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The Power to Destroy

The Three Types of Destructive Energy used in Martial Arts

 
The Hidden Meanings Behind The Flash
 
Talking Book Radio interviews Stefan about his book Blind Zen
(right click to save as or wait for entire file to download)
 
No nonsense advice on what works in real life.

The King, the Fool, and the Fox Reading and controlling non-verbal communication in the sparring ring

 
Do you know what you're really learning?
 
Stefan's pics from the hall of fame ceremony
 
Balance and the Martial Arts
 
Learn the deadly combination of strategy and attitude
 
 
 
Strategy for the Streets What would Sun Tzu do in a Street fight?
 
Two Man Staff Drills from China
 
Spinning Staff Techniques
 
How to Do a Pole Vaulting Side Kick
 
Stefan Traces The Origins of Kung Fu to Thailand's Mountain Tribes
 
Books
 
 
A Case Study of Sensory Enhancement for the Blind and Vision Impaired
 
 
Workshops & Seminars
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Martial Arts Biography

Stefan H. Verstappen  is a writer, world traveler, and martial artist.

He has worked as a street youth worker, a wilderness out-tripper, and a first aid instructor for St John's ambulance while studying martial arts.

Stefan first studied Tae Kwon Do but after two years  changed styles to study the grandfather of martial arts, Kung Fu.

He studied at both the I-Chun Mun and Hong Luck Kung Fu clubs in Toronto's Old Chinatown. It was through his fellow Chinese students and the time spend in Chinatown that Stefan became interested in Chinese culture.

Photo of Stefan in Hong Kong
Verstappen, posing with Butterfly Knives at Master Chan's, Hong Kong 1985

 

 

 

Verstappen learning the staff from master Tsai Jen Ryu, Taipei, 1989

In 1985, Verstappen traveled to Hong Kong to study under renowned grandmaster Chan Hon Chung (1909-91). Master Chan was one of the last of the great Hung Gar Masters that had trained at Lam Sai Wing's famous Kung Fu Academy in Hong Hong's old Wan Chai district. Lam Sai Wing was in turn the pupil of China's most famous Kung Fu Hero, Wong Fei Hong, the subject of over one hundred Chinese movies and television shows.

photo of master chan
Master Chan, 1986

In '87 Verstappen moved to Taipei and studied the 18 Lohan style under Tsai Jen Ryu. Master Tsai was the former team captain of the Taiwan Kuo Shou Demonstration team and is famous for his Chi Kung and weapon's routines.

Stefan has also traveled to Korea, Mainland China, and Thailand where he met a Karen Shaman in the Golden Triangle which he chronicled in his article; The Shamanic Origins of Tai Chi

Upon returning to Canada, Stefan began teaching Kung Fu at the Bolton Community Center where one of his first students was a blind woman. This experience led him to write Blind Zen, the first book ever written on teaching the blind martial arts and self defense.

Verstappen continues to teach martial arts and is a regular contributor to Black Belt and Inside Kung Fu magazines.

Verstappen published his first book, The Thirty-Six Strategies of Ancient China in '99.

Watch videos of Stefan's Kung Fu teachers filmed in China here: Videos

photo of stefan teachin a martial arts classTeaching Experience

97-2000 Head Instructor, PenDragon School of the Martial Arts
92-97 Head Instructor, Samurai Club
91-92 Kung Fu Instructor, Phoenix Martial Arts

Training History

92-94 Tai Chi, Master James Chen , Toronto
91-94 Combat Jujitsu, Sensei Moni Aizik, Samurai Club, Toronto
88-91 18 Lohan, Master Tsai Jen Ryu, Taipei
87-88 Hung Gar, Master Chan Hon Chung, Hong Kong
83-84, Do Pai, Hong Luck Kung Fu, Chinatown, Toronto
82-85, Hung Gar, I-Chuan Mun Kung Fu School, Chinatown, Toronto
80-82 Tae Kwon Do, Cheung’s Tae Kwon Do Academy, Toronto
 

You can e-mail Stefan with questions and comments to sverstappen@yahoo.com

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All text, photos, and illustrations by S.H.Verstappen.
All Rights Reserved
E-mail: sverstappen@yahoo.com