PANEL OF JUDGES
Panel of Judges
The panel of judges at the World Open Martial Arts Championship is selected based upon the standard and criteria set forth by the World Fighting Martial Arts Federation (WFMAF). Factors considered in this selection process for joining our panel of judges include the skill level and reputation of the masters, their judging experience at national and international level competitions, and other relevant qualifications. To learn more about our panel of judges, click on their names to read about their credentials if it is available. For masters and instructors who are interested becoming a judge at the US Open Martial Arts Championship, please submit your credentials for consideration using our online Judge Application form. To show appreciation to our panel of judges and staff members for their active support and involvement to the US Open Martial Arts Championship, the organizing committee will host a meeting and banquet after the competition to celebrate and to thank everyone for their contribution.
| 2024 World Open Martial Arts Championship - Judges | |
| Chief Judge | |
 Master Narcyz Latecki | Narcyz Latecki (雷鐵客 Lei Tieke), voted as one of the Top One Hundred Extraordinary Martial Artists of the World and Prominent Wushu Coach, is also co-chairman of the International Wushu Sanshou Dao Association (IWSD), from which he holds eight level black belt (黑带八段 Ba Duan) and a Honorary Master Level. |
| Vice Chief Judges | |
 Master Li Xiang Jing | Master Li Xiang Jing holds a 9th Duan in Chinese martial arts. He is a former Bei Jing Sanda Team member. He is also a Judo Champion of Asia, and was the former Chief Judge of several past WOMAC championships. |
| Judges | |
 Master Rick Wong | Sifu Rick Wong has studied traditional kung fu and contemporary wushu for more than 30 years in both the United States and China. He founded the Chinese Martial Arts Center in 1992, and has also taught at Boston University (1987– 1989) and was Harvard University’s first wushu instructor (2003-2010). He was a gold medalist at numerous national and international competitions, and coached multiple USAWKF and ICMAC tournaments champions. |
 Sifu Eric Cruz | Sifu Eric Cruz started training in 1969 in a variety of programs whatever was available in 1981 started Kungfu and never looked back. He founded the USA Kung Fu Academy in 1992, and is it's the director and chief instructor. |
 Sifu Rob Elkind | Rob Elkind started studying under the late Grandmaster Kwong Tit Fu, and then with Master Calvin Chin when he opened CCMAA. Rob assists by helping teach Kung Fu and Tai Chi classes at CCMAA |
 Sifu Paul Ho | Sifu Paul Ho from has been training in Hung Gar for the past 20 years at Calvin Chin's Martial Arts Academy. |
 Sifu Timothy LaVallee | Sifu LaVallee started his martial arts training as a teen and has decades of experience. He has been a disciple of Grandmaster Woo for more than 10 years and is an inheritor of his 5 Elements Tai Chi System. |
 Soke Grandmaster Tsuji | Soke Grandmaster Tsuji, born and raised in Japan, is a 65 year practitioner, who was put in to old school way of martial arts training in 1959 shortly after his mother died in a tragic accident by saving him and neighbors. Tsuji Soke is the 11th generation 一子相伝 chosen successor of a traditional samurai way of life. Completed through intensive 24/7 life or death training as 内弟子, living pupil. He was appointed to be next inheritor in 2000. He is also the 16th generation blood descendant of a heroic Daimyo of 信長 (1534~) Nobunaga who fought to stop war. His family lineage traces back to the Heian period (A.C. 794~) and connected with another legendary samurai 平家 Taira. His original 道場 Dojo was established in 1636~ in Japan by his direct family, and he received 勲章Emperor’s Medal of Honor in 2000. In 1981, Tsuji Soke created Samurai Taiko drumming Troupe. |
 Lao Shi Mark Opalenik | Lao Shi Marcus Opalenik's school is Yi Zong New England. He has been studying Xing Yi Chuan, Bagua Zhang, and Tai Chi Chuan for 25 years and am competent to judge in these areas. 22 of those years have been under his Teacher of YI Zong Lineage Luo De Xiu. |
 Sifu Lee Smith | Sifu Lee Smith has years of experience in Chinese martial arts include Nanquan and Shaolin Kung Fu. |
 Sifu Nick Vancisin | Sifu Nick Vancisin started training at USA Kung Fu Academy in 1999. |
 Sifu Dana Wong | Sifu Dana Wong started training in USA Kung Fu Academy in 1994 also had a school in Falmouth Massachusetts. |
 Sifu Xueyuan Yangchen | Sifu Xueyan Yangchen holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the esteemed Beijing Sports University. She was a martial arts coach at the prestigious Wufang Singapore before deciding to further her learning and pursue a Masters in Sports Finance in the US. She has refereed various Wushu competitions such as the American Golden State International Wushu Championships and the American Los Angeles International Wushu Competition. |
 Sifu Pete Kreitchet | Sifu Pete Kreichet has been involved with the martial arts since 1983. He joined the Wah Lum Kung Fu Athletic Association in 1996, was certified as an Instructor in 2005, and teaches in Boston's Chinatown. Pete is a senior member of the school's performance team and assists in coaching the competition team. He has competed and performed on both the national and international level, and is also a founding member and the current coach of Boston University's Kung Fu Club. He has been judging at local and international tournaments (ICMAC and US Kuo Shu) events for many years. |
 Master Ron Statler | Master Ron Statler has trained for over 40 years in traditional Kung Fu and intensively in the internal arts of Fu Style BaGuaZhang, Chen TaiJiQuan, and Xing Yi. He was a member of the 1st USA National ShuaiJiao team that won 1st place in Paris, France in 1991, and is the founder of the Chinese Wushu Research Institute of NY & CT. |
 Master Stanley Jue | In 1974, Master Stanley Jue started Okinawan Go-Ju-Ryu Karate with Sensei Anthony Mirakian 6th Degree Black Belt (Founder of Go-Ju-Ryu in America). Stan studied here for seven years, earning his 2nd degree Black Belt. In 1975, he began to study Chinese Kung Fu, Hung Gar Fu Hock Pai {Tiger and Crane Style} under the guidance of Grandmaster Kwong Tit Fu (Founder of Hung Gar Fu Hook Pai Tai Hay Morn in America). Stanley became Senior 3rd class in 1989. In 1977, he commenced a pursuit in Wing Chun Kung Fu {Dr Leung Jan Gu Lao Wing Chun Turning Style} under the guidance of Master Henry Mui (Founder of the Pien San Wing Chun In America). Stan thus became a disciple in 1984 becoming the 6th generation of the Dr Leung Jan Gu Lao Turning Style. |
 Gregg Gotti | Sifu Greg Gotti has embarked on his martial arts journey in 2003. He is one of the head instructors at the USA Kung Fu Academy. |
 Sifu Gary Lachapelle | Shifu Gary started his training back in 1988. After studying various styles of both Karate and Kung Fu, he began his focus on studying Northern Long fist Kung Fu and Yang Style Tai Chi in 2000. Shifu Gary is the Chief Instructor/Owner of The Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy of New England, a branch location of Authentic Shaolin Kung Fu in Worcester County, Massachusetts. |
 Master Li Hao | Sanda champion of International Sanda Championship in New York in the year of 2000. Also received many short weapon fighting Champions in many tournaments. He had many different titles at the US Open Martial Arts Championship in New York from 2009 to 2019, such as the vice president, secretary general, etc. He also judged many fighting championships. |
 Sifu John C. Loupos | Sifu John C. Loupos has been teaching martial arts since 1968 at his school, Jade Forest Kung Fu/Tai Chi/Internal Arts in Cohassset, MA. He holds a Masters Degree in Psychology and has written several critically acclaimed books on Tai Chi, including many magazine articles dating back to 1975. He became certified as a judge on the KRANE circuit in 1979 and was the all N.E. Forms champion 1979/1980. He has many decades of experience judging at Kung Fu and Internal Arts competitions. |
 Master Justin Garofano | Chief Instructor and Owner of Tweksbury ATA Martial Arts, Master Justin Garofano is a 7th Degree Black Belt (Senior Master) in Taekwondo. He began his Taekwondo training in 1990 at the age of 10, and earned his first black belt by age 13. Master Garofano has won many top ten, as well as gold and bronze medals, both locally, nationwide, and internationally, competing in Sparring, Traditional Form, and Weapons, is currently still competing. His teaching experience began early too as a young red belt assisting his instructor Master James Kenney in lower ranking classes and by age 20 earned his certified instructor status in the ATA. From 1999-2000 Master Garofano was the ambassador to Korea for the American Taekwondo Association and he has also achieved the rank of a certified instructor in Krav Maga. Master Garofano continues to live life in a happy and healthy way helping others achieve their own goals through martial arts training. |
 Sifu Thomas Dwayne | Sifu Thomas Dwayne studied Martial Arts for over 30 years and have been training in many different styles such as Wu Shu, Wing Chan, GOJu, Shotokan, Kali and Anise. He started in New York City over the early years and now in Boston, and still learning and teaching at a few YMCAs in Greater Boston area. Sifu Thomas Dwayne has also appeared on stage and in films. He enjoys working with children and adults with forms and self-defense. |
 Jonathan Simon | Master Jonathan Simon is the Headmaster of Greenwich Kempo, which he founded in 2013 in Greenwich, CT. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Classical Studies, as well as an M.A. in Philosophy from Tulane University. A 4th Dan Sensei in Shaolin Kempo and a Sifu of Yang Style Tai Chi, Master Simon is a dedicated martial artist and a disciple of Master Marlon Pilossoph. His expertise extends to the global stage, where he serves as a judge for the International Chinese Martial Arts Championship Circuit, bringing both his academic background and martial arts mastery to every aspect of his teaching and leadership. |
 George Wolff | Master George Wolff has been passionately involved in martial arts since the age of 8. He holds a 2nd-degree black belt in Taekwondo and a 5th-degree black belt in Kempo, showcasing his dedication and expertise in these disciplines. With six years of experience in No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where he has achieved a purple belt, and two years in Gi BJJ, where he holds a blue belt, Master Wolff demonstrates his versatility and commitment to continuous learning. Throughout his martial arts journey, Master Wolff has actively competed in numerous competition circuits, gaining valuable experience and honing his skills. His dedication to martial arts is not only evident in his personal achievements but also in his role as the owner of Legacy Martial Arts, where he inspires and trains the next generation of martial artists. |
 Sifu Eliot Prisby | The owner and head instructor of Metrowest Kung Fu, Sifu Eliot Prisby began his martial arts training as a child in 1993, studying Karate and Taekwondo before falling in love with Kung Fu and Tai Chi. He is an experienced competitor who has won many medals in local and national tournaments. He teaches Shandong Shaolin, Huaquan, Lohanquan, and Yang Style Tai Chi in Maynard MA. |
 Hanshi Brian M. Stoia | A Kyudan (9th degree black belt) holder, Hanshi Brian M. Stoia began training in Uechi-ryu Karate in 1973 (Mattson Academy of Karate - Boston), and has been teaching for 35+ years. He is fortunate to have trained under a number of outstanding Uechi-ryu masters. He also learned Yang style Taijiquan under Masters Luping Zhang and Huan Zhang, Ba Ji Quan under Master Kai Yu, and Modern Arnis under Master Richard Roy (GM Remy Presas). |
 Shidoin Angelina (Dolly) Read | A Godan (5th degree black belt) holder, Shidoin Angelina (Dolly) Read, began training in Uechi-Ryu Karate in 1994 in Hatfield Shubukan, Hatfield MA, under teacher-Hanshi Brian M. Stoia., where she has been a senior instructor since 1995. She has also studied Modern Arnis and Kobudo, under Hanshi Stoia. |
 Sifu Mynor Diaz | Sifu Mynor Diaz initiated his formal training in traditional Chinese Martial Arts in 1998 under the guidance of Master Calvin Chin, and then assisted Sifu Kalaitzidis with an affiliate location before returning to the Newton Academy. In his early twenties, he started learning Tai Chi. In 2012, he was bestowed the rank of Sifu by Master Chin, to preserve and promote the virtues of traditional Chinese martial arts through the Fu Hok Tai He Morn System of training. Mynor had an opportunity to develop a Tai Chi program for the VA Boston Healthcare System and, for 3 years, taught Tai Chi and adaptive Tai Chi classes in Brockton, Causeway, Jamaica Plain, Lowell, and West Roxbury. Mynor is now the primary instructor for CCMAA’s youngest Intro Kung Fu students, and also assists with Tai Chi classes and teaches Tai Chi on site at senior centers and living facilities in Lincoln, Concord, Walpole and Norwood. He has also started teaching Kung Fu to youth on site at a school in Chestnut Hill. |
 Sifu Hung Chiang | Hung Chiang has mainly been training Tai Chi Praying Mantis Kung Fu for 55 years under his father Huy Chiang. Hung started teaching in multiple athletic associations but mainly in Le Chi and The Fifth District Cultural center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He was the martial arts advisor for many Lion Dance clubs in Ho Chi Minh City in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. In 1988 Hung started teaching at Massasoit Community College and various other locations. Later he opened his own school along with his Dad in Avon, Massachusetts in 1998. Hung has been a board member of the U.S. Chuk-Kai Tai Chi Praying Mantis Federation since its inception. Currently he is the Martial Arts Director of the USCKTCPMF and has held federation seminars every year since 1993 along with judging at its tournaments. |
 Sifu Charles Payne | Sifu Charles Payne started his training in Wah Lum Kung Fu in 1976 at the Wah Lum Academy in Boston under Grandmaster Chan Pui. He has participated in tournaments and trained at various locations in China and the US and at the Wah Lum Temple in Orlando, FL. Sifu Payne became a certified 7th generation Wah Lum instructor in 1996 and continues to practice and teach to the present day at the Association in Boston’s Chinatown and New Hampshire. Sifu Payne is a senior member and coach of the performance and lion dance teams. He participated as a competitor and judge (ICMAC) at local and national events. |
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