All of our instructors are:
- Certified by Great Grandmaster Dr. Leung Ting to teach WingTsun™ Kung Fu
- Certified by the International WingTsun Association – North American Section, the official governing body for Leung Ting WingTsun® in North America
Master Mike Adams
Master Mike Adams is one of the most respected (and one of the most senior) WingTsun instructors in America today. Sifu Adams has been training in martial arts since 1976.
In 1980, Sifu Adams met and began training with Dr. Leung Ting, the Great Grandmaster of WingTsun Kung Fu. This was during the Great Grandmaster’s first trip to Texas (and one of his first trips to America) from Hong Kong.
Today Sifu Adams is a To-Dai (“Kung Fu son”) of Great Grandmaster Leung Ting. He was promoted to 5th Level Practician (Master) in March 2011, becoming the third of only three Americans ever promoted (so far) to Master level by Great Grandmaster Leung Ting.
Sifu Adams has been teaching WingTsun professionally in Illinois since 1988, and is the father of WingTsun in the Midwest. He is a founding member of the International WingTsun Association – North American Section, and serves on the Board of Directors as the Financial Manager.
Sifu Adams has trained many leading WingTsun instructors in America today. In addition to being the primary instructor at Dynamic Martial Arts of Bloomington-Normal, Sifu Adams or his students also have schools or classes in the Chicago suburbs, in Fairfield, Iowa, in New York City, and in Brazil.
Sifu Ben Stevens
Sifu Ben Stevens began his WingTsun Kung Fu training in 2002, driving to Pontiac, Illinois every weekend to train with Sifu Mike Adams.
In January of 2015, Sifu Stevens was promoted to 3rd Level Technician in WingTsun Kung Fu. He is an instructor at Dynamic Martial Arts of Bloomington-Normal, where he is affectionately known as “Captain Ben” (for his resemblance to Captain Morgan on the TV commercials).
In addition to teaching martial arts, Sifu Stevens is also a professional truck driver and is the father of two young children.
Sifu Hunter Watts
We have many families who train together at Dynamic Martial Arts. In 2009, Sifu Hunter Watts and his twin brother, Garrett, joined their older brother, Taylor, at Dynamic Martial Arts.
Upholding the family tradition of martial arts first set by his older brother, Sifu Watts was promoted to be an assistant instructor in December 2011. In 2012, he was promoted to Primary Level Technician directly by Great Grandmaster Leung Ting. In May 2014 he was promoted to 2nd Level Technician by Sifu Mike Adams. And in December 2016 Sifu Watts was promoted to 3rd Level Technician by Sifu Mike Adams.
It’s quite unusual for such a young man to become a Sifu. But like his older brother before him, Sifu Watts came up through the ranks training with adults who were not only older, but also bigger and stronger. Through his hard work, he earned the respect of everyone in the school. Along the way, he outgrew most people in height and skill. He even passed his brothers in rank, becoming the first in his family to reach Second Level and then Third Level Technician and becoming the youngest Leung Ting WingTsun® Sifu in North America.
Sifu Hunter Watts teaches at our school in Bloomington, Illinois and is also the head instructor of the Redbird Wing Tsun™ club at Illinois State University (ISU) in Normal, Illinois.
Sifu Darrell Taylor
Sifu Darrell Taylor started training at Dynamic Martial Arts in July 2011. He rose quickly through the ranks to become an assistant instructor in just 14 months and was later promoted to Primary Level Technician in April 2013 and to 2nd Level Technician and Sifu in December 2014.
How did he do it? He knows that “kung fu” can basically be translated as “hard work.” Driving from Peoria, Illinois to our Bloomington, Illinois school, he came to almost every class. He’s so dedicated there have been times we’ve seen him drive 40 miles each way even when he could only make it for the last half hour of class after a long day.
Maybe he learned his work ethic as a U.S. Marine and veteran of the first Gulf War, or maybe it’s just who he is. Either way, we’re happy to have Sifu Taylor as an instructor at Dynamic Martial Arts of Bloomington-Normal as well as at his own school in Peoria, Illinois, Authentic Wing Tsun™ of Peoria.
Sihing Damian Rickert
When Sihing Damian Rickert started training at Dynamic Martial Arts of Bloomington-Normal, he was just 13 but he already had 6 years of martial arts training.
Spending much of his teenage years growing up in our WingTsun classes, Sihing Rickert earned the respect of everyone in the school for his dedication and his aggressive fighting skills.
After a few years away becoming a welder, getting married, having kids, and serving in the Marines, we’re glad to have Sihing Rickert back training and teaching at our Bloomington school!
In addition to being a Primary Level Technician in WingTsun kung fu, Sihing Rickert is also a 4th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and was a martial arts instructor in the U.S. Marines.
Guest Instructors and Alumni (click to expand)
Sifu Adam VanderWaal, MD
Sifu Adam VanderWaal first began training in WingTsun Kung Fu at Dynamic Martial Arts of Bloomington-Normal under Sifu Mike Adams in 2004. He was promoted to Second Level Technician in WingTsun Kung Fu in October 2010.
In addition to teaching martial arts, Sifu VanderWaal is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He is currently a physician in the Asheville, North Carolina area.
When back home for the holidays, you might see Sifu VanderWaal enjoying training and teaching at Dynamic Martial Arts of Bloomington-Normal.
Sihing Sam Brucker
Sihing Sam Brucker started training at Dynamic Martial Arts in July 2012. Jumping right in, he could be seen training hard in almost every class, always with a subtle smile on his face.
Through his hard work and dedication, he rose quickly through the ranks and became an assistant instructor at our Bloomington school. In the fall of 2014, Sihing Brucker was promoted to Primary Level Technician.
Along with his subtle smile, Sihing Brucker also brings soft-spoken humor and a love of WingTsun Kung Fu to his teaching and training. Since Sihing Brucker returned from travels in Indonesia and India, he has been on a bit of a hiatus for work. But he hopes to be back at Dynamic Martial Arts of Bloomington-Normal soon!
Sihing Diego Arreola
Sihing Diego Arreola started his training in WingTsun in 2010. Sihing Arreola rose quickly through the ranks, earning the respect and friendship of everyone in class along the way.
Though it might be hard to guess from this photo, Sihing Arreola smiles a lot when he’s doing WingTsun… just not usually for photos. He has a good heart, and works patiently with all ages and levels of students. But he’s also a tough fighter, and can apply what he knows very practically and effectively.
We were all sorry to see him move away in the summer of 2012, but we wish him the best in his new career and we always enjoy seeing him back for occasional visits. During an extended visit back in April 2015, Sihing Arreola was promoted to Primary Level Technician.
Sihing Noe Cornejo
Sihing Noe Cornejo began his WingTsun training in 2006 at the age of 8.
He is the first student from our kids class to be promoted to assistant instructor while still in the kids class, and the youngest person ever promoted to this level by Sifu Mike Adams (though a couple others were close).
Don’t let his age and big smile fool you… he can use what he knows, and he comes in very quickly under the radar. Back when they were twice his size, many adults learned not to underestimate him!
Sihing Cornejo is currently away studying in college, but you may see him stop in during school breaks to train and assist with teaching in both the kids and adult classes at Dynamic Martial Arts of Bloomington-Normal.
Sihing John Schmidtgall
Sihing John Schmidtgall began his WingTsun training in 2008. A carpenter by profession, after a long, hard day of work, he made the trek from Fairbury, Illinois to our Bloomington school to train for another couple hours.
Sihing Schmidtgall’s hard work and dedication have paid off, and he became an assistant instructor at Dynamic Martial Arts in 2012 and was then promoted to Primary Level Technician in April 2013.
Although John has been on hiatus due to work outside the area, we’ll leave it up to your imagination whether the WingTsun “nail punch” may also be helpful in his career as a professional carpenter.
Sihing Taylor Watts
Sihing Taylor Watts began his training in 2005 as a young teenager. He came to Dynamic Martial Arts to learn WingTsun Kung Fu because of its strong emphasis on practical self-defense skills.
Sihing Watts quickly jumped from the kids’ classes to the adult classes. He quickly won the respect of adults twice his age and size through his dedication and hard work. As he continued to train (and grow!), he earned his place as one of the instructors at Dynamic Martial Arts of Bloomington-Normal.
In October 2010, Sihing Watts was promoted to Primary Level Technician in WingTsun Kung Fu. Sihing Watts is currently working as an engineer in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois after graduating from the University of Illinois there, but you may see him pop in occasionally at Dynamic Martial Arts in Bloomington, Illinois.
Sihing Garrett Watts
We have many families who train together at Dynamic Martial Arts. In 2009, Sihing Garrett Watts and his twin brother, Hunter, joined their older brother, Taylor, at Dynamic Martial Arts.
Upholding the family tradition of martial arts first set by his older brother, in December 2011, Sihing Watts was promoted to be an assistant instructor and in October 2012 he was promoted to Primary Level Technician directly by Great Grandmaster Leung Ting.
Like his older brother before him, Sihing Watts came up through the ranks training with adults who were not only older, but also bigger and stronger. Through hard work, he earned their respect to become one of the youngest instructors ever promoted at Dynamic Martial Arts. Sihing Watts is currently away studying in college, but you may see him stop in our Bloomington school during school breaks.
Sihing Marcus Bellone
Sihing Marcus Bellone initially trained privately with one of Sifu Mike Adams’s long-time students from Rockford, Illinois. In 2008, Sihing Bellone began attending Illinois State University (ISU) in Normal, Illinois and began training directly with Sifu Mike Adams.
Moving quickly through the ranks through his dedication, hard work, and love for WingTsun, Sihing Bellone was promoted to Primary Level Technician in May 2011.
After graduating from ISU in 2011 with a degree in Exercise Science/Kinesiology, Sihing Bellone moved back home to Rockford, Illinois.
In addition to teaching martial arts, Sihing Bellone is a Personal Trainer and also is training in the US military to be a combat medic. When he’s not too busy leaping out of helicopters to save lives, you may see him back occasionally for visits at Dynamic Martial Arts of Bloomington-Normal.
Learn more about our Dynamic Martial Arts school in Bloomington, Illinois….
