Rachel began studying under Shifu Ferreira in 1997. A competitor in Taolu since 1998, she has gone from a beginner to an advanced competitor in three years and she was a member of Team USA for the 1st Pan-American Kuoshu Championship held in Brazil (2001) and again for the 2nd World Kuoshu Championships held in Singapore (2006). Rachel became a ZYKFA certified Instructor in 2005, becoming the first certified female Instructor in the association. Besides her competition activities, she is one of the dancers in the Zhong Yi Lion Dance Troupe. Currently she is an Instructor for Basics Shaolin classes. She is the Da Shijie (Eldest Sister) of ZYKFA.
Jeff began his martial arts training in 1982, under the guidance of his father, studying Tae Kwon Do and later on also studied Aikido. In 1999 he began his studies at ZYKFA under Shifu Ferreira. Jeff also participates in the ZYKFA Taolu Team, the Zhong Yi Lion Dance Troupe and was a member of Team USA for the 1st Pan-American Kuoshu Championship held in Brazil (2001), World Kuoshu Championship held in Brazil (2003) and at the Second World Kuoshu Championships which was held in Singapore (2006). Always looking to expand his knowledge of Chinese martial arts, Jeff studies Taijiquan under Shifu Elizabeth Jones. Jeff is also a certified judge (national) through the USKSF. Currently Jeff teaches Bei Shaolinquan to a youth group at the American Chinese School and Taijiquan on Madison's westside. He became an official ZYKFA Instructor in 2006 and just recently, in 2014, he became the very first Senior Instructor of the Association as well as the Da Shixiong (Eldest Brother) at ZYKFA.
Kimba started his martial arts training at age 7, practicing judo for a short time. Eventually,he turned to Tae Kwon Do in 1986, devoting approximately 13 years to its study - while occasionally wrestling for his high school. In 2001, he joined ZYKFA and became a student of Bei Shaolinquan under Shifu Ferreira. Kimba has competed in local, national, and international events and is currently the Lei Tai Team Coach. He has earned medals as a member of both the Taolu and Kuoshu Lei Tai teams. Kimba represented the US in the World Kuoshu Championships held in Brazil (2003) and again in Singapore (2006) becoming a World Champion. Kimba is a Certefied International B Level Referee through the TWKSF and is the Lei Tai Referee General for the USKSF North Region Tournament and has refereed/judge at the 2012 World Kuoshu Championships in Genting, Malaysia.
Woody has studied at ZYKFA under Shifu Ferreira since 2003 and received his instructor's certification in 2010. Woody's first martial arts experience was with the Aikido Club at NC State University in 1993. He began studying Northern Shaolin Gong Fu and other aspects of Chinese martial arts in 1997 with Sifu Kenneth Yung at Qi Elements, in Herndon, VA. He has also taken seminars with Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, Shi Yang Ming, Luo Dexiu, Kisu, and Lu Wejia. Woody teaches intermediate and advanced Shaolin classes at ZYKFA and is a member of the Taolu team.
Sifu Paul Liss (1970-2022) started his formal martial arts training in 1986, learning the modern Yang style Taijiquan short form. Over the next decade, he explored many styles including Shotokan Karate, Sanchin Ryu Karate, Northern Long Fist, and modern Yang style Taiji swordplay. In 2004, Paul returned to the UW-Madison Chinese Wushu and Tai Chi club to continue to both study and teach the Chinese martial arts. In 2006, he competed at the 1st North Regional Chinese Kuoshu Tournament in the Taijiquan division. Impressed by the level of skill displayed by the ZYKFA competitors, Paul began studying Bei Shaolinquan under Shifu Ferreira the following week. He has also had the opportunity to study under great teachers such as Shifu Kleppe, Zhang Xiaoling, Liu Yu, Norm Petredean and Wang Yu. He has travelled to China and studied at Shaolin, Wudang and Emei. Paul is an Instructor for the intermidiate and advanced classes at ZYKFA, he is also the Taolu Team Captain and was a member of the US Team for the 2009 World Championships in Germany. Paul became a World Champion at the 2013 WOMAA World Championships held in Dublin, Ireland. Sifu Paul Liss passed away in December of 2022 after a long, hard fought battle with cancer. He will always be remembered by all of us.
Andrew began his study of Chinese martial arts in 2003 with Yang and Chen Taiji Quan and Chang Quan (Wushu). He has studied Bei Shaolinquan with Shifu Ferreira since 2006 and competes on both the Lei Tai and Taolu Teams. Andrew is a personal trainer and teaches the Strength and Conditioning class at ZYKFA. He became a ZYKFA certified Instructor in 2010. Andrew became a champion in Lei Tai fighting at the 2011 UMAI Kung Fu Championships.
Andy began his training inTae Kwon Do as a youth, and then, at age 12, wrestled for 2 seasons in the YMCA youth league. He began studying Bei Shaolinquan under Shifu Fereirra in april of 2000, and joined the Lei Tai Team in 2001. Andy is currently an Assistant Instructor/Coach for the Lei Tai Team and has competed and coached in regional, national and international Lei Tai tournaments.
