Senior Instructor (Sensei) Gordon Green has studied Master Steven Seagal's personal brand of Aikido for over 30 years, and received his black belts under Seagal and local St. Louis legend Elliot Freeman. Sensei Green is a former middleweight boxer and Army Ranger. He has trained under many styles and varieties of martial art, but Aikido is his first love. In more than three decades of practice, his technique boasts a practicality and flavor that is unique to his school and students.

Grandmaster Derrick Wright, Chief Instructor Wrights Kung Fu Association. 8th generation disciple of Great Grandmaster Lee Kam Wing of the International Seven Star Mantis Style Lee Kam Wing Martial Arts Association. He has more than 30 years of experience in the martial arts, and has been teaching for more than 20 years. He was first promoted as a black belt and instructor by Master Kenneth Edwards of Shan Tung Kung Fu. His training in Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu started with Master John Cheng of California Martial Arts. He became a certified instructor and Sifu in Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu under the late Grandmaster John Cheng, MD and continued his training with Great Grandmaster Lee Kam Wing. Sifu Wright became a closed door disciple of Great Grandmaster Lee, and has been promoted to both Master and Grandmaster level. He has been internationally ranked by several well-known and legitimate international martial art organizations. Grandmaster Wright is a Chairman of the World of Traditional Seven Star Mantis Style Federation, Vice Chairman of the Southern and Northern Martial Art Association, Overseas Founding Member of the Global Martial Artists Association, and the former Chairman of the Board and founding board member of the Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Federation.

Conway Wong began studying Shuri-Ryu Karate-Do in 1987 with Grandmaster Robert Trias. After the untimely death of Grandmaster Trias, Mr. Wong went to study with Sensei Milt Calander of Chandler, Arizona. Mr. Wong continues his student-teacher relationship with Master Calander to the present day. Beginning in 2004, Mr. Wong studied Tenshin Aikido for 9 years with Sensei Elliot Freeman. Mr. Wong also studies Okinawan Kobudo and the White Crane Fist Style with Grandmaster Robert Bowles. He holds a 5th Degree Black Belt in Shuri-Ryu Karate-Do; a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tenshin Aikido; and was awarded a Renshi (expert instructor) title in 2022.

Join our honored and revered guest, Master Chuck Cadell, as he teaches the fundamentals and applications of Filipino stick fighting. Bring two escrima sticks. Limited sticks available. Sticks will also be available to purchase for $20 per pair.

Segal Sensei began training in karate in 1985 and soon became interested in learning about the origins of the art. While majoring in East Asian Studies, he studied at Sophia University in 1992, where he was introduced to Aikido and trained at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. He returned to Japan each of the following years as a student of Seiseki Abe Sensei.

Huayin Zhu, his Buddhist name is Shi, Xingqi. He belongs to the thirty-second generation of disciples of Shaolin Temple in Songshan, band six of Chinese Kung Fu. He has practiced Kung Fu for over 30 years since he was a kid. He is very good at Shaolin boxing, Shaolin broadsword, Pudao, Nine-section whip, Crescent shovel and Hard Qigong. He has participated in many competitions and won numerous awards, including the champion of Gunshu in theHenan martial arts championship and the first place in Shaolin boxing competition; and from 1991 to 2004, he has won seven consecutive titles in Zhengzhou International Martial Arts Festival. He visited over 30 foreign countries or areas such as Europe, America and Southeast Asia for Kung Fu performance and cultural exchange. Many times he performed on stage for China's leaders and foreign dignitaries. He performed many times in the gala performance on CCTV and a number of satellite programs. He is the Kung Fu director of the world's only large-scale Chinese customs show "Panda''. He is the Kung Fu director of Shaolin's large-scale shows "Soul of Shaolin", "Legend of Shaolin" and "Shaolin's glory" too. He led the team to visit Europe, America and Southeast Asia.

Guro "Stick," as he is known to his students, started training in Serrada Escrima at the age of 13. For 28 years, he pursued mastery, teaching as many people along the way as he could. After the passing of his original teacher, Sifu Shannon Walsh, he tracked down his teacher's teacher, Master Charles "Chuck" Cadell III. Master Chuck Cadell is the last master certified by the Grandmaster Angel Cabales. Guro Stick is certified by Master Chuck Cadell in Tanikala de Serrada Eskrima, and continues under his instruction to this day.

John Launius is the Founder of Fragrant Journeys, LLC, an experiential company offering enlightening experiences through pure fragrance following traditional practices. He has studied world incense traditions for forty years, traveling internationally to lecture and share "The Way of Fragrance." Launius is also the President of Vidzu Media, COO of Geniecast, and the Executive Sponsor of Bloom. As a senior executive, business development leader, certified trainer, instructional designer, radio/podcast and television host, and author, John has produced effective teams and operations across government, education, technology, and media sectors during his career.

Sensei Russ Little has earned a 5th Dan in Kodokan Judo, a 4th Dan in Traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu, and a 1st Dan in Tenshin Aikido. After training briefly as a teenager in Karate, Sensei Russ began his Judo career in 1982, as a freshman, while attending Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State) in Kirksville Missouri. The following year he began his training in earnest under Sensei Bonnie Korte in Ferguson Missouri, who was at the time the highest ranking US woman, and later under Sensei Tom Kuhne, a long time international competitor, and the Chief Instructor of the Kirkwood Judo Club. Sensei Russ received his 1st Degree Black Belt in 1992, at an international training camp in Colorado Springs at the prestigious NJI headquarters of the USJA. He had tested for and passed his Ikkyu (1st Degree Brown Belt) test earlier that day, but at the end of the Randori session that night it was announced by O’ Sensei Phil Porter (9th Dan) that his skill on the mat had warranted elevation of his rank to Shodan. Porter Sensei announced that After consultation with Eddie Liddie, Olympian, and US Olympic Coach that “Earlier in the week a student was tested for and received his Ikkyu, but nobody comes into this place, and throws two national champions, and leaves here less than a Shodan.” It was at that time that Sensei Russ realized that it was him that Porter Sensei was referring to. Twelve years later as a 4th Dan Sensei Russ, was granted the role of Chief Instructor of the Kirkwood Judo Club a post that he has now served for nearly two decades. His competitive career includes 10+ Missouri State Championships, 10+ US Ladder Tournament Medals, Dozens of US National Wins, plus training trips and training camps, in Ghana, England, France, and Russia. The highlight of his Competitive Career was his 2009 Silver Medal in the World Masters Competition in Atlanta, where his only loss of the day was against Olympian Damon Keeve, to whom he lost by decision.

​You've seen Zorro do it, and Robin Hood, and even Jack Sparrow. Try out fencing for yourself when St. Louis Fencers Club President and Chief Instructor Patrick Dorsey shares his "Five Points to Fencing" and introduces the basics of fencing and the Western sword.

Nick Nelson, Shidoshi has been studying Budo Taijutsu since 2006 and currently holds the rank of Rokudan (6th Degree). In 2018 he began training under Patrick Lee, Dai Shihan and received Shidoshi (teacher certification) at the Bujinkan Hanbu in Japan after passing the Sakki test given by Toshiro Nagato, Dai Shihan & Shinden Fudo Ryu Soke. Nick is also a Kendo practitioner as well as certified firearms instructor. He is the Dojo-Cho (Chief Instructor) of the Akeru Bujinkan Dojo in St Louis, Missouri.

Iaido is a spiritual practice designed by samurai to maintain their sword skills during times of peace. The aim of iaido is to hone, and polish the internal spirit and draw the consciousness to the present. Musō Shinden Iaido combines several schools into a catalogue of stand, and kneeling katas as well as practice drills.

Ross Whalen is the founder of Tozai- STL and hold the rank of Yo Dan, certified under Art McConnell, the founder of Tozai Iai Kai on Long Island, NY. Ross has 15 years of Iaido experience as well as modest ranks in empty hand arts such as Tang Soo Do, and Bujinkan Taijutsu. Tozai- STL holds a free class every Tuesday at the Messiah Community Center from 5:00-6:30pm.

Sifu (Teacher/Master) Wayne Judge has been studying Martial Arts since he was 13 and Teaching Traditional Southern Shaolin Hung Kuen in the St. Louis and surrounding area since 1999 with the "Forest Park Kung Fu club" which became "Iron Dragon Hung Kuen" in 2004. He has been the Official representative of his Master, Grandmaster Chiu Chi Ling, in the StL area since 2005 when he earned his Master ranking under him. Sifu Judge and his students have performed Futsan Lion Dance throughout the Midwest for over 20 years.