ATDale Internal Arts, Taoist Movement Arts, Xin Qi Shen, Qi Gong, Taiji, Bagua, Yueng Quan, Shoshin Ryu, Roushou, Sanshou, Tuishou

ATDale
Formal Teachers
Sifu Dale began his study of the martial arts in 1968, age 13.
He began with the arts of Shito Ryu Karate and Kodokan Judo, achieving
an Ikkyu in Judo. In 1970 he began his study of Aikido with Bernie Lau.
In 1971 he began training in Wing Chun and Yueng Quan with Dave Harris and Fook Yueng.
His Taiji, Bagua, and Xin Yi training started in 1972 with Grandmaster Tchoung Ta Tchen.
In 1973, through Harris sensei he began training in Aikijujitsu with Sid Woodcock.
In 1976 be began studying Bagua Zhang with Pay Tse Yao.
In 1988 he was accepted as a student of Master Gao Fu in Chen Taiji Quan.
He studied Liu Bin Bagua beginning in 1989 with Professor Zhang Jie.

Bernie Lau

Lau started his training Aikido in 1955 in Hawaii and earned his shodan from Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba. His primary Aikido sensei was Shihan Yukiso Yamamoto and Sado Yoshioka, both students of Koichi Tohei and pillars of the Hawaii Aikikai. Lau sensei also studied on occasions with Tohei sensei, Doshu sensei (K. Uyeshiba, the founder's son), and attended classes by Osensei (the founder of Aikido).

With his work in Seattle's law enforcement Lau sensei needed to research more options and techniques to use while faced with life and death situations encountered on the street. He pursued his studies of the martial arts in Goju Ryu Karate and then putting his focus on Aikijujitsu. Inviting guest instructors to his dojo such at: Frederick J. Lovret, Soke Don Angier, Wally Jay, and Obata author of Combat Aikijujitsu. Lau sensei studied the many facets of Jujitsu and Aikijujitsu. After years of on-the-job research he formulated a system to teach law enforcement officers he named Icho Ryu Aikijujitsu.

Yoshihiko Hirata

Yoshihiko Hirata studied at the Aikido Hombu Dojo and was a student of the founder, Morihei Ueshiba. He became a disciple of Koichi Tohei, chief instructor of Hombu Dojo. In 1970 he was sent to Seattle by Koichi Tohei to begin an Aikido club as an extension of the Hombu Dojo.

Hirata and his wife Mihoko were highly skilled violinists and taught children the Suzuki Method of violin. His Aikido was fast, quick, and effective. Early on he taught Tohei Aikido (my nickname for it) in which equal emphasis was put on technique and ki, energy flow. From 1973 onward the emphasis of Tohei's teaching was primarily on ki and eventually he separated from the main Aikido headquarters calling his method Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido. From 1974 onward this was the Aikido Hirata taught.

Koichi Kashiwaya

Koichi Kashiwaya began his Aikido training in 1969 while a student at Risshou University. In 1971 he began training under the guidance of Koichi Tohei, chief instructor of Aikido Hombu dojo. He was one of three selected by Koichi Tohei to become his primary instructors of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido. They were nicknamed the 'Big Three'.

In 1973 Tohei sent him to Seattle to become assistant instructor to Yoshihiko Hirata and establish other schools in the U.S. He became chief instructor of the University of Washington Aikido club for a period of time as well as teaching at Evergreen College in Olympia Washington.

In 1983 he was appointed by Tohei sensei as Chief Instructor for Ki Society in the USA.
www.midlandki.org/kashiwaya.html

David Harris
6/10/1939 - 9/10/2008

2019-01 Newsletter

Harris sensei began his study of the martial arts in the early 1960's studying karate and earning his shodan. Around 1965 he became a formal student of Master Fook Yueng learning Red Boat Wing Chun, Mantis, Crane, assorted weapons, and several kung fu methods. Due to his study and remarkable skill Yueng adopted him as his number one kung fu son.

During this time he also became a student of Aikijitsu Master Sid Woodcock and would travel to Richland WA every weekend to study Aikijitsu. Dave eventually earned a 5th degree from Woodcock. In the 1970's - 1990's, whenever a martial arts master arrived in Seattle, Dave found the time to study with them. In the late 1960's, at Yueng's recommendation, he became a student of Taiji master Raymond Chung and learned the entire traditional Yang Cheng Fu system. After Master Chung no longer commuted to Seattle, Dave was able to convince Master Tchoung Ta Tchen, of Vancouver, to teach weekly in Seattle. Dave was one of the five students in Seattle who received a teaching certifications from Master Tchoung.

He studied Bagua with T.Y. Pang and Professor Zhang Jie.In the late 1980's His martial skill was amazingly at a very high level.
video clip

Sid Woodcock
- 2015

Sid Woodcock was skilled in all aspects of Aikijitsu. Aside from taijitsu (throwing techniques) he was also versed in: hojo jitsu (the tying art), kiai jitsu (sound methods), knife, sword, and gun methods. His company was Detonics, an American firearm and explosive manufacturing company

Not much is known about his early life but he learned the entire system of Shinobi Aikijitsu from a Japanese master who was interned in Eastern Washington or Idaho. This master promoted him to a high level of rank (8th Dan Black Belt) within the system which Woodcock had inscribed on his gi. This symbol was recognized when he paid a visit to his teacher's family school. Dave Harris was most likely his most accomplished student earning a 5th Dan.

He was a weapon and explosive specialist and one of the early 1940s OSS (Office of Strategic Services) operatives and later worked under contract for the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), Atomic Energy Commission, Department of Defense, FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), Secret Service and the Department of Justice; After World War II, he was an instructor of units from the U.S. Army Special Forces and U.S. Navy Seal Teams.

Mitsugi Saotome

Saotome began his study of Aikido at 18 years old at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. In

1958 he became an uchi-deshi, disciple of the founder and trained for 15 years until the founder's death in 1969.

In 1960 he became one of the senior instructors at the Aikikai Hombu Headquarters and was chief weapons instructor until leaving in 1975.

In 1975 he moved to the U.S. and established the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba which is now an extension of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo.

Fook Yueng
1919 - April 23, 2012

2018-02 Newsletter

Fook Yueng was trained in the Chinese Opera since childhood. Those familiar with Chinese Opera know that the members can put any gymnast to shame by their flexibility, strength and fitness. The training was hard, beginning at 4 am before being permitted to eat.

He became part of the Red Boat Opera group that traveled along the coast stopping at cities to perform and accept challenges. Red Boat Opera was also known as an elite martial arts group consisting of kung fu masters of several styles. Red Boat Wing Chun was a particular branch blending in: Tai Chi, Pa Kua, Northern and Southern Mantis, Crane, Monkey and others. His special role was playing the part of the Monkey King in the Opera. Another member of the troop was Bruce Lee's father who was a good friend. Mr. Yueng was Bruce's godfather. Linda Lee acknowledged that Yueng trained Bruce and was his mentor in addition to Yip Man.

Tchoung Ta Tchen
8/ 23/1911 - 2/ 22/ 2000

2018-04 Newsletter

Sifu Tchoung began his training in a style called ' Nature Boxing' (Tzu-jan p'ai/Zirenmen), a style said to be created by a wushu master nicknamed Dwarf Xu of Szu-ch'uan province.

He studied intensively the Emei (Omei) Qi Gong method on Emei Mountain with Abbot Hui Gong. Tchoung studied Yang Taiji Old school descended from Yang Shou Hou. His teachers included Shi

Dao Mei, a student of Tian Zhao-Lin who was a student of Yang Shao Hou. Upon befriending Master Zhen Manqing he studied push hands extensively with Master Cheng. He learned Hsing I Chuan from the great Yuan Tao and Bagua Zhang from Master Wang Xu Jin.

In the late 1980's he studied Tai Chi broadsword techniques with the late Wu Tunan. His colleagues and practice partners included: Wang Hsu Chin, Kuo Lien Ying, Wang Yen Nien, and T.T. Liang.

In 1976 he presented teaching certifications to his top five Seattle students: Andrew Dale, Harvey Kurland, Don Scott, David Harris, and Kerry Brooks.

Pang Tse Yao
- 2015

Born in Lanshan, Hunan Province, Pang began his practice of meditation, martial arts and traditional Chinese medicine at the age of ten. Shortly after moving to Hong Kong in 1950, he studied with the renowned Taiji Master Dong Yingjie and Bagua/Xing Yi Master Sun Sikun. As a student of Sun Sikun he was taught the function and fighting methods of the internal arts.

In 1964 he settled in Honolulu and began teaching the classical Chinese arts in 1966. In 1975, Pang moved to Orcas Island, Washington. In 1976 he established the Tai Chi School of Philosophy and Art.

Gao Fu
6/ 23/ 1916 - 1/ 17/ 2005

2018-03 Newsletter

Gao Fu began her study of Taiji at the age of 50! Initially not interested in Taiji she wanted to learn the sword. Her first teacher insisted she learn the solo movements first. Focusing all her

efforts and talent she became accomplished in the entire systems of Yang and Chen methods of Taiji Quan and Hun Yuan Qi Gong. She studied Yang Taiji Quan with Master Jiang Yu-k'un, an advanced student of Grandmaster Yang Cheng-fu, learning form, sword, saber, staff, spear, and sanshou. She studied intensively Chen style Taiji under Masters: Tien Xiouchen and Feng Zhiqiang, both disciples of the great Chen Fake.

Upon Tien's

death she was appointed to teach his classes by Master Feng. She was sent to Sweden and Japan as a representative of the Beijing Chen Tai Chi Research Society to demonstrate and teach. In 1988 she arrived in Seattle and began teaching as well as traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada on invitation to teach many seminars. Her specialty was teaching the internal aspects of the art.

Zhang Jie

Zhang Jie learned Shaolin Kung Fu as a child but began his study of Bagua in 1979 with Liu Xin Han. Liu was a 4th generation Bagua Master. Soon after becoming a student he was accepted as a 5th generation 'inner door' student of the Cheng Ting Hua Liu Bin Bagua lineage. Aside from the study of Bagua he was also deeply interested in studying the I Ching, Chinese philosophy, healing, and the connection with the martial arts.

He studied and practiced Tui-Na treatment at the Chinese Traditional Medicine Research Institute for 10 years. In addition to Bagua he studied Wudang Taiji Quan from Master Tsao Sin Yi, 24th generation in the Lung Men school. Wild Goose Chi Kung from Master Yan Mei Jwing from the Kun Lun school. He has authored two books in English on the Liu Bin Bagua Method.