same lineage. He continued his Wing Chun development into the 2020s with Sifu Stephen Frerichs and Master Jeff Webb (Direct disciples of Grandmaster Leung Ting, GM Ip Man's last student) through the National Ving Tsun Organization, and continues to train under Master Jeff Webb to this day.
He serves as an Assistant Instructor under the National Ving Tsun Organization (Headquartered in Austin, Texas – Chief Instructor: Master Jeff Webb) and is the official NVTO Instructor Representative for Phoenix. Sifu Ivo also provides a structured Wing Chun program to Master Li’s World Martial Arts Academy.
His cross-training includes several years studying Larga Mano under Master Guro Mike Butz and several years studying a streamlined blend of Latosa Escrima under Sifu Stephen Frerichs. In 2019, Sifu Ivo began training in Tai Chi under Grandmaster Jinheng Li and Sifu Dan Smith, earning his black belt in 2025. Sifu Ivo offers classes, seminars, and private instruction in Phoenix. Please call the school for details.
JOSHUA LAURELES
Hailing from Texas and being a former infantry Marine, Joshua has a unique journey across his trek through wellness and transformation. Originally being exposed to Yoga at a hardcore bodybuilding gym, then learning about themes such as the Hero’s Journey, Joshua has created his own blend of Yoga: Metal Element. Tempered from the Marine Corps, experienced in various martial arts and sciences from Jiu Jitsu to KajuKenbo, he has woven together teachings and built a foundation for something completely new. This yoga is for the oddballs and the outsiders, like himself, those who are into the underground, the alternative and the obscure. He is here to bring something different, and to assist those seekers on their own path.