About The Author

Stefan Verstappen has a long history of teaching safety and survival skills.

In the early 80's he worked as an Out-Tripper for the Toronto Boys Home, taking troubled teenagers from inner-city group homes deep into Algonquin National Park and teaching them wilderness survival.  Later he worked as a street worker in Toronto’s infamous ‘Corridor’ housing project, and helped to establish drug-counseling centers, after school athletic programs, and a day care center.

Stefan later worked for St. John Ambulance, teaching emergency first aid and CPR. He was involved in the planning and execution of mock civil disaster drills and has won the Mayor's award for Public Service and the Priory Vote Of Thanks.

A long time student of the martial arts, in 1985 Verstappen moved to Hong Kong and Taipei where he spent four years traveling throughout Asia studying oriental culture and martial arts. He studied with several renowned Kung Fu teachers, from hill tribe Shamans of the Golden Triangle, to back alley street fighters in the concrete canyons of Hong Kong.  His adventures have been featured on Taiwan TV, on radio interviews, and newspaper and magazine articles.

(Master Chan Hon Chung's Gymnasium. Kowloon '86)

Since returning from the Orient, Stefan has taught and developed unique ways of applying the martial arts and providing the benefits of martial arts to wider audiences.

His most recent book, Blind Zen tells the story of how a blind woman’s efforts to learn self defense led to a unique experiment to adapt martial arts and eastern philosophy to develop new skills and increase self confidence.

In 1993 Stefan was approached by a parenting group to teach street proofing to pre-schoolers. Drawing on the advice of educators and police officials, he developed The Little Warriors program that teaches children 5-7 years of age character building techniques with real street smart defensive skills. Stefan also invented unique games and role playing exercises that are unrivaled in training kids to avoid one of the greatest threats in our modern society – sexual predators.

Stefan also illustrated the Little Warrior books.

Stefan is also an author and published his first book,  The Thirty-Six Strategies of Ancient China, China Books & Periodicals, SF, in 1999.

He has written numerous articles for various publications and is a regular contributor to Black Belt, Jade Dragon, and Inside Kung Fu magazines.

Stefan continues to write, teach workshops, and lecture on the benefits of martial arts.

On-line biographical resources

Stefan’s Book: www.chinastrategies.com

Stefan’s work with the blind: www.chinastrategies.com/blind.htm

Stefan’s Street Smart article for adults: www.chinastrategies.com/mastrategy.htm