About the Instructors
Sifu Falko Kriel
Falko is passionate about preserving the ancient wisdom in traditional martial arts and Chinese medicine as an art and lifestyle to promote health, personal growth, and self-defense. A lifelong martial arts student, he was introduced to Kung Fu and Tai Chi in 2002 when he met his teacher (Sifu), Grandmaster Julian K. Duran. He trained under him at the Kung Fu Conservatory in Florida, where he was initiated into the lineage of Fu Jow Pai, the black tiger claw style. At this time he had the opportunity to train with the owner of the style, Grandmaster Wai Hong, at numerous seminars.
While in Florida he attended the Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine and received a Master's Degree in Chinese Medicine, during which time he also lived with his teacher for two years to complete an intensive period of training and mentorship. He learned Yang Style Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and numerous other martial art systems under Sifu Duran including Hung Gar, Mi Zhong, Leung Ying Tai Chi, and Yi Chuan Pai. Through his Chinese medicine training he learned acupuncture, herbal medicine, manual therapy, and food therapy.
Falko also has personal experience with illness and overcoming health limitations. In 2009, he developed inflammation of the brain and spine that resulted in paralysis from the waist down. Using Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Chinese medicine for rehabilitation, he was able to make a full recovery. Drawing on this experience inspires him to help others overcome the challenges they face, and to bring mindfulness and compassion into his work as he journeys alongside his students and patients as a helper, teacher, and guide. When not in the clinic or the school, you can find him connecting with nature in the mountains and forests with his wife and three kids!
Sihing Chris Livingstone
Chris originally started studying Qi Gong with Sifu Falko in Spring of 2018 for health reasons. He began attending Tai Chi classes that summer and quickly developed a minor obsession with the practice. Kung Fu followed the next year despite a busy schedule as a practicing family doctor and father of two small children. Chris also does daily strength training with barbells, kettlebells and body weight, and has a regular handstand practice. With his prior history as an athlete and through diligent daily practice, he has achieved a high level of skill in a short period of time and will be teaching tai chi classes as well as assisting with kung fu class instruction.
Lineage
Senior Master Julian K. Duran
Master Julian K. Duran has over 42 years of martial arts training under Grandmaster Wai Hong, studying Fu Jow Pai and master level forms of several other martial arts styles, including Hung Gar, Mi Chung I, 7-star Mantis, and Yang style Tai Chi Chuan. He is the originator of Yeung Jo Fu Tai Chi Chuan, and the inheritor of I Chuan Pai and Leung Ying Tai Chi Chuan.
Through his years teaching martial arts and running the Kung Fu Conservatory, a successful school in Southeast Florida, Master Duran has taught thousands of students, including competition-winning fighters, and many of his articles been published through Inside Kung Fu magazine. He continues teaching at Southeast Fu Jow Pai and present seminars across North America.
Grandmaster Wai Hong
Grandmaster Wai Hong is the Third Generation Successor and Father of Fu Jow Pai, whose headquarters is in New York City. Born in Canton, China, he began his training as a child and learned several systems in addition to Fu Jow Pai, including Hung Gar, Mi Chung I, Choy Lee Fut and Tai Chi Chuan. Since assuming office in 1960, the Grandmaster has dedicated himself to the promotion of Fu Jow Pai Kung Fu and the Chinese martial arts.
He has trained a vast number of highly skilled students and qualified instructors who are known throughout the martial arts world. He was the first to promote the Full Contact Tournament in 1971, a concept which was adopted by many promoters across North America, and is also the founder of the Eastern United States Kung Fu Federation.
