School Origins
The origins of this school can be traced directly to my teacher, Sifu Arthur Berry. It was his direct supervision that made my own school possible today.
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Sifu Arthur Berry
In 1972, Sifu Arthur Berry began his formal study of the martial arts. For 6 months, he studied an Okinawan style of Karate called Isshin Ryu at a local YMCA. Later that year, Sifu Berry discovered the ancient art of Chinese Kung-Fu. From 1972 to 1975, he pursued the study of Green Dragon Tai Praying Mantis Kung-Fu. Between 1975 and 1977, Sifu studied Kaju Kempo, a Japanese Karate system known for both its strength and throws.
1977 marked a major turning point in the martial life of Sifu Arthur Berry. It was during this year that he met Chin Ho Yin, a Grand Master of Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu. It was Sifu Berry's honor and privilege to train under Grand Master Yin over the next six years. 1980 was another critical year in the development of Sifu Arthur Berry. That year, he earned his teacher's rank in Green Dragon Tai Praying Mantis Kung-Fu, while continuing an exhaustive study of Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu under the tutelage of Grand Master Yin. However, it was in this same year that Sifu Berry began to share the gift of Kung-Fu that he had endeavored for so long to master.
As a result, Sifu Berry founded and opened the Chinese Kung-Fu Club of DeKalb, Illinois and has taught Chinese Kung-Fu to over 1,000 students.Sifu Berry's Chinese Kung-Fu school emphasizes the true meaning of Kung-Fu, teaching history, mind/body training, and martial applications as they were taught to him by Grand Master Yin. Sifu Berry has competed in the black belt division of countless tournaments throughout the Midwest over the years. His efforts have earned him hundreds of trophies, awards and accolades. Additionally, Sifu Berry has been a tournament official since 1980 and continues to have an active role in the tournament scene across the Midwest.
Many of Sifu Berry's students have followed in his knowledgeable footsteps. Students from the Chinese Kung-Fu Club of DeKalb have participated in open tournaments, winning numerous trophies and awards in sparring, forms, two-man forms, and weapons divisions. A select few of Sifu Berry's students have earned the privilege of becoming teachers themselves and have carried on the traditions of Chinese Kung-Fu as passed down to them from Grand Master Yin. Sifu Berry has been a distinguished member of the Midwest Kung-Fu Association, the American Karate Association, the Academy of Oriental Fighting Arts, and the American Kempo Bu-Jutsu Karate Association (AKBKA).
Sifu Berry's instructors include (click on green names for more information):
Chin Ho Yin
Grand Master of Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu and a Buddhist Shaolin Monk of the Shaolin Temple in China. 5 plus years
Lanard Martin
Instructor of the Green Dragon system of Tai Praying Mantis Kung-Fu and Chinese Boxing. 5 years
Andy Torok
A master of the Kaju Kempo Japanese Karate system. Master Torok's school is located in DeKalb, Illinois. 3 years
Larry Daniel
National Karate champion and instructor of Isshin Ryu Karate, Kung-Fu and a specialist in martial arts weaponry. 6 years
Keychun Song
Master of 7 Star Praying Mantis, Shaolin Kung-Fu and of the 18 weapons of Kung-Fu. 2 years
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Sifu Chin Ho Yin
The spirit of Grand Master Chin Ho Yin lives on in this life and in the school of Sifu Arthur Berry, where students feel Yin's presence through the handing down of one of mankind's greatest gifts. Chin Ho Yin was born in Shandong, China in December 1903. It is believed that the Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu System that he practiced came from a Shandong Taoist temple in that region of China.
During the political and cultural upheaval that culminated in the Communist victory in China, Yin served as a general in the Nationalist Forces.
Following the collapse of Nationalist China, Yin moved to Taiwan where he opened a Kung-Fu school and personally taught over 3,000 students. It was there that he built his Kung-Fu legion and taught and trained many students to follow in the traditional ways of Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu. Many of Master Yin's students in Taiwan and America are still practicing the famous Northern Shaolin System.
In 1976, Grand Master Yin opened the Chinese Kung-Fu Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During his stay in the United States, Grand Master Yin strived to learn the culture of the American people so he could effectively teach them. Although his knowledge of the English language was limited (Yin had not taken up much of the study of the English language until he was in his seventies), he still managed to reach those whom he taught. To explain various techniques and lessons, he used highly expressive gestures, voices and demonstrations to clarify his actual words.
His spirit and good nature charmed all of his students as he tried his hardest to create students who would eventually pass on the Kung-Fu which he held so dear. When Sifu Berry met Chin Ho Yin, the Grand Master was a devoted leader of the Chinese Community in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There, Grand Master Yin taught Northern Shaolin Kung- Fu and Wu Style Tai Chi, practiced Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and acupressure, and authored Chinese calligraphy. Grand Master Yin died in June of 1988 at the age of 85.