Prospective students seldom ask about my background. They assume I picked up a form here and there and just started teaching. Others will ask me what program did I get my tai chi certificate from. My favorite is “are you a real black belt?” I cannot blame them for not understanding how traditional training works. After all, there are many self proclaimed Masters and minimum skilled level instructors teaching. I asked one school owner what style tai chi he taught and the response was that chi chaun, I trained under Gand Master Wang for 14 years and that is longer than other instructors have been teaching.
So here is my short history
Sifu David Neighbors has been a student of martial arts since 1981. He is a black belt Instructor and received the title of Sifu (teacher) in 1998. David is a 35 year student of Chinese martial arts including tai chi, chin na, northern shaolin, praying mantis and traditional weapons.
Kung Fu means to perfect through practice over time.