Our School History
The Chinese Kung-Fu Club of DeKalb was founded by Sifu Arthur
Berry in 1979. He began by teaching only a few students. His
students were mainly college students and friends. The class
began with only 4 students and now has grown to a class of
over 40. Sifu Berry carefully selects his students to ensure
that only those who are serious in studying traditional Kung-Fu
are invited to join the class. His classes are small and very
personalized guarantee the true feeling of having a Sifu.
To Sifu Berry, a Sifu is not only a teacher, but a father
and mentor as well. Members of the club include mainly college
students from the local university, but also professors, community
participants, local martial artists, and those who travel
great distances to study with Sifu Berry. Some of his students
have expanded and are now living and/or teaching all over
the country and the world, including Greece and Germany. Those
near and far to the club add to a long tradition of not letting
their dedication lessen over time and distance. Those who
move on and away still keep in contact with the Chinese Kung-Fu
Club of DeKalb family and find that they are forever welcomed
both by the new and old members. Sifu Berry strongly emphasizes
a family atmosphere in his club. Everyone who learns and teaches
is a brother or sister to each and every one who enters the
club. As a family, the students help each other achieve their
potential and be the best they can be. More experienced students
use what they already know to help out the newer students.
Through this, there is a great balance that helps the class
improve as a whole. It is very important to Sifu Berry that
all students, not just a few select individuals, achieve a
high level of Kung-Fu.
The club meets three days a week for three hours each class. The class structure
is broken up into several sections, so that many topics of study
can be addressed. These topics include chi-kung exercises, simulated
technique study, body training, coordination drills, mind focus
exercises, traditional forms and self defense. Special care
is taken by the instructor to make sure that there is a heavy
emphasis given to the study of traditional Kung-Fu and not just
having a class of fighting. His students reflect his philosophy
and are also schooled in history and style. As a school, Sifu
Berry and his students have achieved much success in both local
and national tournaments. They compete regularly and are known
throughout the Midwest as a quality martial arts school. They
continue to show great amounts of respect, both for their art
and the arts of others. The official Chinese Kung-Fu Club of
DeKalb style is considered to be Northern Shaolin mixed with
Tai Praying Mantis Kung-Fu. These two styles complement each
other in an extremely rare and unique blend. Both the teachers
and students of the club hope to keep alive the style and tradition
of the Kung-Fu which they have been taught.
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