Martial Foodie

One of only 13 certified advanced Iyengar Yoga teachers in America, Yogi John Schumacher has taught B.K.S. Iyengar's method of Hatha Yoga since 1973.  In 1979, he founded Unity Woods Yoga Center, which has become the premier Yoga school in the Washington, DC area.

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Starting 1998, Coaches Mickey and Melody studied intensively under Yogis John Schumacher, Mary Pappas-Sandonas, and Joe Adelsic.  Coaches Mickey and Melody developed a strong awareness of alignment and posture for their own bodies as well as for others.  Through their Yoga training, they learned the importance of adapting instruction to fit the varying physical abilities or conditions of each student.  In addition, they incorporate Yoga into every class, beginning with comprehensive and targeted stretching exercises.

GM Tai Yim is the 8th Generation lineage holder of the Hung Fut Kung Fu, a martial art from Southern Shaolin combining the hard style of Hung Gar (Hung family style) and soft style of Fut Gar (Buddha Palm).  Honoring his teacher's wishes, GM Yim opened the first Hung Fut Kung Fu school in the U.S. in 1979.  In 1986, he co-founded the North American Chinese Martial Arts Federation, which later became the U.S. Traditional Kung Fu Wushu Federation.  For GM Tai Yim's official bio, click here.

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Coaches Mickey and Melody began training at Tai Yim Kung Fu in 2001.  Through Hung Fut training, they built a solid foundation in Chinese Martial Arts, which later served as a natural progression into Tai Chi.  To this day, Coaches Mickey and Melody are truly grateful to GM Tai Yim for helping Coach Melody recover from a chronic shoulder injury through stretching and acupressure.

Dr. Ong is a 20th Generation Chen Tai Chi master and Executive Vice President of the USAWKF (U.S.A. Kung Fu Wushu Federation).  As a Ph.D. in math, Dr. Ong has published articles on Chen Taiji by interpreting the often mystical and poetic nature of Tai Chi language into more concrete and tangible manner.  He is a disciple of GM Chen Zhenglei and an indoor student of GM Chen Xiaowang.  He has organized and hosted seminars in the DC area by the 19th Generation Chen Village Grand Masters Chen Zhenglei, Chen Xiaowang, and Zhu Tiancai.



In 2006, Coaches Mickey and Melody began their Chen Tai Chi journey under Dr. Ong, learning basics and Laojia Yilu from him.  Through him, Coaches Mickey and Melody were introduced to the Chen Village Grand Masters and trained under them.

Disciple of GGM Willy Lin (also pictured above), GM Brown is the current lineage holder of the Tien Shan Pai Kung Fu system and the promoter of the U.S. Capitol Classics, the Mid-Atlantic’s biggest open martial arts tournament and one of NASKA’s four “Grand Slam” (6A-rated) tournaments.  During his competitive career, he was a pioneer (most well known for his weapons forms) in open martial arts competition as one of the first Chinese Martial Artists to compete and win at tournaments dominated by Okinawan/Japanese and Korean stylists.  In 1982, he became the first African American to train in Mainland China.  For GM Brown's official bio, click here.



In 2003 at the World Culture Open, Coaches Mickey and Melody met GM Brown, who became their Yang Tai Chi teacher.  Three years later, they earned their Black Sashes under GM Brown.  Since 2004, GM Brown has been instrumental to nurturing their competitive career, starting with Synchronized Forms at the 2004 U.S. Capitol Classics.  GM Brown put Coaches Mickey and Melody on the Friday night main stage for their NASKA debut, giving them the opportunity to perform synchronized Tai Chi alongside NASKA luminaries Marcel Jones and Kalman Csoka, "DX" Dongxing Qiu and Li Ying, and Mindy Kelly and Gemma Nguyen.  In 2006, GM Brown encouraged Coaches Mickey and Melody to compete for the Tiger Claw Elite circuit, which began their competitive career outside of the DC Metropolitan area.

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At the 2007 Tiger Claw Elite Championship Final, GM Brown witnessed Coach Mickey winning the Adult Traditional Forms Grand Champion, and thus, becoming the first Tai Chi competitor to win a national open martial arts tournament, to which he remarked, "History has been made!"  Since Coach Mickey's NASKA debut as an individual competitor in 2009, GM Brown has supported Coach Mickey's endeavors representing Tai Chi in open martial arts competition.

GM CXW is the 19th Generation Chen Tai Chi Standard Bearer, and he has been promoting Chen Tai Chi around the world through the Chen Xiaowang World Taijiquan Association.  His teaching emphasizes learning through step-by-step movements with details, and his signature element is his tremendously explosive power (Fajing).  For GM Chen's official bio, click here.



In 2006, Coaches Mickey and Melody met GM Chen, their primary influence in Chen Tai Chi.   They participated in GM Chen's seminars many times, traveling as far away as London, UK.  From GM Chen, they studied Tai Chi Principles, Silk Reeling, Laojia Yilu, Laojia Erlu, Xinjia Yilu, Push Hands, Applications, Fajing, and Broadsword.  From his younger brother, Master Chen Xiaoxing, they learned Straight Sword and Broadsword.

Sifu Kamal is an Acupuncture Physician, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, and creator of Si Jin Bao Traditional Chinese Herbaceuticals.  In 2011, Coaches Mickey and Melody met Sifu Kamal, who introduced them to Body Type Qigong including Yin-Yang breathing.

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