Shaolin Kempo Unveiled

Professor Tom Ingargiola has been studying martial arts since high school and has been teaching Shaolin Kempo since 1985 (www.shaolinkempo.com). He achieved rank in the art of Shaolin Kempo under several notable instructors. He fought professionally and retired as the New York State Super-Welterweight Kickboxing Champion (www.uskba.com). He was promoted to Professor (10th Degree) status in 2006 by Professor Feliciano Ferreira of Hawaii. He has worked as a Correction Officer at Rikers Island in New York City, where he was valedictorian and classified as a pistol expert, as well. He is currently employed by a security organization in the United States. He has toured North America presenting Shaolin Kempo to various Shaolin Kempo clubs for over three decades. He has received numerous awards and commendations: Inducted into the United Martial Artist Hall of Fame in 1999; Male Competitor of the year in 2001 and in 2005 his school was named School of the Year by Action Martial Arts magazine. Additionally, he recently completed his Master's degree in Business Administration at Grantham University. Marlon Wilson is a fifth degree master of Shaolin Kempo. He has been teaching Shaolin Kempo in Montreal, Quebec since 1998 (www.shaolinkempo.ca). He began his martial arts at the age of 15 with Judo. He achieved the rank of brown belt. After taking some Kyokushin for a few months and Aikido for six months, he came across a Shaolin Kempo school. This was to be his first taste of his greatest martial art love. The achievement of shodan (first degree black belt) brought him to a place that needed a deeper understanding and knowledge of the history and application of this art. He started to teach for his teachers and then later on his own. His passion for learning exploded in the richness and reward of being a teacher. He remains forever a student. The responsibility to his students fueled yet another powerful passion: The need to learn everything about Shaolin Kempo and how to train more effectively. As his training continued, his depth, knowledge and skill as a martial artist grew. When the last of the available teacher of Shaolin Kempo in his area closed their doors, there was a dilemma. In a panic and feeling pressure to take over the school along with the considerable business expenses, he typed a post on a forum entitled "losing Shaolin Kempo". Of the many responses he received, one stood out, no suggestions, no attacks just a simple request, "Why don't you call me and tell me what is happening, if you want?" The sign off said that the response came from a Shaolin Kempo master. Marlon called, and that began the journey to a whole new level of learning, studying and training in Shaolin Kempo. This master's teachings and training methods unified everything he had learned and studied from all his varied searching. This began his journey to mastery...the poster who responded was Professor Thomas Ingargiola.