Grandmaster Doo Wai
For six generations, White Tiger Kung Fu has been passed from father to son, ending finally with Grandmaster Doo Wai, who has decided to make the art available to the public. Aside from holding the esteemed title, Grandmaster Doo Wai serves as a technical advisor on martial arts-related feature films and served as the Grand Juror of the San Diego Asian Film Festival. A Chinese historian and scholar, Grandmaster Doo Wai has been on the cover of Inside Kung Fu, Ancient Sets of Kung Fu, and Karate Kung Fu Illustrated.
Shi Gung Tom Rizzo
A martial arts student since the age of six, Tom Rizzo has studied a full range of martial arts including Karate, JuiJitsu, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, and Kempo. Tom has been teaching since 1990, and has studied with Grandmaster Doo Wai since 1991. Rizzo, a highly decorated former federal agent, was a certified defense tactics instructor for the U.S. Department of Justice, teaching federal agents to fight in hand-to-hand combat.
Sifu Dennis Wood
Dennis Wood started his martial arts training with Kempo in 1988. Four years later he began studying Bak Fu Pai under Sifu Tom Rizzo and Grandmaster Doo Wai. He has since been a closed-door disciple of the Grandmaster. Dennis is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom where he served his time as a combat engineer. He is currently the chief instructor of the Westwood school and a lead member of Team White Tiger MMA.
Sifu Anton Peterson
Anton Peterson spent the early years of his life in the
Seattle area of Washington State where in 1985 he started training in
Okinawan-style Karate. In 1990 he moved to Tucson, Arizona with his family
where he continued his martial arts training in Shirin Ryu, which is a style of
karate that is closely related to the Okinawan system he originally learned.
In 1993 Sifu Peterson moved to California to study music, which besides martial
arts is one of his lifelong passions. At this time, he also began training in the
southern kung fu system of San Soo, which is closely related to the White Tiger
(Bak Fu Pai) system. He began to teach private sessions as well as group
training in street defense designed around San Soo techniques.
In 2002 he began closed door training in Bak Fu Pai under the tutelage of Shi
Gung Thomas Rizzo. He currently holds a 5th degree black sash in
this system and teaches at the Westwood school location.
In addition to his formal martial arts training, Sifu Peterson has extensive
experience working in security for nightclubs and bars as well as doing personal
bodyguard work. During this time he was able to apply his martial knowledge in
real life situations that have served him well as life lessons and practical
martial arts training.
Sean McNeill
Sean is a senior instructor and closed door disciple of Sifu Tom Rizzo. His past martial arts experience includes Tang Soo Do and Hwa Rang Do fighting systems. When not training Bak Fu Pai, Sean works as a building design consultant and has over 20 years of technical rock climbing experience.
Jou Gau Eric Sorenson-Livingstone
Jennifer Tanaka - Qigong and Kids Instructor
After trying many forms of martial arts, Jenn Tanaka has found a home at White Tiger. Jenn Tanaka teaches qigong and assists with the development of the kids program. During the past three years at White Tiger family, she has finished the Qigong Instructor Training Course, Three Star or Iron Wrist, and Iron Palm level one procedures. Jenn Tanaka is passionate about teaching ad sharing knowledge with others at White Tiger and in rock climbing, which she has practiced and instructed for 5 years.
Blair Green
