I recommend starting at age 4, but I meet with all new students for an initial assessment. A free trial class helps determine if they are ready to begin training.

I teach Shaolin Kenpo, Kajukenbo, and Modern Arnis (FMA).

I teach situational awareness—avoiding danger is the best self-defense. My focus is real-world street self-defense, based on firsthand experience growing up in Richmond, CA.

Training includes:

• Quick, effective strikes to vital areas

• Joint manipulation to disable opponents

• Weapon defense (knives, bottles, objects)

• Grappling and ground defense

My goal is to equip students with practical, life-saving skills to end confrontations fast.

I earned my student black belt in six years, training six days a week, including holidays. In my school, I have promoted one black belt in six years. We are not a "black belt factory"—promotion depends on multiple factors, including embodying championship values, being a role model, mastering the curriculum, and demonstrating strong leadership. My son has trained with me for over seven years and is currently a Green Belt.

• Student Ranks: White, Yellow (Adv. Yellow), Purple (Adv. Purple), Blue (Adv. Blue), Green (Adv. Green), Brown (Adv. Brown), and Student Black

• Instructor Ranks: 1st–2nd Degree Black Belt

• Sifu (Teacher) Ranks: 3rd–4th Degree

• Si-Bok (Master Instructor) Ranks: 5th–6th Degree

• Professor Ranks: 7th–8th Degree

• Senior Master Professor: 9th Degree

• Grand Master: 10th Degree

Martial arts date back over 2,500 years, with unarmed combat introduced in the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC. Nearly 1,000 years later, Shaolin monks, led by Bodhidharma, were introduced to martial arts. In modern times, Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro brought Shaolin Kenpo to the West Coast in the late 1950s. Around the same time, Adriano Emperado and his colleagues introduced Kajukenbo (a blend of Karate, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Kenpo, and Boxing) to the U.S. Both learned martial arts from William K.S. Chow.

I began training under Great Grandmaster Lloyd Craft at age 9.

Yes, we attend 5–7 tournaments per year and host our own.

It represents Love, Care, and Respect for students and all living spirits. It’s our guiding principle as MCK students.

"I come to you in peace. I am not a threat and seek only the good in you—Love, Care, and Respect. I follow the Mighty Crane Way."

Yes. My Great Grandmaster, based in Santa Maria, CA, continues to train daily. He recently developed a new Kenpo system incorporating 16 new forms blending Shaolin Kenpo, Kajukenbo, FMA, and Wing Chun.

The name honors my late mother, whose spirit animal was the Japanese red-crowned crane. She always told me to be mighty and strong, so I named the school in her memory.