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.
2023 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 | |
Li Xiang Jin | |
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. |
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. |
Lao Shi Joseph Laracuenta III | Lao Shi Joseph began studying Tai Chi in 1986 under Grandmaster David Lin, eventually becoming the head teacher of Grandmaster Lin’s school. To deepen his understanding of the health benefits of Qi Gong, he attended the World Medical Qi Gong Conference in Beijing, China. He is now an instructor emeritus of the New York Health and Racquet Club, where he taught for many years, and he is an adjunct faculty member of the NYU Graduate Center in Manhattan. |
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. |
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. |
Sifu Brain Doherty | Sifu Brian Doherty has been training under Narcyz Latecki for 15 years in Kung Fu and Tai Chi. Prior training in Wah Lum Kung Fu and Kenpo karate. He has been practicing martial arts since 1981. |
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. |
Master Zihua Li | Master George Li has won first place on full contact fighting, Xing Yi Quan, Shao Lin Quan, Ba Gua on past World Opon Martial Arts Championships. He also won first place on Sabor, short Weapon Sparrin at International Chinese Martial arts Compititions in Washington DC. He has a fourth duan black belt from the World Fighting Martial Arts Federation. |
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 Xiang Jing | |
Master Li Hao | |
Sifu John C. Loupos | |
Master Justin Garofano | |
Sifu Thomas Dwayne | Sifu Thomas Dwayne studied Martial Arts for over 30 years, and has been training in many different styles such as Wu Shun, Wing Chan, Goju, Shotokan, Kali, and Anise. He started in New York City over the early years, and is now based in Boston, still learning and teaching at a few YMCAs around the Greater Boston Area. He has also appeared on stage and in films. He enjoys working with children and adults with forms and self defense. |
Jonathan Simon | Master Jonathon 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 Tempo 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 |
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